MRI Scans....

Yes.

Are you concerned about the experience itself or the results?

Some people don't like them but I found the scan ok. Lasted about 30 minutes. The most difficult part was keeping still.

I suppose it depends on the individual.

Yeah, had a few. If you're claustrophobic then it could be an issue, otherwise it is a doddle. Clanging noise can be an irritant but they give you headphones for that

Had one done couple of years ago, and like you was not looking forward to it as someone had told me how bad it was. but as has been said if you are not claustrophobic it is no problem.

If you are claustrophobic and I am what they may do is let you get in  before hand and see if you think there will be a problem, the top of the machine gets very close to your face. they said it would take about an hour to get all the pics hey needed, I decided the best thing to do was shut my eyes just before getting to the point where the top got very close, and I ended up falling asleep, they are speaking to you all the time through headphones and remember the "have you fallen asleep"? said a bit louder than other instructions.

Well certainly concerned about the results, but it looks like a very uncomfortable experience!

The thing is I am very deaf, but was fine with my hearing aids.
Then I suddenly lost 95% of hearing in one ear, and that is the reason for the scan...

I've been told they won't be able to rectify it, but the scan is to try to establish what caused it.

I would like the option of wearing head phones, with some loud music (probably ZZ Top), but without wearing a hearing aid it would have to be well cranked up!

When I had a CT scan, for something else, my hearing aids were "fried", and terminal, so I'm preempting that I can't wear it, and therefore
wondering how I will understand any instructions, considering being bombarded with noise from the equipment!

Not sure they'd allow your hearing aids inside an MRI, probably not. There are no real instructions to speak of, just confirmation that you're ok and a few short updates

Another thing is if they are only looking at your ears they may not put you all the way in; I only had my head and shoulders for a brain scan (no shampoo jokes please)

With me they took about 80 pics, and each time they where about to take one they told me to breath in and hold it and then about 5 seconds later to continue breathing, my scan was for a bypass, so chest pics mostly.

I wouldn't say it's an uncomfortable experience at all. Certainly nothing to be anxious about.

If you're claustrophobic then I guess it could be unpleasant.  If this is the case, can they sedate you beforehand?

Did you get to see the pics trebor? For a back scan I was shown mine and they were amazing

Never saw any pics, never even saw the surgeon who did my op after seeing him once about 3 months before I had the op until 2 months after the op.


On leaving the hospital 8 days after op I saw my discharge sheet which said I had had a double and I went in for a triple, so went home wondering if there was some problem, had a follow up appointment a month later so was going to ask why the change then, because no one else was able to answer, at follow up got a different person as he was on holiday, and a few weeks later got to see him and he said it was not as bad as first anticipated so double was all that was needed.


And they had known that after doing the MRI just never told me.

Had several over the last few years & they wont be my last, tbh if you just shut your eyes before the scanner does its work you can't get claustrophobic, well that works for me anyway.

I had 2 a few weeks ago, to add to several others. I find it more boring than anything else.
Certainly nothing to be worried about. Just stay still is the only rule.

Just imagine you're dead lying in a coffin and you'll be fine.

I have had 3 or 4 over the Years the Last one was as the Bizzare time of 8 am on a Sunday Morning , I was Dozng off during it

They sometime Inject a Dye into you but even that is painless ,cept I got a wierd feeling in the Bottom of my back as it travelled round

@ Baron

Tip of the day, keep your eyes closed....

Had one several years ago, not a problem till they pumped the drug to get my heart racing... tbh, wasnt happy.. drug induced panic!! 

pitty it was'nt V

Best of luck with the scan LFV, hope everything is ok.

agreed gl

I think I'll be quite chilled about it....just hope I can have some tunes to kill the noise!

Someone mentioned boredom, and that will be me for sure!

Counting down to 18:15 now....

The hardest part is keeping still, which might be no problem for most people. but if you're there because you have back pain, lying still is a challenge, trust me.

Its really noisy as well, but they give you earplugs or you can listen to music.

As for getting the results, they go straight to your consultant. You don't get a sniff of them unless you hound them for a copy (ask for the CD). Write an official letter requesting a copy (make sure it goes to the right dept), and phone them up to check they've got it. Eventually they'll send you the CD of your scan.

had a few.

fallen asleep each time despite the clanging noise which sounds like an industrial metal-era album by Depeche Mode

Einstürzende Neubauten

Well, I'm alive, but what a dull experience was that!

I know it's not a social event but, seriously, people who deal with people, might at least greet you, and smile and have some humour.

I had a better time at the undertakers, for my families funerals!

Anyway, that aside, I was called bang on time, and told it would take 15 minutes max.

I had earplugs, and headphones (presumably to help block out the noise) but obviously couldn't listen to "ZZ Top" and in any case, as I couldn't
wear a hearing aid in my only ear, with a modicum of hearing, I could only just hear the anticipated noise, though I can imagine how
it may  otherwise have been!

Couldn't time it, so can only guess it seemed like 15 minutes.

So the guy who double checked the questionnaire, got me set up on the table, and I took the precaution of covering my eyes, and off we went.

At the end as I came out, a minor miracle had occurred, and the miserable man had become a similarly miserable woman!

I said "Oh, you've changed", and then had to explain what I meant, but this didn't make her any the less miserable!

So, it's now ten days since the scan, on what is supposed to be a medical emergency, that that was first reported almost three months ago,
and still waiting for notification of the results!

Twelve days ago now, and not a word from anyone!

I've an enlarged prostate and had one very recently (last week) and have to say the biggest problem is staying still for 30 mins. I was very surprised at how loud it is,but apart from from that I don't feel you should have anything to worry about.

I was very lucky as I had to see the specialist the very next day and was told they were happy with what they saw so they would see me in 6 months.

Had I not seen him I was told to ring the doctors in two weeks if I hadn't heard from him.

With all due apologies, I just realised I put the wrong date for my scan....it was in fact 23rd October, and 29th was Podiatry!

I'm not well!!!!!

Well, the letter arrived yesterday, stating that the scan results are "normal"!

No need to be seen in the clinic again unless there are things I want to discuss!

For Christ's sake, I am totally deaf in one ear, and his first guess was wrong so that's it then!

If you took your car for repair, and the original diagnosis was wrong, do they give you back your car and a bill?

I had my latest ones on Brain, neck and back.
Eventually I got a letter about them.

The description of my brain as being "unremarkable" was at once disappointing and a relief.

So spilling that pint was just a simple accident then

LFV - was the original diagnosis an Acoustic Neuroma?

I wouldn't think that scanning your brain took very long STUDY.

ffs
"Head in hands man"

Blackrock.....yes that's what they were looking for, or any other type of tumour!

I don't know why he has effectively discharged me, and now waiting foe another appointment, to discuss what has been going on for three months!