MRI tomorrow and I'm terrified!

[Tobermory]

I've had the appointment for a couple of weeks and not really thought anything much about it. This evening I did a bit of googling, foolish, and now I'm terrified.
I'm not great with small spaces. The machine is small. And noisy.
Have been reading some peoples accounts. Sounds horrible.

I'm panicking.

Panic not. It will be fine, and they're well used to people dreading them so they'll be kind/understanding.

HAve you had one before?

No, my first which makes it worse. I think in part it's not the not knowing what to expect.

You're right I'm sure I'm not the first to walk in looking worried.

Honestly, It'll be fine. I've had a few.
It's very clanky, that's all.

You lie still and get scanned, so there's no pain or touching or anything. what (rough) part of the body are you having scanned?

MRIs are noisy - weird random clanking, buzzing and clicking noises. I found it helped to think of it as a concert by a post-industrialist German band - something like early work by (but slightly less tuneful) - and imagine the audience nodding and jerkily dancing along to it. Maybe that's just me, though.

Really, it's not as bad as you expect, and it will probably be over quicker than you think.

Wow, just Wow exexpat (love writing that, all dramatic, like!!)

You got post-industrialist german music? I just thought it was like being inside a video game. You are considerably more highbrow than I!

Not sure about highbrow, just had weird taste in music as a teenager...

The noisy thing comes up a lot in people's accounts! Also read of deep breathing, counting and visualising beautiful beaches..... Or dancing audiences?!

Terrified is possibly a bit of an exaggeration. Certainly not looking forward to it.

Hazel, having breasts scanned. Hoping they just put half of me in [hopeful]

I spent the time imagining that I was an astronaut about to be launched into space

Mine was more than ten years ago, and I have heard vague things about earphones, video screens with soothing images etc more recently - but that might just be in expensive American private hospitals. Any soothing visualisations you can come up with yourself would probably be a good idea, or relaxation techniques you might have learned.

right, breasts means (I think) that you'll go in backwards, ie lying down head first. So yes, it will be noisy, but it is just the magnets whizzing around the tube, making the image (science bit over!).

You'll be lying down normally, so will be comfy, and you'll be able to see out of the 'tube', as you look down your body. Probably you'll be able to see the medical staff, and they will likely be in a booth. You'll possibly be given instructions like breath now, hold your breath for a count of 2 etc - this is just to get the pics that are needed. It also means that you wont feel alone, as you can see them, AND you can hear them. And they can see you so they'd know if you were in difficulty, and get you out asap.

Top tip? Other than the relaxy advice posted, and your being honest with the staff there re your nerves... If you have cold feet, wear socks.

It will all be fine, honest. It's a loud but totally non-invasive way of getting the images they need. Hope it all goes well, and hope you get a positive outcome from scan.

Mostly just tedious.

And clicky.

You might drift off to sleep.

If your head is sticking out they might have stuck a 'where's wally' or world map on the ceiling. I don't know if a radio or ipod would work

Socks. I read that somewhere else too! Lotsa detail there thanks Hazel, it helps. I think!

Ok - list for tomorrow, socks, no metal, relaxing and calming thoughts!

Thankyou all for your reassuring words in the middle of the night, I don't have to wake DH now! Will try again for some sleep so I don't drop off mid scan!

They talk to you during it. They tell you what's going on step by step.

I have sat in the room with my DD while she had 2 MRIs. It may not be the same everywhere, but she had headphones and music to distract from the noise, and a blanket over her. I also got given a blanket as it was freezing in the room, and earplugs for the noise. It was a kind of metallic noise that really got inside your head if you see what I mean. Take off any jewellery beforehand so you can keep it safe - I don't think you can wear earrings, watch etc. I had to take off mine and I was just in the room, not in the tube.
My DD's scan was for her brain, and so her head was inside the tube, but she didn't feel claustrophobic.

I had one (my first) last week. It was OK. I found it really helpful to just keep my eyes shut for the whole thing. I used the same counting techniques I used in labour to distract myself, and, while I couldn't really forget I was in there, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.

Good luck tomorrow.

How are you, Tobermory - how'd it go?

It went Hazel!

I did as suggested and explained how anxious I was, the staff were really good and explained things thoroughly. ! I almost passed out when getting the cannula for the dye, but that's another story!

It was horrible and I wont be rushing to repeat it. I was face down and feet first, definitely preferable I think. Can't believe how small the tube was!
I smiled during it, recalling exexpats band description. But now really know what she was talking about.

I spent a lot of time chasing away my freaked out thoughts, reminding myself that the stiller I was the quicker I'd be done. It passed and is finished. And at the end was complimented on how I'd done

Well done for getting through it, I hope you get some good results soon.