MRI - what to expect

[WelshMoth]

I'm having an MRI on my back tomorrow. I've had the leaflet re taking off jewellery and wearing soft clothing but have no idea what to expect.

Anyone had one? What's it like?

Fine if you don’t mind small spaces and can lay flat .

Yes. The main thing I remember is just how noisy the machine is. You need to remove jewellery and will probably have to wear a gown. You will have to lie very still while the scan takes place. They will give you headphones so that they can talk to you and so that you can listen to music during the scan. DD has had a few scans an could watch a DVD while she was being scanned.

The scanner is a long tunnel and can feel claustrophobic so I recommend closing your eyes.

I've had one on my spine. You lie on a board which goes into a giant polo mint. By the point you think you're really deeply into the polo, you're almost coming out again - I found knowing this stopped me feeling claustrophobic.

The headphones they gave me weren't v effective, and I found the peculiar loud noises it makes a bit annoying. But I know other people who've been able to listen to music through headphones.

Good advice I read here was take warm socks. But the MRI actually warms you, so you wouldn't want to wrap up too toasty up top.

Are you sure it's the tunnel sort and not a donut? They are still noisy but not claustrophobic.

Well, it's quite a deep donut/polo, so probably qualifies as a tunnel.

It's the Jaffa Cake VAT question all over again.

Ds aged 10 has them regularly to head and spine. He wears comfy joggers and long sleeved top as can get cold with the air con. Make sure no metal buttons or zips. He wears ear plugs as the machines are noisy. His scans take about an hour and he usually nods off in there for a bit.

I've had numerous scans on my spine and head.

It's a long tube. You will be either given ear phones or ear plugs.

As others have said it is noisy but thet will talk to you inbetween scans.

You are also given a button to press if you are panicking.

Also don't wear make up or mail varnish.

*nail

I'm off to work straight after so I'll be in a suit. Should I pop a t shirt and comfy trousers on and dress for work afterwards? What about the metal clasps in my bra?

I had no idea I was claustrophobic until I had an MRI on my neck and upper spine..... I'm not going to lie, I was shaking and barely keeping a grip on my panic all the way through.

They gave me an eye mask which helped. It's also easier, I think, if you're not fat / very broad. I'm very overweight, and hated that my arms could touch the sides, which made me tense up to keep them off.

OTOH a friend has them almost monthly for a brain tumour and finds them near relaxing.

The noise is very loud and surreal, but you do get used to it.

Xpost.

Bra off - no metal of any type anywhere near the enormous magnet. 😀

You'll need to remove your bra too. When I went for one I wore a dress with no buttons or zips. All I had to remove was jewellery and my bra

I'd go bra-less in the scan, then change into work clothes.

More of a mini-roll than a donut. You have an emergency button if you need to stop it and you can talk to and be talked to by the staff who operate it. You put a kind of frame on which holds your head still. It has a mirror on it which means you can see the operators and they can see you. It's fine. Just think of it as a lie down with some space themed soundtrack and it'll pass in no time.

I've seen people say they felt a bit woozy and out of things afterwards, so be prepared for that if you're going straight to work.

I found it exhausting, but I'm easily tired.

Take warm socks!
YYYYY to no metal whatsoever.
If you have back problems consider how you will lie flat and still. They put a rolled up towel or pillow or something under my knees so I could get comfortable.
It's noisy. I had headphones. They played music and updated me on how it was going.
Good luck.

If you can't lay flat, they will put a pillow under your legs.
I shan't regale you with the reminiscence of my Micheal Flatley impression while having one...

They’ll ask you to take your bra off and give you a pair of cotton trousers if you have a zip/metal buttons in your trousers. I found it quite relaxing and could have quite easily fallen asleep if it wasn’t for the loud beeps

I have had a couple. I am not claustrophobic so had no problems. The sound of the machine drowned out the headphones they gave me, but I found the banging quite soporific.
I hope it goes ok.

Yeah, the noise is kinda 1970s Stereophonic Workshop with pneumatic drills...

I'm given a gown and told to leave my pants and socks on. All jewellery needs to be removed and you put everything in a locker (at my local hospital). Lie down on a flat bed, I have a cage put over my head and neck (but my scans are on my brain). Earphones are put on and I'm asked what kind of music I like. You can hear the radiographer talk to you through the earphones and you are given a button to hold that you can press if you feel panicky. The big round machine starts to whirr and whizz and the board you're lying on is inched inside a bit at a time until the relevant part of your body is within the scanner. The whizzing and whirring isn't particularly loud and you soon get used to it. The music helps if you're nervous so pick something you really like if you're given the option. I find I get pretty chilly lying still for a while so have occasionally asked for a blanket (and nodded off ).

I hope it goes ok for you.

I had one recently on my kidneys. I wore leggings, a vest and a loose jumper. Had to take my bra off but otherwise all clothes and shoes were kept on as I had no other metal on them.

Lay on the bed with feet facing the tunnel head on a pillow so nice and comfy.

They put big headphones on me, put a panic button thing in my hand. Strapped a breathing thing across me and put a sort of plastic board on top, then raised the bed and slid me into the machine.

Then they speak to you at various points to tell you to breathe in or out and hold your breath at certain points.

Machine quite noisy with lots of bangs and clicks.

I just lay with my eyes closed mostly

Perfectly fine to go to work afterwards.

I had the thing they inject during the scan and had no side effects from that.

Someone described it to me as lying on a sunbed next to a building site. I'd say that was fairly accurate for mine.

It's really not too bad on the whole. It's open both ends so plenty of air. And they ask you whether you'd like to listen to music and which radio station or whatever. You can ask them to stop at any time.

Wow, thanks everyone. Some really detailed posts here which I appreciate. I have no use if I'm claustrophobic to be honest. We shall see!

Can I keep my contact lenses in? Should I remove the chipped
Toenail varnish?!

Go for a wee before the scan. They can take some time.