Head MRI - has anyone had one? Questions.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

Has anyone had one? I have been referred due to buzzy, tingly feelings in my mouth and lips, following a difficult tooth extraction last year (lower molar). X-rays at maxillo facial were clear, so the consultant thinks ir’s nerve damage.

I am freaking out about the scan a bit, and wondered about the following:

Will only my head go in the machine, or my whole body?

The leaflet I was sent talks about an injection of dye, but the letter doesn’t say I am to have this. I am phobic about needles so this is really worrying.

The leaflet also says to wear loose, comfortable clothing, like a tracksuit. I own no such garment, and will be going to work after the appointment. Will I be okay to wear normal clothes - eg, a dress?

The appointment is on Tuesday, and the letter only came in yesterday,. I did try to call them but no-one picked up.

I had one many years ago and I don’t remember the details much. I do remember that it was very boring and you obviously need to keep still (hence the need for comfy clothing I guess). I don’t believe I got any instructions about what to wear.

The main thing I remember was that there was a mobile on the ceiling to give you something to focus on and I lay still and watched it gently moving around. It wasn’t fun but it wasn’t scary. Sorry, not much help but someone else should be along soon hopefully!

(No injections for me but I suppose it depends on what they’re looking for.)

My son had one. His head and small portion of upper body went in. Couldn't have metal things on - watches outside the room etc. Can't recall if he has to change into a gown; he was in hospital already so may have already been in one. May need to change if wearing zips, metal buttons etc. HTH and all goes well

Oh, and I don't think he had any injections.

Oh, my body was in the machine but with my head almost poking out IYSWIM, so I could see the room and the mobile
Etc. You can see out (I assume it will be the same for you). Claustrophobia is very common so I doubt it’s usual to put people completely inside the machine; not many would be able to cope!

I often have full body ones, wear a surgical gown for it and no dye. Good luck

I've had 2 for epilepsy. You just lie on a bed, I had a head support to stop me moving my head. 'bed' moved, i just lay there. There's abit of noise but nothing unpleasent.

Best advice and this is what I did (I've had both head mri and ct scans). Find a sleep mask, if needs be take diazepam if you're Gp will prescribe it, put sleep mask on a let the radiographer help you on the bed. Then just ignore the rest. You'll have no idea what else goes on.

I'm a total wuss with mris and I've had a few but I can cope with diazepam and a sleep mask.

As for the clothes, anything with metal in has to come off, I took my jeans off and put a hospital gown on.

Your head will be in the machine if you're having a head scan. It's very noisy! Leave your jewellery at home but wearing a dress is fine

I have has one. I changed into a hospital gown and as pp said, no metal things - watch, necklace etc into a locker. I think a comfortable dress would be fine if you have one without a high zip?

I guess I went into the machine up to my shoulders. No dye. It was very loud, but they warned me about that and gave me noise cancelling headphones (there was also the option of music). The thing that helped the most was being told how many scans they were taking, so I could track progress (it was only noisy when the scan was happening) and I knew roughly how much longer I had.

It was an odd experience but not terrible. Good luck OP.

My head and shoulders went in, the view from inside was like being stuck in a slide but not as claustrophobic as I expected. I didn’t have dye injected, I got to wear my own clothes (A dress and leggings) I had to take underwired bra off though in a changing room, I could keep wedding ring on though. Staff were very kind and patient, tucked me in blankets to keep my legs warm and gave me headphones to listen to the radio. The machinery was noisy but but too bad. I wish I’d known how easy it would be I was very concerned beforehand. Good luck

So you go in about 1/2 way and you may have a mask type thing placed over your face/head and secured to the bed to help with the quality of the pictures. You will be given earbuds or headphones to drown out the sound as they are very noisy (lots of buzzing and banging - perfectly normal for an MRI scan).

Whether or not you have contrast injected depends on what they’re looking for/at, but if you’re worried you could give the MRI dept. a call and ask.

DA has had lots. They put a cannula in beforehand, do one scan without dye then call a doctor who introduces the dye via the cannula. Then another scan.

I had one a couple of years ago on my head and neck. Most of me went in, not just my head. I also had the leaflet that talked about dye, but none was ever mentioned and I didn’t have/need it so I think that’s probably just general advice to anyone having an MRI.

The rules on clothing are just to make sure you have no metal. If your dress has a zip then that will cause problems, also don’t forget about bra underwiring! If you’re not wearing suitable clothes you’d have to wear a hospital gown so it might be easier to take separate work clothes to change into afterwards.

When I had mine done they put a cage over my face to stop me moving, which was ok but I wish I’d been aware beforehand. Also there was no music inside, and the machine’s loud so it was unsettling but you can speak to the operators and let them know if you’re struggling. On the plus side, seeing the pictures of your skull and brain is extremely cool.

I don't know how much goes in for a head one. I've had a couple but I don't like the cage so I close my eyes before they put it on and keep them closed until it's off.
I have had dye. They put a needle in before it starts and then they come in part way through to put the dye in.
You need to remove any metal including bra hooks, earrings, belts etc.

You can't wear anything ferromagnetic in an MRI scanner which is probably what the instructions are hinting at (the scanner is a massive magnet). They should be able to give you a snazzy hospital gown if you don't have anything. Some scans need contrast, others don't - depends what they're doing/looking for. The scans are quite long and boring. You may be able to chose music to listen to so maybe take some tunes in with you.

I had one at Walton for my nerve issue (TN) to look for damage to the nerve.

I had to wear a gown. All of me went into the machine. I had a mask on to hold my head still and the ceiling of the machine was very close to my head, but there was a constant breeze running to keep it feeling fresh. It was VERY noisy, but they talked in my ear to tell me what was going on and when to expect different noises.

I had the injection about halfway through the scan - it was in the back of my hand. They pulled me out a bit, injected me, stuck me back in and then carried on. They popped the vein on back of my hand with the dye, which wasn't great but nothing too bad, although it did leave me with a cracking bruise.

I've had two. First one I didn't have dye and wore my own clothes. Went in up to about my waist. It's noisy but part from that was ok. Second one I changed into a hospital gown and had the dye. They inserted a canula and injected it half way through. I was quite cold with just the gown on to be honest. They let me keep my wedding and engagement ring on but anything else metal had to be removed.

There's nothing to worry about. Take loose fitting clothes in a bag and change in the toilet. There are lockers.

You lie down and your body goes into the machine. You keep still. They let you listen to music as the machine is loud. All perfectly normal.
Then just have a day dream and voila. You have a button in your hand if you want to stop.

It says you don't need die. I didn't either so it's simple. Op you'll be fine. All done in 20 mins. No pain just feeling of vibrations.

*dye

Gosh, thanks so much for all the replies. My DP will be going with me, so I can leave jewellery, handbag etc with him. Maybe I will bring “lounge clothes” with me and change, pyjama type trousers (black, look like joggers) and a sweatshirt?

People who had the dye injection, did you know you were having it before you went? I had to have bloods done at the Max-Fax clinic before the MRI referral to check I was okay to have the MRI, and I actually sobbed the whole way through - I’d been waiting three hours and was pretty high by that point, but I am properly phobic about any sort of injection. The poor nurses, they were so kind to me, but must have thought I was actually bonkers.

Ive had lots - head and full body. Head is okay. You can ask to practise going in and it also helps to get them to show you and then visualise from outside where you will be - the reality is you are not deep in a tube. I find that when in that reaching out and holding the end of the scanner is very reassuring for spacial awareness.

You wear a guard over your head which hopefully will have a mirror so you can see out too. Close your eyes as you go in. It is very loud as other PP have said - listen to some youtube videos so you don't get a surprise. I've had so many i know the cycles now!

(I mean high as in anxious, not on drugs/booze!)

I have them every 6 months as my brain is dodgy. No dye, wear my own clothes, head in the machine, window so I can see out, headphones on playing the radio.

It's always quite pleasant really! I was nervous as fuck at first but honestly I look forward to it now. It's a morning off work where I get to lie down and listen to ABBA.

I've had a few. Some with dye and some without. My head and chest are in the machine. My head is held in place by a frame and they put supports under my knees to keep me as comfortable as possible as they need me to keep still. The operator checks in with me over an intercom to make sure I am ok and to keep me up to date with each scan. I'm also given a button to press if I become anxious and need them to stop. They give me a choice of music to listen to over headphones but the machine is very loud so the music doesn't drown it out. The scans I've had are around 40 mins but with the updates the times goes quite quickly. The staff are always kind and reassuring. Lots of people are nervous and they try to ensure you are as comfortable as possible. Hope that helps.

I have had a few, the first one was the worst because I didn't know what to expect.
I had no problem claustrophobia wise because the back of it is open too, (its not like putting your head into a washing machine, its more like a doughnut shape) and there is plenty of air, its open on each end and I was given a buzzer in my hand and if I wanted to get out at any time.

What I hated was the noise of it, again this was because I didn't have a clue and thought it would be silent like an xray, its like Buzz Buzz Buzz for one minute, then beep beep beep for another minute, some of the buzzes make you feel like you are vibrating. It goes on for a good few minutes, its nothing like an xray.

They put a thing over your forehead to keep your head still, and sometimes headphones to listen to music. They tell you you can stop at any time and get out, but this just makes it all take longer, so once you have gotten this far just keep going.
I never had to get the dye and nobody I know has ever had to get the dye, I tell myself that if I keep really still and do as I'm told then I won't need the dye.

Very best wishes and of course you will be fine when its over, it does not hurt at all and you will be glad you had it done. Good luck.