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 find MRI and CT and PET SCANS all very relaxing

I just think the sounds are like being on a train

The whirring and clunking are very soporific and soothing to me anyway

I like imagining which bit the machine is filming at any one moment

Make sure you don't wear an underwired bra, or if you do just take it off and put in lockers, no metal at all also zips or hair clips

I wear T shirt/sweatshirt and leggings/trousers just cos they are comfy and warm, it can get chilly in there if you are in for full body scans (obviously you aren't but others who are may be)

I think I would avoid a dress though (but I don't wear them in outside life so I guess not fair comment)

Depending on what they inject and the type of scan you might be "radio active" but not with MRI (those are with CT and PET) so you shouldn't be. Yes I did know beforehand cos had to cook (wait for drugs to get into correct part of body iyswim)

It might be a generic letter or leaflet you have been sent so yes, check with them beforehand if you are nervous

When you are being scanned just think of the noises as being a train taking you on holiday if you start to get nervous

Good luck

Will only my head go in the machine, or my whole body? Iirc only my head & shoulders went into the machine. I had headphones on because the machine is so noisy but their cd player wasn't working that day so it didn't cancel most of the noise out. They put a kind of frame over the bit they were scanning but it doesn't touch you.

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. I have been scanned twice: once on my head and once on my pelvis. Neither time did I have to be injected with the dye. I don't know how they decide if you need it or not though, sorry.

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? I think so. I had to get undressed and wear a gown iirc. You're given a locker to keep your stuff in during the scan. You're justot to wear any metal so it's probably best if you avoid wearing any jewellery so you don't have to take it off.

Sorry my post should have said 'the first one was the worst but that was only because I didn't know what to expect, and you do know what to expect, so you will be fine!' The next time I went, it wasn't a bother!

I was an MRI radiographer. Whatever part of the body is being scanned has to be in the centre of the scanner, so your head will be in the middle of the scanner and your feet will be poking out of the end. The frame round your head does help immobilise your head but is there primarily to receive the signals emitted by your brain tissues which are converted into the scan images. You will receive ear protection and most scanners now have music to listen to. The scanner is very loud - a bit like drilling noises or repeating buzzing. Before you go in the scanning room you will be asked to fill in a checklist about any metal in your body so that this can be confirmed as safe. Ferromagnetic material cannot be taken into the scanning room hence the suggestion of comfortable clothing without lots of metal fasteners.

The scan may take as little as 10-15 minutes but it may be longer. Only a minority of patients need an injection of contrast (unless you’re in the USA!) but if you’re nervous of needles please mention this beforehand.

If you’re really nervous it is possible for your DP to go into the scanning room with you and hold your hand. Don’t get diazepam from your GP without speaking to the MRI department first as not all departments will allow you in the scanner if you have taken your own sedation.

Bear in mind that different hospitals work to slightly different protocols so your experience may be slightly different to those described above (although the basic scanning is the same, of course).

Crumbs, that was long! Can you tell this is my favourite subject?

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask. Above all, do tell the radiographer if you are worried about anything.

I like to make little rhythm tunes up to the sounds last time they played a queen album which was great but hard to keep still!
I usually wear a non wired bra, vest top and stretchy primark legging pj bottoms unicorn patterned, and socks as I get cold feet

For 2 of my head MRIs I had someone in the room with me holding my hand (am claustrophobic).

Your head will be in the machine and will probably be in a frame type device (a ‘coil’) both to keep it stable for a nice clear set of images and for the technology to be directed appropriately in order for the images to be taken correctly. They can feel a bit claustrophobic.

Make sure you aren’t wearing anything with metal fastenings and have nothing metallic in your pockets. The MRI machine is a giant powerful magnet and is always on so there is an attraction and projectile risk as soon as you set foot in the room. The staff will ‘screen’ you before you are allowed to enter to make sure you are safe, so don’t worry.

The leaflet is problably generic one and covers all eventualities, including scans with injectible contrast. You could always phone your consultant or the mri unit if you are unsure whether you are having a scan with contrast.

Tell the MRI staff you are anxious when you arrive and they can make adjustments to your care. I agree to speaking to your GP if you feel that you are likely to need a sedative like diazepam. Although that is likely to affect your ability to return to work after the scan.

Hi Judy, unfortunately I've had lots of head MRIs but hopefully I can now put the experience to some good use!
Most things I was going to suggest have been covered already by other posters so I'll hopefully not repeat, but some tips/info from me -

• I've sometimes been allowed to wear my own clothes and sometimes been given a gown I think it just depends on their policy. I'd recommend being prepared for either eventuality, no underwire in bra is a good tip and no jeans with zips etc.

• During my last scan the radiographer gave me 2 good nuggets of info -

1) the scanner is only the length of an arm span, that helped me get some perspective as I always feel as though my whole body is in there but I don't think it is in reality 2) The scan is the only way they can get the images they need to help diagnose and then treat your issue. This really helped me as I realised it was one step on a journey to hopefully feeling better

• I often feel cold so I usually ask for a blanket around my legs

• Take a CD in case you can play one and also some ideas of music they can play if they don't have a CD player. I'm always stumped when they say "what sort of music do you like?" . Something mainstream that they can easily find is recommended. I plumped for Coldplay last time and they had enough Coldplay tunes to last the scan.

• Ask if they will kindly talk to you during scan to let you know what is going on. I found this helped me understand how much longer it would be and when to expect the sounds. E.g. She would say " the next sequence is going to last 4 minutes". You can ask them to estimate the total scan time before you go in.

• Don't fear the silences. This probably means they are uploading and reviewing the images and planning the next sequence. I used to worry they were on a break/answering the phone/nipped to the loo but they can't do anything else other than focus on you during the scan and there is always at least 2 of them in the booth.

• I've always had the dye, but the letter may be generic. For mine they have put the cannula in beforehand and then come back in towards the end of the scan to slide me out and place the dye. They say it might feel cold but I've never noticed a thing. I actually like the dye bit as I know the end is in sight!

• I've personally never been allowed to take anyone in the room with me and I've had scans at 3 different hospitals but perhaps I've just been unlucky in that respect. They provide changing facilities and a safe place to keep your possessions. I'd recommend taking the bare minimum though as they are often short on space.

I'm happy to answer any queries you have, it is unfortuantey a specialist subject for me.

I'm sure you will be fine and I hope it alll goes well for you.

They offered me a blanket and I was glad I'd said yes.

I did know about having the dye before I went. Weirdly, it can make you feel like you've wet yourself when it goes in.

I nearly fell asleep during the scan because they get you in a comfy position and although noisy it's very boring.

I've had three. One had dye for contrast. I'd been told about that by my consultant. It went into my arm in a catheter. The scan (in my experience) goes on for ages, and is very boring. And very noisy. I was given ear buds, but if you have your own which you know work, you might be best taking those. I just had normal clothes, but had to take my bra off. Good luck.

In a busy department they may discourage you having someone in the room as it is another person to have to organise so slightly slows the procedure down, but if you think having someone with you will mean the difference between success and failure then obviously it is in everyone’s interests to allow that to happen.

If you are really worried about the injection, then you can ring and ask beforehand - if you are scheduled for contrast they can tell you that, but it does sometimes happen that they decide while you are actually having the scan that contrast is needed to show things in better detail, so there isn’t a hard and fast rule, again departments have different ways of working.

I had one, it was fine. You can't wear any metal so take off jewellery and bra. Only your head goes in the machine and you have to keep very still. You have a panic button in your hand if you need if. Some allow music but mine didn't the operator spoke to me through an intercom. I had dye that was fine but am ok with needles. The operator was really nice and walked me to DH afterwards as he said some people feel a bit dizzy afterwards. It kind of sounds a bit like a building site, lots of banging noises no pain whatsoever.

I had a head MRI scan two weeks ago to monitor a benign tumour. No metal so no jewellery and my glasses off. Wore my usual clothes but had to take bra off so was given a gown to go over my top. I had dye so they could see whether tumour had grown but didn't have dye with my first head scan. It's a bit noisy but ok and my hospital offers music for you to listen to if you want it and ear plugs. As it's head scan you dont go deep into Tunel so it's not too bad. I've had the scan where you go fully into the tunnel and that's worse. I'm an anxious person and scan is ok goes quite quick.

I went into the room with my son when he had a scan but my daughter was fine going in by herself we are seasoned mri scanners in this house
They said my husband could come in with me if I wanted but I decided I'd be ok despite being very claustrophobic, when he had his he kept his eyes open and had no issues because the mirror thing helped you see outside.

Thank you so much for all the helpful comments, they have been really useful.

I think I will be fine on my own and won’t need a sedative - and it’s such short notice I couldn’t get one anyway. I am most worried about needing the injection. I am going to try ringing again tomorrow to find out more about that. The leaflet I was sent is obviously a generic one, and the letter doesn’t mention it, so hopefully it’s not on the agenda.

I don't like injections either, I just look away while they do it, the nurse said to me you don't like injections do you but it is usually done in seconds

Many if not most scanners are full length, I begged out an open scanner at time of referral and had to wait longer. Had both (at different times).
I think they routinely offer injection, although I freaked out and declined for one of my scans as it meant going back into a tube...

They give I a blanket and headphones to cut out the sound. Mine was 20mins.

If they are looking at your jaw and the nerve in it, I think it highly unlikely that you will need an injection. That is usually used to look for highlight things like tumours, which is not the case here.

I had a head MRI years ago. It was noisy, and there wasn't much room around my head, but I could talk to the person doing the scan in the control room, so they could stop any time if there was a problem.

I'm terrified of needles myself, and I completely get how horrible it is, but I really don't think you need to worry about it for this scan.

Glassheart1 Most scanners currently in the U.K. are normal length scanners, i.e. if you were having a head scan your hand would reach (just) to the end of the bore. Open scanners are few and far between, so a referral to one would generally mean you had to wait longer.
Injections are not routinely offered - it depends what kind of diseases they are looking for.

I’ve had a load and I have always nodded off during them! I didn’t know about the injection, I wasn’t informed on my letter, but it was fine.

I wasn’t allowed to wear my own clothes, had to put on a gown. In fact once I got to wear scrubs! That was the comfiest! They’ve seen everything before - so even if you have a panic it’s fine. I was in a lot pain when I had my last one, due to nerve damage in my shoulder and they were fantastic. Didn’t mind a sobbing woman at all!

I had a head scan on my ears. It was less than 15 minutes. No dye required. I was worried about claustrophobia. Even with the head guard on it is still possible to wriggle out. They let me practise. I took a tranq which really took the edge off. They also let dh in at the last minute as I was very nervous. He didn't like it as he said it looked like the room was jumping.

The best advice I was given was to close my eyes. I would def wear a sleep mask next time. Mine was a really positive experience. Good luck.

Oh and watch YouTube videos.

It is fine. I have had one. They give you a gown to wear and you put your stuff in a locker. Your head and shoulders go in. You have headphones and music. It is just very noisy and clangy when the imaging is happening.

My daughter is due to have am. MRI in the next couple of weeks and is having dye. They have sent extra leaflets about the dye and the need for cannulas etc The name.of the procedure on the appointment letter states MRI with Contrast Dye so I expect yours would state that if you were having dye also? Good luck

With the dye it's only certain patients that require it, though I think it is on the leaflet just so you are aware incase you may need it. I've had mri head scans since a child for a brain tumour and that has always required a dye half way through for contrast.

It is often cold in the scanner rooms so ask for a blanket if you need it.