MRI & CT scan problems - help!

[ifIwerenotanandroid]

Over Christmas I had a failed attempt at an MRI scan. Now I'm facing a CT scan instead.

Can anyone tell me the difference between the two experiences as a patient? After what happened I'm really quite anxious about whether I can do the CT scan. The hospital isn't send out any patient information sheets so I have no idea about any of it.

isn't sending, I mean

It’s completely different. Not enclosed , plenty of space, faster procedure.

I got in an MRI once. Lasted 10 seconds.

Last week I had a CT It's totally different not claustrophobic at all. Just a giant polo mint.

MRI : the scanner is like a ‘tunnel’ and can be claustrophobic.
CT: scanner is like a doughnut and not enclosed like MRI, so not claustrophobic.
Both are noisy, but MRI is much noisier. MRI’s usually take longer than CT scans, but depends on what/why scan is being done.
MRI often ‘more detailed’ than CT, again depends on what/why scan is being done for.
I’ve had both and I found CT was a doddle, MRI was difficult.
What are you concerned about?

Well, that sounds better!

Has anyone had the injection? And do they put cameras on top of you?

MRIs are very noisy whereas CT scans are quiet. Most people do find CT scans much easier.

What exactly was the issue with the MRI?
MRIs are also a lot more scarce and expensive so tend to be reserved for after you've already had a CT or for certain indications for which they are better.

I had injection in the CT scan, just felt a little warm for a few seconds, not unpleasant. They warned me that some people feel as if they are going to wet themselves, but they don’t actually do it IYSWIM.

The injection is contrast medium. It's isn't always required but is needed for some purposes. You could ask if it's possible to have it without if it's the needle that bothers you.

What was the difficulty with the MRI? Knowing that will make it easier to answer in a useful way.

The problem with the MRI was that I'd been told it would take 20 mins & that my head would be out or at least next to 'the mouth' as someone referred to it. Other than that, I knew nothing.

On the day I had a surprise cannula put in but bailed before the injection. The time inside was extended to 30 mins (may not sound a big difference but I was barely holding it together). My head went in first & nobody said whether it would come out the other side or not (would it have done?). And then they put large, heavy equipment on top of me. At that point I freaked, which they were very nice about.

You are allowed to ask qs you know

Do you have an appt letter? I think I'd ring up and say look I'm really anxious and I need someone to talk me through this a bit. Is there anyone who could answer some questions for me?

Even though it might not be standard procedure I think most people in healthcare are there because they want to help people and will usually go out of their way to help if asked politely.

I have given people tours of our facility before now (different procedure) if they were very worried. We don't standardly offer it as most people don't need it but most things can be sorted out if you ask. No-one wants a wasted appointment.

Ok, so it was more that they failed to adequately explain and obtain consent. Onus is on staff to obtain legally valid consent, not for patients to have to try and guess something is about to be done to them without consent or explanation.

When you go for the CT, slow them down and make sure they actually describe to you what they want to do before they do it. Information will allow you to feel more in control.

MRI can be very claustrophobic and I do agree it's much worse if that's not adequately explained so I'm not surprised you panicked.

No letters, no info sheets. I asked questions when they rang to make the appointments but you don't know what you don't know.

That's true and the person making the appt might just be admin and not know details.

There usually are leaflets sent out and absolutely things should be clearly explained but sometimes it's hard to know what people want to know as this can be quite individual. Some don't want to be told much and some want a lot of detail. Some people are concerned about things you've never thought of. You should be asked if you have qs before they proceed.

Please do feel that you can ask on the day. Ask them to slow down if you feel rushed into it and warn them beforehand that you are nervous about it and they should take extra care. Usually it's thoughtlessness and forgetting that patients don't understand something you do day in day out.

I had the contrast dye injection. Mine was looking at blood vessels ahead of breast surgery next week.
It made me feel hot for about 6 seconds. I felt funny like I'd wet myself then it went away quickly.
Then I drove home. No issues at all. X

I’ve had both. With the MRI I had to have a cage like thing put over my head and then went in the scan. The staff told me they have someone bail out at least once a day so your not alone, it’s not the most pleasant of things. I had contrast with the CT scan which like others say does make you feel a little warm but other than that it was a case of laying there with my arms over my head whilst the big round polo mint looking scan went back and forth, it was over in minutes.

www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/120417ctscan.pdf

You could just google the information leaflet - here's an example

CT or PET scan are both a doddle compared to an MRI scan.
I bailed on my MRI scan after 30 minutes because I was getting more and more claustrophobic and I went in feet first.
It didn’t help that the staff I had for the MRI were quite offhand and I’d had so many appointments in a short space of time.

My daughter had a MRI and a CT scan on Thursday ahead of surgery next week.
The CT scan was quick and not noisy at all, she went in feet first (pelvic scan).
The MRI was head first (brain and spinal cord scan) she had her head in a cage and was in and out of the machine as it did it’s thing. They gave her headphones and a dvd to watch. She was in the scan about an hour or so.

@Carriemac

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/120417ctscan.pdf

You could just google the information leaflet - here's an example

Thanks. I've checked, & my hospital has no online patient leaflets about scans. There's a bit of info on one page about CT scans, but nothing at all about having an MRI scan.

If you search on youtube you should be able to find some information videos from other NHS trusts. This might help reassure you?

Im a scan veteran alas

MRI
You are in a long tunneln depending on what is bring scanned you might gave a "coil" put on that area. This can be a dage type structure iver your gead ir literalluly cups on your boobs or a structure on your shoulder ir nothing at all. They help yo increase the sensitivityof the scanner to amplify the images. you wear goamearplufs and headphones on top. Music is played through headphones usually and you can hear the technicians speaking to you. You hold a small ft bulb which you can squuezr yo doeak to tyem and get them yo remove you immediately. The scanber nakes a series of loud clicks and clocks at various spoeds and volumes. You may be abke yo ferl vibration. Depending on the scan sequence it can be very loud but there are short breaks between each sequence. They tell you how long the next sequence will last, ie the next will be 2 mins, or 4 mins. MRI hives the best mist detailes inagesn the contrast diesnt hurt, a canula doesn't mean you will have contrast, for some scans you are regularly given one in case the inages arent clear then they just give you a little bit. it can make you feel warm instantly, give you weird taste for a second or two or make you feel like you need to wee, you don't. Not everyone feels this..

CT
This is entirely different.
It works by conducting a quick series of Xrays in slces that of you. It is a giant ring (often with fancy lights just for decoration!) You lie on the bed,you may beed conteast for this, it depends what is being examined as it provides less clear images than an MRI scan. The bed you lie on moves by itself into the ring (which is thin so only about 10inches of you will ever be within it), the scanner speaks to you! It will give you instructions as to when to breathe in or out (if you are having a central body part scanned). The contrast may be used or not but the process identical. The scan takes 1 or 2 minutes.

Hopefully that makes you feel happy. Watching the fancy lighrs and listening to a talking scanner for a couple of minutes will be distraction enough. Report back and let us know how it goes. Hooefully it finds nothing of any consequence

Thank you to everyone for all your help & support. You've made me feel better about the CT scan.

As for the info leaflets & letters, I asked & the hospital is quite deliberately NOT sending them out. Go figure. It's the opposite of what I needed.

GlamGiraffe Sorry you've had to have so many scans, but thank you for sharing your experiences, as they were the closest to mine.

Some hospitals have info leaflets available online - the templates are similar even if yours does not.

I had to have an MRI and like you freaked when I realised that it was not just the tunnel but the stuff they put on you. I got inside,last 2 seconds, screamed and then threw up. But you can get a GP to give you something to calm you down, diazipan got me through it, still horrible and I didn't open my eyes and sang outloud to Robbie Williams for 40 minutes. My second mRI I had tamazipan and it was great, people were laughing at me in reception I was so high.
Not had a CT, but I did go with my sister for hers. Its like a ring that goes round you quickly, its a bit scary. But not culstrophic like an MRI and super quick.much more doable.