MRI Today

[pinkgin85]

Going for an MRI of my uterus area today, never had one before and a bit nervous.

What should I expect? I know they'll be injecting me with some medication beforehand; Buscopan and another one.

Thanks

Don't wear anything with metal (bra?) it's very loud. ...and gets quite warm. can be relaxing! I had one on my pelvis. ,could just about see into the room. You will have a button to call for help, if needed.

I had MRI and ct last year for similar reasons. I think the MRI was the one where you are injected with a contrast dye but may have it wrong way round. I found it all ok and had everything well explained as it went along. Hope it goes well. I'd be glad toget it done incase things start getting cancelled. I'm hoping my appointments inearly January happen too!

I've had a couple of MRIs (no injections though so can't advise on that bit).

I guess the experience could be compared to going for a noisy X-Ray that takes a while longer! You get headphones for ear protection and then lie still on a bed while the machine does its thing. You'll be told when you can move and when to hold still and you can communicate with the technicians at any time if you need to. I actually found it quite relaxing to be honest and just zoned out.

I had one over a decade ago. Back then you could bring in a CD of music and they could play with for you. Do they still do that?

I have had several. It doesn't take long. You will have ear defenders, a call button and the operator will talk to you via the head phones. There is a lot of banging and clanking but it is over very quickly.
If they are using contrast they will put a cannula in your hand or wrist before they start.

I kept my eyes closed the whole time to avoid getting claustrophobic. Was determined not to open them. Closed them before I went into the machine so never saw the tunnel bit. You'll be fine!

Abdominal ones are better than head (less claustrophobic).
I've only ever had dye with Ct scans. The dye can make you feel like you've wet yourself (it wears off fast) and also feel flushed.
The mri can sound like road works (intermittently) but it passes.
They usually have music /radio on and you can request they change it.
You have to lay very still. When having a Ct they often ask you to breath in and hold your breath, mri just to lay still.
I always wear leggings which I've always been able to keep on and put a gown on top half.
It can feel cold on your legs but you can ask them for a blanket.
If you're having contrast you will need a small canula put in your arm. It's not as painful as you think it will be.
It doesn't take too long (probably less than 20 minutes in scanner) just all the checks before /after.

Abdomen isn't too bad IMO, I have head and neck ones too and I find that really claustrophic as they put a cage thing over your head and you're right in the scanner. When I had gynae scans done my head was only just in the edge of the scanner but they still put a cage over the area they're scanning.
Some hospitals do the dye injection part way through the scan and they pull you out of the scanner and someone comes into administer it, but another I've been to hooks you up to a pump with a canula and they just tell you when it's happening.
It's either really hot or really cold in my experience!
They tend to play music, or ask you if you want the music. I prefer it without as I find the music competing with the banging worse than just the banging! The "new scanner" near me also has a weird thing they project onto the ceiling with "calming" images on it. It didn't work for me as I had to take my glasses off so couldn't see what it was properly!
The last time I had one on the NHS you had to change into surgical scrubs (even though I went not wearing any metal as I'd done in the past) due to Covid but when I went privately I still wore my own clothes.

It wasn't too bad! Well the MRI bit was fine, they gave me a blanket and earplugs and ear defenders and the noise was fine and I found just laying there quite relaxing (is that weird?). It took about 25 mins in total. However the canula was a bitch! I hate getting them every single time! They are usually the worst bit of my birth experience (2 csection) and my 1 laparoscopy and now for the MRI too. I could feel the pain throughout and when the nurse took it out at the end I almost screamed. My arm was sore the whole day, not sure how I managed to drive home. But thankfully it's done now, thank you everyone!