Small bowel MRI tomorrow- any tips please?

[mechanicalpencil]

Am very anxious.

Will I be able to get the bus and train back home afterwards? The leaflet doesn’t mention anything about the “after-effects” 🤔

When I had one I had diarrhoea after but that could have been the condition I turned out to have causing it

The MRI itself shouldn't have any side effects but of course if you're very anxious you might feel a bit shaky afterwards. If possible maybe programme in time to have a cup of tea and a biscuit in the cafe afterwards. Have they said whether they'll be using a contrast dye?

My daughter's took a lot longer than anticipated because they changed the camera a couple of times so don't be too worried if that happens - it doesn't mean they've seen something concerning. It just means they need to get a different angle to ensure they've checked everything.

There will be someone watching the images as the MRI happens and they monitor that they're getting all the areas they need and the images are clear. The images then go to the radiologist who will write the report.

@HPFA Thank you.

The leaflet says they will use Buscopan and Gadolinium.

DD had the Gadolinium. They advise you to have more fluids afterwards to wash it out of your system but that's all.

She found it a bit uncomfortable having to keep still for so long but no actual pain from the magnet. I could see the monitoring technicians from the waiting room and was relieved to see they were sitting back and occasionally chatting. I believe there is a system where they can flag up anything they think looks odd so it was reassuring that they didn't suddenly jump up and peer more closely!

@HPFA that’s very helpful, thank you. Can I ask how long the diarrhea after-effects lasted after the procedure? I have a 1.5 hour public transport journey to get home..

I had a breast one recently. No actual pain but I'd cycled there and did feel a bit shaky and discombobulated on the way home. I had the dye too but no sedation. Mine lasted about 40 mins. I found the noises very jarring, they feel like they get into your bones if that makes sense, a bit like chalk on a blackboard or teapot bar dance music. I could still cycle home after but would have preferred to walk.

I think it was the other poster who mentioned the diarrhea symptoms.

I believe sometimes people have a prep drink to clear the bowel beforehand which might cause this- but if your instructions don't mention this then that should be OK.

During a MRI, you sometimes have to hold your breath.

The machine tells you to breathe in, breathe out and then hold. I always struggled to hold my breathe after I breathed out so I ignored the instructions and would take a big breathe in when it said breathe out and hold my breathe that way.

That said, my last MRI was two months ago and the machine told me to hold my breathe after breathing in, so it may have changed!

Definitely factor in plenty of time to sit in the cafe before you leave. A family member recently had a bowel MRI with buscopan. It was a much higher dose than they ever took to deal with their bowel issues. A benign side effect was that they could not focus their eyes for a while afterwards and they felt quite tipsy and a little spaced out.

The procedure itself was painless and strangely pleasant. My family member is mildly claustrophobic, really dislikes being in very small spaces, but they just shut their eyes and focused on daydreaming. The background noise helped, it’s a little like white noise.

A few of us in my family have had MRIs and we all report that same sense of dreamy well-being while in the machine.

Yes it was me with the diarrhoea. I had to fast before the scan and then have a drink when I got there which was a contrast so if you’re not having that it may be fine. I had it for a couple of days on and off but managed to make it home from the hospital ok.

I hope it goes ok for you

Just to add that I’ve also had buscopan for a MRI several times and it didn’t bother me at all. Do still take into account that you may need that extra time after the MRI but don’t assume that everyone feels weird after having it (just in case you’re worried!).