Who's had an MRI - what was it like?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I'm having one next week on my back and am a little apprehensive.

If I know what to expect I think it would help.

It's cold in the room, they need to keep it chilly for the scanner, it's alot like sticking your head in a washing machine only it doesn't move. It's noisey so they give you head phones. Don't be apprehensive, it's worth it for them to find out what the problem is. It takes about 20 minutes.

wear clothes that DON'T have any metal in

Like a tshirt and leggings and socks

Not underwired bra or you will have to take it off

Good luck

It's really noisy and cold, but thats just how the MRI works. Make sure you have a wee just before otherwise it's a long time lying totally still !

Otherwise, it's just a matter of lying there listening to their choice of music

I've had one.

Lay on a bed and had what looked like a foam grid put around my abdomen. Something likd a tray was put on top of that. Had earphones playing music and also the operator could speak to me through them. I had an alarm that I held if I needed the operator.

The bed moved into the tube(which was narrower than I thought it would be) taking me completely in. Tube was open at both ends.

Some loud noises now and then but nothing alarming.

To be honest, I found it quite relaxing just lay there listening to the music. I wouldn't be bothered if I was told I needed another one.

Good luck with yours.

I had one this morning, be prepared for a a claustrophobic feeling. It is like being trapped in a narrow tunnel. I didn't realise how much this would panic me before I went in but it did and I really had to work hard not to panic for the first few minutes.
You do get a button to press if you need anything though.

It is totally painless though.

Good luck.

Thanks everyone, that's really useful.

All of my bras (apart from my old bf ones that are now far too big!) are underwired, so I think I'll get a new wireless one ober the weekend. The fasteners are metal though - is that ok?

I'm not claustrophobic, but not a fan of enclosed spaces - I just hope I can cope with it all.

It does sound a bit like you are on a building site when you are in one but it is fine. I had lots of reassurance from here before I had mine and despite my fretting I didn't have any stray random bits of metal in me that I'd forgotten about, nor did my fillings do anything odd. In fact it was fine yours will be too.

Don't take a book in with you. I thought I'd be able to lie there and read but there isn't actually enough room to hold the book above your face. I dozed off actually. It is pretty noisy but if you have the music on and close your eyes it's really quite relaxing

I am extremely voluptuous and I just took my bra off and left it in the locker with my shoes

So if you wear a round necked T~shirt or sweatshirt and feel you could go without a bra then just take it off

Thanks very much - I do feel reassured now.

I've had one before I had children. My first thought about it when I saw your question was that it's a great opportunity for a lie down

i had one and i fell asleep,it was avery quick 40 mins!

But then i could fall asleep on a washing lline .

hope it all goes ok for you though.

I hate them so I have valium an hour beforehand. I've always been a bit claustrophobic though. I've been in a few different ones and have discovered that one I use is not as bad as the others as I can actually see the ceiling out of the head end. The others make me feel as if I am in a coffin. Not good.

If you do have problems with claustrophobia, call your GP and ask for a prescription for a small number of valium and explain why. And if you do find it intolerable inside, they can get you out VERY quickly, drug you, and do you an hour or so later.

And wear socks to keep your toes warm.

I found it very claustrophobic, and had to come out in a hurry the first time I went in.

Closing my eyes helped (I could not have coped at all otherwise) as did focusing on the noises the machine made. I just made it through the full scan, largely through will power and bloodymindedness.

I didn't notice the cold, and just took my bra off.

If I ever need another one I will be hammering on the surgery door for sedatives - I couldn't cope with the same again, I don't think.

i had to take all my clothes off & wear a hospital gown (nice), so the underwired bra issue was ok. quite dull & noisy but over quickly.

where i work they get patients to change in to their own gowns depending on what area you having scanned, you can take your own cd for them to play for you in to the ear phones, and you have to have no makeup on, such as mascara eyeliner etc. ear rings out, bras off necklaces off etc. the magnetic pull is quite strong, when i was training it was the thing to be in the mri room and hold a 20p in your hand, you could feel it pulling in your hand to the magnet, so it quite surprised me how strong the magnet is.

I had one on my knee so didn't feel claustraphobic but the noise was incredible and changed all the time. The worst thing for me was them saying 'now you musn't move' as I was ready to slide in - now if there's one thing thats going to make me want to move it's someone telling me not to!!

I've had 5!
I'm very cluastrophobic but have mannged to fall asleep during a couple of them.
Once and only once, I felt panicky, you have button, which I pressed and they got me out straightaway. Once I calmed down, I realsied that I could control it with the button, if required and went back in.
Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine, the staff are well used to handling patient anxiety.

Here is a good video clip of someone coming out.

Don't worry about the thing on her head - that is only if you are having a brain scan - but it gives you an idea of space etc

Thanks - I actually had it done this afternoon as there was a cancellation and I work on site so could get there in time.

TBH it was awful - but at least it's done.

I wish they had told me what Christmasmoon said about the noises. I expected it to be one noise, staying the same all the way through. I was totally freaked by the changing noises, starting and stopping. One sounded like an alarm and I was sure it had broken with me stuck inside!! I didn't get music either

Thank you all so much for replying though. It did help a lot.

Yes the noises made me jump everytime it changed! Glad it's done with and hope the results are good news.