MRI scan any experience?

[Frogslegs]

I require a MRI scan soon and have little knowledge of what is going to happen. How long does it take? Is it claustrophobic...is it best to shut eyes?[:'(]

[NormanH]

Depends rather on what they are scanning

I have had Head, 2 times  pelvis, and chest.

The head is a bit claustrophobic yes, because you go right inside,the pelvis much less so as you only go in up to the upper waist

You have to stay very still for the duration of the test, and it can be noisy

Usually you have to get your own 'produit' from the Pharmacy and take it with you.  They sont have it at the Scanner.

You can read it a bit about it here  or here

[Benjamin]

Mrs Benjamin's been in one a few times. You will go head first into what appears to be a tube. If you feel better keep your eyes closed as Mrs Benjamin does.

It is a little claustrophobic but you will be given a hand held panic button if it all becomes too much. As far as time goes this will depend on what you are being scanned for but work on four to five minutes. The staff can talk to you during this procedure via a built in speaker.

Bear in mind that you must not have anything metallic on you so think in terms of zips, buttons, clips and clasps. If you wear a bra (your forum name gives nothing away [:D]) remember the metal clasp at the rear back. You'll need to be very swinging 60's that day!

Mrs Benjamin has also had a scan of the pelvic area and that was done with a much smaller machine which was placed over her as she lay down,

From memory you will need to not eat or drink anything for several hours before and you will also be given a prescription for a liquid which will be injected prior to the procedure commencing.

Mrs Benjamin is due to have another scan on 23 February so if yours is after that date she can give you more information then.

Best of luck and try not to worry about it.

Edit: NormanH beat me to it as I'm a very slow typist.

[Frogslegs]

Many thanks for information so far. As I have problems with neck, shoulder, back, hip and achilles heels...sounds like I shall be going in all the way? As for swinging loose....the only way to be, as they are probably the only part that are in good shape![:D]

[Frogslegs]

Usually you have to get your own 'produit' from the Pharmacy and take it with you. Forgot to ask...what is a produit?[8-)]

[britgirl]

From my experience they may offer to let you have headphones and listen to a CD, which you may find calming, in fact they asked us to bring a favourite CD in, you might want to ask them about this.

 

[Tony F Dordogne]

I had one just before Xmas, all a regular part of my treatment.

The head one (my last MRI) can be a bit off but the way I deal with it is to do the relaxation techniques I know, as soon as I I start to move into the machine I close my eyes and do deep breathing exercises, last time I fell fast asleep, depsite the noise.  They may put your head in a sort of cage in a frame but it's not intrusive at all, the main thing is, as said previously, to remain perfectly still.

They may give you instructions as the MRI progresses and depending on which part of the body it is, it can last between 20 mins and and hour and if you fidgit, they may want to do part of it again.

The only down side for me is the dye that they sometimes use.  I don't always react well to it and at my last one, about 18 months ago, they were most surprised when I asked for a bowl when it was over and even more surprised when they had laughed and asked "what for" as I pv'd all over the bench :(

The real knack, as far as I'm concerned, is to relax, listen to what they say and remain as still as possible.  In the event of a problem for you they usually give you a panic button before you start and you can always use that if it all becomes too much for you.

Hope this helps, it's really not too bad if you go there with the right frame of mind.

[NormanH]

The 'produit' is the substance you may be injected with.

Unlike the UK it is nor provided 'onsite'.

If it is needed your Doctor will have given you a prescription,but you have to take that to a Pharmacy, and get the 'produit' and take it to the MRI with you.

As others have said the procedure  is not really too bad.

The only time I was a  tiny bit phased was in a relatively emergency situation, and that was as much the panic of what was happening as  the MRI

On other occasions it has been quite straightforward.

Good luck and good health.

[Tony F Dordogne]

[quote user="NormanH"]
The 'produit' is the substance you may be injected with.
Unlike the UK it is nor provided 'onsite'.
[/quote]

Sorry Norman, that is inaccurate.  For all my MRIs  (looking back at my pictures I've had 4 in the 4 years I've been here) the 'produit' has been provided at the hospital, not by my specialist or GP.

Told my daughter that the last scan of my head found nothing wrong, 40 years old brat mumbled something about asking for a second opinion ......................

[NormanH]

Thanks for that TonyF

It is possible that I am confusing this bit  with the normal scanner (which I have also been through many times).

For all my normal scans I have certainly had to take the stuff with me.

Obviously in the case of an emergency there is a stock, so for my first MRI I didn't need to collect anything.

I was under the distinct impression that I had to for the other times, but I wouldn't argue with you. Next time I will check what happens.

For Scintigraphy (I have had 2) the 'produit' is radio-active, so it is stored on site, so this may be the case with the dye for the MRI

(I even had to take my own supply of bandages into a clinic for the first minor Op I had in 1996[:)]

[KathyC]

I had an MRI scan at Perigueux just before Christmas and I was definitely given a prescription to collect before I went for the scan.

 

Mine was for my breasts and I had to lay face down with my arms by my side with my boobs in holes in the table. (There's comfy!)I found it very difficult to breathe in this position, particularly when I had to keep still. If you're a bit claustrophobic I'd ask your GP for a couple of tranquillizers to take beforehand. I was getting quite panicky when the Valium kicked in, for which I was very grateful. I think that if I'd been lying on my back it would have been much easier. Bon courage!

[Scooby]

The substance is gadolinium and it's not radio active- it's a paramagnetic material used as a contrast media.  The radio active tracers are used in nuclear medicine imaging.  You wouldn't be allowed to collect a radio-isotope from the pharmacy!

I've had loads of MRI's and the experience very much depends on which bit of you is being scanned.  The worst for me was c-spine...because I couldn't swallow for 20 minutes - which is hard!  I didn't realise how frequently I normally swallow until I couldn't do it!

ps hubby is head of nuclear medicine at our city hospital and lectures in MRI (amongst other things) at the post grad med school - so any techy questions, ask away and I will go pick his brains!!

[NormanH]

I explained my self badly.

I didn't mean that the 'produit' used for the MRI scan was radioactive.

I meant that, just as with the radioactive 'produits' used for the Scintigraphie it was possible that the stuff used for an MRI is kept at the clinic.

However that is not how I remember it at 2 major teaching hospitals.

CHU La peyronie in Montpellier

CHU la Timone in Marseille.

but then I am 30% brain dead as shown on said MRI .

[:D]

In any case we are losing ourselves here.

Whether or not you have to get the 'produit' from a Pharmacy or not doesn't matter.

What does it that is is a painless and simple procedure which can help to save your life.

Don't be afraid, and good luck.

[Iceni]

It is very, very noisy. Difficult to know how to quantify but imagine smallish quantity of ball bearings in a metal dustbin being shaken very, very violently.

But I survived (I think).

John 

[KathyC]

[quote user="Iceni"]

It is very, very noisy. Difficult to know how to quantify but imagine smallish quantity of ball bearings in a metal dustbin being shaken very, very violently.

But I survived (I think).

John 

[/quote]

 

In my case they put headphones on me playing French muzac; the noise might have been better! On top of this, the headphones slid off down my head and made me even less comfortable. However, I do agree that it's a painless process, if sometimes uncomfortable and noisy.

[zeb]

Sounds like someone is hammering further up the tunnel; it sent me to sleep, but then many things do now.

[betoulle]

I spent the last 12 years of my working life in MRI - pm me with details of which area is to be scanned & I can give you some further information.  Nowadays they should always give you headphones so you can listen to music + the operators instructions.  If having your head &/neck scanned there should also be a mirror system so you can look out of the tunnel into the control room or at a muraled wall.  Not every scan requires an injection, fasting or the need to drink something beforehand & the time involved again is dependent on the type of scan being performed - anything from 5 minutes.  The need to remove anything metal is of great importance - do think very carefully back through your medical history to make sure that you are free of any thing remotely metallic......if going into a high powered magnet & having your head scanned not a good idea to wear mascara.  It is noisy, but you will be protected from that & a good operator will do their best to ensure that it is not an unpleasant experience.

[I am froglegs]

French musac[+o(] I would rather listen to the ballbearings anyday[;-)]

 

I was asked to log in???? after being a member for 7 years! password they sent to remind me did not work hence I have used a different email address and new name which I hope admin can sort out soon

 

[Frogslegs]

Many thanks Betoulle for the very informative email, and thanks to everyone else. [:D]

[lorna]

I wasn't sure whether to start a new thread for my question. Hopefully it is ok to tag onto this one.[:)]

I have an appointment for an MRI scan which needs to be done prior to going into hospital for some investigation. The appointment is immediately after Easter. Today I received a letter plus two enclosures from the hospital's radiology department. The two enclosures I think constitute prescriptions, one is for a blood test and one is for a syringe prefilled with dotarem.

This is my first MRI/hospital visit here and I hadn't realised there would be pre-requisites. Having googled a few things I realise that the dotarem is a contrasting agent which helps with the scan analysis and the blood test is to check kidney function as there is a higher risk of side-effects from the dotarem for people with kidney problems.

The blood test has to be done within three weeks of the appointment and as I am going to be away in the UK for two weeks preceeding the test I'm not sure if I can get this done in time which might mean rearranging everything.[:(]

My question though is about the dotarem. Does anyone know if this is something which can be kept at home prior to an appointment? The doctor has specified a specific 'code CIP'  number for the dotarem. I don't know if that will make it harder to obtain. No doubt we can check this out at a local pharmacy but I wondered if anyone on the forum has had experience of this.

[Frogslegs]

Betoulle has many years experience working with MRI scanners. I am sure she will not mind you sending a private message. Bonne Chance.

[Benjamin]

Maybe I can pass on very recent experience.

Your pharmacy will most likely stock this, if not they will get it within 24 hours. It can be obtained ahead of time and stored safely at home and I believe it's not necessary to refridgerate it.

[lorna]

Thank-you Frogslegs and Benjamin. That is very helpful information.

Benjamin, I'm guessing it was Mme B who had the scan. Were there any side effects from the dotarem? I came across a site which listed various problems but don't know if these are the exception - I hope they are.[+o(]

[Benjamin]

Yes it was Mrs Benjamin.

She's now had four of these spread over the last three and half years and so far no side effects. The last one, a brain scan, took over 45 minutes so that's quite a long time to be in the scanner and keeping as still as possible.

Best of luck.

[betoulle]

Hi betoulle here - have been away from the forum for a few days, so only just read your post.

Dotarem does not need refrigeration & so long as it is used before the expiry date you can get it from the pharmacy anytime before your scan - check date with pharmacist.....would advise keeping it in a medicine cupboard away from direct heat.

Under normal circumstances there should be no side effects.....

Good luck - pm me if you need any more information.