MRI scan - Advice

Hi, just came across your post on MRI. There really isn,t anything for you to do except keep very still. I have had quite a few now, i prefer them in the main hospital and not the mobile units, so that would be something i always ask for. The machines in the mobile unit are smaller in width and i can get clausaphobic. When an appointment comes through and its for mobile unit i phone up and change right away. They are very good at reasuring you every operater is different some will talk you through others leave you to it. I do ask them to talk me through as you then get a sense of how long is left, like they might say this section will take 10 minutes and so forth. It all according to how long or what they are scanning but mine takes about an hour. In the mobile unit it takes longer to have any scan than in the main unit. You will need to wear your mask and, some hospitals as mine does allows you to wear your own clothers as long as there are no metal fasteners which is better as you can wear something light as it can get a little warm when the machine is scanning although there is a fan in the machine to keep you cool.IKt is very noisy and they will put earphone on but its not to bad at all. So to sum up no vasts amounts of liquids to take haha, a little noisy,and keeping still, but all in all not to bad at all, all the best Dawn xx

Hi Dawn,

Thank you so much for your advice. I thought the whole thing might take 20 minutes, so I will now brace myself for a session which might be even as long as an hour. I hope that there is a (cheerful) commentary on offer. 

I guess I am going to have to stay awake, as they might want me to react to requests such as "breathe in" or "please, please do take a breath right now". I am worried that I won't be able to speak, especially with a mask on. I don't dare to ask if they will hear me whimper. Recently, I have learned the international hand signal for "Help me!" but it is of course only a signal suitable for hands, not feet. Especially feet with shoes on. 

I do not know if I can keep still for an hour, or more. I will practise in the waiting room, maybe. 

I am going to check my clothing for metal details. I absolutely do not want to be remembered as 'the woman who had clothes which sparked then melted'. x

Hi YesMayBeNo,  you are funny . I forgot to say .they give you a buzzer to press if you need to come out so no hand signals required haha, and dont forget all piercings out, just make sure you go to the loo first we dont want any accidents. I dont drink for at least an hour before i dont want to need a pee with everythink else i need to do. All the best Dawn x

Hi Dawn,

I was glad to feel the buzzer as it was put in my hand. I didn't actually see it, as I kept my eyes closed pretty much the entire time. Somehow I managed to resist squeezing it or throwing it. Apparently, this MRI scan is one of the 'easy' ones: facedown and short. Maybe people get better at dealing with them, I don't know? x

Hi, 

I was allowed to take off my mask as I just couldn't breathe with it pressed tightly over my nose and mouth. 

Thank you for the tip about mobile scanners. x

Hi, well done its over with now till next time. The first is always the hardest. I am having one in a couple of months i will try to listern to my own advice haha  Dawn x