MRI scan

I had an MRI of my knee a few years ago. I just had to lie still and only my legs were in the machine. The machine was noisy at times but I was always warned. I think that I was in the machine at least 30 minutes. It depends what part of your anatomy is to be screened as to how much of your body will be in the scanner.

I doubt if you will be allowed to take anybody else into the room but the radiographers are always close by.

30 minutes, eh Charleygirl? I hoped you would say 10 at the most. I am having a brain scan so it will be noisy, I suppose. (How many Kalms tablets do you think I will need?) I know I just have to take a deep breath and get on with it, don't I?

30 minutes, eh Charleygirl? I hoped you would say 10 at the most. I am having a brain scan so it will be noisy, I suppose. (How many Kalms tablets do you think I will need?) I know I just have to take a deep breath and get on with it, don't I?

I had an MRI scan in November (suspected appendicitis),and it was over very quickly. Just a few minutes.
However it wasn't an enclosed thing, it was a circular machine which sounded like a washing machine spin cycle!

I agree with the length of time mentioned. If you would close your eyes going in and keep them closed I'm sure it will help. Most machineshalve a little air blowing on you so don't get overly warm. I think it helps relax you also. they give you ear plugs but you can still here the technician. she will ask you through-out the test if you are ok and relay how much longer it will be. all very calming. You also may have to hold your breath for a short time....the person talks you through everything. You will be fine. I sang a song in my head while I was in there! But I'm not claustrophobic.Let use know how easy it was!

I had a brain scan last year, it was one of the enclosed ones and it wasn't any thing like as claustrophobic or scary as I had expected. The thing that I didn't expect was that it was noisy but there were headphones available either with or without music.
Good luck

It is noisy - sounds like a washing machine with a spoon in it! But it really isn't too bad at all - honestly. I am a bit claustrophobic, but I coped fine.

There is a mirror above you that works like a periscope so that when you look into it seems as though you are looking at the room you are in rather than the roof of the scanner, which some find reassuring. The fact that I am blind as a bat without my glasses meant that this did not work as well for me as it might have done!

Your whole body is not in the scanner and you can have music through the headphones - and the radiographers speak to you through them too. You also have a small buzzer in your hand so that you can let them know if at any point you feel unhappy.

My friend, who is a known claustrophobic, went to her GP and got a happy pill to take on the morning of the scan. It worked fine.

Please do not let it worry you - it really is not as bad as you think.

I hope that the results are favourable and wish you every luck with all of this.

Believe me, it will be ALL RIGHT! I had an MRI of the head after a suspected stroke and, like you, I was panicky about it as I am very claustrophobic. I was refused a "happy pill" or sedation (told it "wasn't necessary") but, honestly, it was not nearly as bad as I had feared and the time actually went very quickly. You have headphones on and the radiographers talk to you all the time (although I was not allowed music - possibly because it was a head scan?) and the mirror above your head allows you to see the nursing staff, so you really don't feel shut in. Concentrate on watching them (I did) and I also did a bit of deep breathing on the odd occasion I felt a bit jittery. And it was absolutely fine. Good luck - you'll feel proud of yourself when its finished!

Noisy but not unbearable.I wore an eye mask and had head phones on for the music. I think they told me that they can pipe music into the chamber if head scan.

I was a little anxious but the staff were wonderful and made sure I was comfortable all of the time, letting me know what was happening. I think it took about 20 minutes, mine was for abdominal area to check out a suspect ovary (all good though) My GP also prescribed Diazapam for the morning of the scan. It did help.

Good luck and all the best. It will be over in no time xxx

I found that the cooling fan kept me rather too cool, particularly as I had to keep quite still (blinkin' frozen, to be honest). Ask for a blanket!

I decided to keep my eyes closed the whole time, when in for a brain scan. I imagined I was in a field in the summertime.

It was extremely noisy like being down a coal mine.

I was so quiet and relaxed the radiographer asked if I was ok.

Not half as bad as I expected.

You will be fine.

thanks everyone. I'm going to concentrate on my breathing and just try and relax

My DH is booked in for a brain scan in two weeks and to answer your question I have been told I will be allowed into the scan room,I must answer all the safety questions he will be asked and must remove all metal beforehand.I think you must ask the department, our hospital have been very helpful.

I sat in the room when our DD had an MRI, but she didn't mind enclosed spaces and she listened to music. I sat holding my mother's ankle when she had one, because she was very nervous but it calmed her to be able to feel me there. We had to remove all metallic objects too.

thanks, Annsixty and Flump. I will see what happens when we see the staff in Sheffield. I will be OK, I am sure. Not sure if they are doing a brain scan or a full scan. Neurological team are investigating the possibility of motor neurone disease, so that is a worry in itself really. There are other things that mimic the symptoms so I suppose they are testing for all avenues......! I get remarried on 12th April so I need to get some sort of diagnosis although, in all honesty, I don't want that one, do I?

willsandco hope all goes well for you at your scan, hard to tell you what to think about whilst your in there, but maybe you could focus on your wedding and perhaps you will show us few pics on GN

best wishes to you willsandco.

I hope it goes ok for you, I hate enclosed spaces too but I have had MRI scans for my head and also a body scan. I agree with the rest about the time and it is very noisy but there is enough room around you not to feel too bad. I wasn't offered any headphoned but the person doing the can did speak to me from time to time and that was reassuring.I felt that I was not alone.

Thanks all for the reassurances. You are right - I will be thinking about the wedding. Just sitting down here now discussing music, readings and bidding prayers. His son and my daughters and all the grandchildren are playing a part so it will be very family oriented. Just a lovely traditional service. Less than eight weeks now! Just go to get these tests and scans over and a consultation with Professor of Neuroscience with a possible diagnosis and then I can really concentrate on wedding. All these health concerns are a bit of a black cloud at the moment - will be pleased when these scans and tests are over!

I didn't have any headphones either but found the breeze coming in most helpful. It made me feel I was not enclosed. We had recently been to Russia and I passed the time going up and down the escalators of the Metro in my mind and imagining I was looking at all the beautiful murals on the walls. It really helped.

When I had a thyroid scan, nothing like an MRI I know, I was told it would take 15 minutes, so I counted the seconds and the time flew by. I wasn't very accurate, so it was finished earlier than I expected, a bonus.
I shall be thinking of you.

I am thinking of getting a CD tomorrow of status quo or something boppy!
No, really, seriously, I have several CDs I can take in and choose one of them, if they allow them in. Acker Bilk is favourite x

I have had a recent MRI Scan it took 10 mins, noisy but okay. Mention that you are claustrophobic they put a gadget on your head so that you can see outside the machine. By the way I was clear.

thanks Ian. so pleased you had a positive result.