MRI scan

I dread having to have an MRI, mainly because I don't think I could lie still for the required amount of time. I'm a bit of a 'twitcher' especially the legs!

I had one a few months ago and although I am not claustrophobic, it was pretty close. I was in for about 20 minutes, and, as someone said, it was for my back, so my lower legs and head weren't in the tube.

I did the same as Miep: shut my eyes and just let my mind wander. Normally I can doze off quite easily, but unfortunately I didn't in that case. Probably becaue of the clonkings. There was music, but I wasn't asked what I wanted.

Just as you think you can't stand much more, it's over and you can come out again.

A colleague of mine tells me she didn't like it at all and got them to stop after about 5 minutes.

(There is an alarm button they put into your hand just in case)

I had a scan on my back last week. There was no music, just earplugs, but I just breathed deeply, thought of nice things and half drifted off despite the noise! You have nothing to worry about; incidentally I was lying on my back.

Yes gilly, I was left sitting with sirens going off. Some time later a nurse walked in and escorted me to the anaesthetic room and not a word was said, it was surreal.

several hours - are you sure IzzyWizzy?

I've never heard of an MRI scan asting longer than an hour.

I have never been ( or needed to be) sedated for an MRI but must admit to finding it really hard to keep still . I think it's a case of being told not to move makes you want to move all the more .

OMG harri scary indeed ! What on earth did they do with you? Just leave you there ?

Talking of fires and everyone evacuated, I was prepped for theatre for a major op and the fire alarm went off. I was in a small room beside the theatre when firemen appeared in breathing apparatus, staff pulled my door shut and ran off down the corridor. Scary

I'm having one for my back too in a couple of weeks. I hope I don't have to lie on my tummy, I don't think I'll have to though.I have had them previously and it's when the top of the scanner is so near your face that I don't like.
I too have wondered has everyone evacuated the hospital and left me here. Totally irrational of course! But interesting that other people have thought the same thing.
I close my eyes and imagine I am on a beach that I can hear the sea, that it's warm and sunny, I'm sure you get the idea.
Good luck op, you'll be fine.

Thank you so much to everyone who has so far replied. I feel much happier now, and shan't ask for a tranquillizer. I shall do some yoga breathing if I find any problems! I would still be interested in hearing other comments on this experience. How great to be able to ask a question and get so many replies so quickly! Thanks again everyone.

Have not gave !

I gave MRI's quite often ( twice this year so far) and i find it depends on the hospital . My local hospital is very basic . No music/headphones so nothing at all to take your mind off the banging. The other hospital I attend has a much more modern department and although I have to travel to get there the whole thing is much less stressful. I'm like PoshGran and lie there making crazy lists in my head which considering my scans are brain scans must really confuse the neurosurgeon looking at the scan results .

I'm also waiting for an MRI scan but as someone who is extremely claustrophobic I'm dreading it. I'v had three before though for one I was put out as I was to be in there several hours. I don't think they put people out anymore quite probably a money issue.

Singingnutty if you're not claustrophobic then it's nothing to worry about as others have said it's quite noisy with lots of clanging around.

If I knew for certain my head and shoulders would be outside the tube then I would be happier but I'm just 5 ft so worry my head will go in ?

I had one a few months ago, checking artery blockages to heart.
I think they must have given me a tranquilliser at some point before, because I fell asleep (on my tum) and they had to wake me up afterwards. Don't remember any noise.
I was dreading it because I'm a bit claustrophobic.

I had MRI scan last week (late evening)
My stratagy was to close my eyes before being slid in to scanner and listen to music with eyes closed and not open them untill I was slid out.

This way I had no feeling of claustrophobia and there was a cooling fan that kept temperature regulated in the scanner.

To be honest it is a bit like a conveyor belt one off, the next one on.

Hope all goes well for you

I had an MRI and had to lie on my tum. I kept my eyes closed throughout, and counted very slowly, down from 100.
I had no music etc offered. At one point, everything went very quiet, and I did wonder if there was a fire and everyone had evacuated the hospital and left me there. But no, the loud banging resumed, and it was soon over.

Another knee MRI here singingnutty.
As others have said, it is pain free but it's noisy - I had communication headphones (which didn't work), no music. So in my head I sang, thought about good films & made lists...
The thing to do is try to relax into it; you'll be in good hands with the technicians. Treat is as another of life's experiences!

I had a full body scan and took a disc to play through the headphones, I also took a sleep mask and covered my eyes but that can make you feel quite isolated.

I had my first MRI in a mobile scanner, it was terribly noisy, there was no music played through the headphones, I sang to myself.
The second was in hospital, no music again but it was okay nowhere near as noisy with the headphones on and I actually nodded off. I am quite claustrophobic but had no problem.

Lots of reassuring posts here singingnutty so hopefully you won't worry ... nor will you need a tranquilizer.

I had one done too... they gave me ear plugs as the machine is noisy, and played Frank Sinatra through headphones for me, so fingers crossed you get a choice of music for you.

Good luck... and it's not at all painful.

I had one recently, too, of my head and neck. They offered me a choice of radio stations, so I didn't miss The Archers that evening
I was given very clear detail about how many scans, how long each would take, which would be the loudest and what to do if I needed to stop. I had a bad cough at the time and was concerned about lying on my back for 40 minutes. In the event they gave me a panic button and pulled me out half way through so I could cough! Someone talked through the headphones and there is a mirror, angled so that you can see people - unless you wear glasses in which case there are vague shapes.
Hope it goes well; loud and noisy but not painful in the slightest

I had one a couple of weeks ago to scan my knee. I was asked if I wanted music played but I did not, I had a doze until the banging and knocking started which did not bother me at all.

I would not have thought that you would need a tranquilliser as it is totally pain free. You do have to stay perfectly still. Please do not worry.

I had my head scanned - It's a noisy process but nothing to worry about and I can't think why anyone would require a tranquilliser. You just lay there with headphones on. I also had a full body scan - you just move in and out again very much like having an x-ray. Hope this helps.

Yes - that's right - mine was a brain scan - luckily they found one

There is no problem with an MRI - no pain, nothing to distress you. When you have a back scan, your legs poke out the bottom and your head out of the top. Nothing to worry about at all.

If you are claustrophobic, it would only be a problem if you head was being scanned.

In any event there is an angled mirror that gives the illusion of being outside it.