The prostate doc wants to to have a look at returning cancer after radiation failure, so I'm going for an MRI today. He discussed it with me and said that they would offer valium to deal with claustrophobia. I don't like sedatives, tranquilizers, etc.; when I had my cataracts done, I refused the valium.

For those of you have had an MRI, how bad is it? If a sedative is offered, I'm guessing that it's not a walk in the park, but really, lying down for 30 minutes in a tube? Is it really that bad? What should I expect?

It is a confined space thing and a sound thing, put yourself somewhere else inside. I wish you well.

Close your eyes before they move you in and remember to breath. Keep them closed the whole time. They should have a fan on you.

It’s really the simplest procedure and your head may not even be inside the tube. Barely worse than an X-ray. It makes a lot of strange noises.

It’s only as bad as your mind makes it. Think about something else rather than fixate on being a human hot dog.

It's really not so bad. Just make sure you're all squared away (done peeing, no itches that need scratched, etc). No metal of course. I forgot to take off my wedding ring and that bugged me while I was in. I recommend you close your eyes as you go in, and do not open them until you are out. Then it is just isolation and noise. You'll have a squeeze ball to ask for help if needed.

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Originally posted by alreadydead:

It is a confined space thing and a sound thing, put yourself somewhere else inside. I wish you well.

Confined space is not happy for me, but it's only 30 minutes, I can live with it. Maybe solve a few quadratic equations or something.

Sound? Is it loud? I guess I should probably remove my hearing aids.

My wife just had one. They offered her music on headphones to listen to. She laid still inside a tube that was open on both ends and listened to 5 classic rock tunes and was done. She was very nervous but it was a piece of cake.

Loud hum and then mild jackhammer, old computer printer sounds.

I've slept through the MRI's I've had.

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Originally posted by r0gue:

No metal of course. I forgot to take off my wedding ring

My wedding ring has been on my finger for decades. I never take it off.

No metal? OOPS! I better have a conversation with them about this:

Titanium is fine. I’d guess any stainless used there is not magnetic. Just tell them.

I had one done about a year ago and by the end of the procedure I was getting sort of antsy, I was getting restless and wanted to fidget. I was given earplugs (the technician stated it was required by law) and it negated the noise some, I’d hate to find out what it is like without them. I couldn’t have them in my case, since they were doing the MRI on my head, but in some cases where they do it lower people have told me they were able to wear earphones and listen to music, I would have liked that, I ended up thinking loudly songs. I would’ve sung, except I had to stay perfectly still, I wasn’t even supposed to move my eyes, if I could help it.

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Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:

Titanium is fine. I’d guess any stainless used there is not magnetic. Just tell them.

I do trigger the alarm when I go through the metal detector at the court house, but it might be the Glock 7

I'll bring a print of the X-ray to show them.

Is it a wide bore MRI?

I spent over 2.5 hours in an MRI about this time last year. I was a guinea pig helping to train staff and complete the machine certification.

They are loud so you will wear hearing protection. If they offer music, take them up on it.

No movement or they might have to restart the sequence they were going through.

I fell asleep a few times but I also starting cramping a few times while I had to keep my arms extended over my head for a long time.

I have had 3 or 4 more since then but none that long.

I have had two, relating to my Achilles tendon injury in 2012.

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No metal? OOPS! I better have a conversation with them about this:

You will be given a detailed questionnaire before they start. Do you have any tattoos? Believe it or not, some tat inks (mainly red, which contains iron) can mess with you. More later.

Depends on the type there are some MRIs that are wide. But if he is offering sedatives then I would guess it’s the smaller one. I am 265 lbs and I could feel the sides with my arms if I was not careful. I closed my eyes and thought of something else. It makes all sorts of buzzing, clicking and pounding sounds. I describe it to others as being a human cork. Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by SW_Sig:

Is it a wide bore MRI?

They are loud so you will wear hearing protection. If they offer music, take them up on it.

I have no idea about the bore size. I have not been there yet, it's scheduled for 1:30 EDT today, so I'll see it when I get there. What is wide bore vs. small bore?

I would love to be able to hear music but, alas, with my hearing loss, all I can hear is rhythmic sounds. Kind of like noise patterns. I would pay a lot to be able to hear the Beethoven violin concerto again, or any of the Bach keyboard works, or a Mozart horn concerto, or some good acoustic bluegrass. It has been a long time since I have actually heard any music, other than what I replay in my head.

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Originally posted by egregore:

Do you have any tattoos?

Just three tiny dots below my belly button, that were placed there so the techs could see where to aim the zapper for my prostate cancer radiation.

Just had 1 in June. I’m claustrophobic as well, but my head was barely in there (knee was the focus). Headphones, closed eyes, and put a wash cloth over my eyes to keep em closed.
It worked.
I’d call them about the metal vs bringing it in just to save yourself a trip in case they need to research it (took them 5 days to research me because of a little metal in my heart, but it turned out to be fine).
Best of luck.

If you are put in feet first so that your head is outside the coil/tube, it's not so bad. I had a shoulder done so my head was in the tube. The tube surface was within 1/2 inch of the tip of my nose.

Didn't like it one bit, and will take every sedative (or Scotch) that they offer if I ever have to go in again. But then again, I am very claustrophobic. I think I could handle feet first, but head first is a problem. I have never had the chance to try one of the newer wide bore machines.

One reason I haven't gone back to have my shoulder fixed again is that I don't want to re-live that experience.

If it's on that end, you might go feet-first & your head will be outside of the tube, which is nice. It was that way for my knee.
When I had 2 for a brain tumor (before & after surgery), I was stuffed in there for ~40min each. I'm not claustrophobic, but my shoulders are wider than the tube, so it's uncomfortable and hard to relax/settle down. The 2nd time, I made sure to tell the tech to let me know when they were shoving me in so that I wouldn't slam into the tube & get stuck....

I didn't take anything either time, but a couple beers before would have been nice... Unless it has unpleasant side effects for you, I think a Valium would be welcome, just to keep calm & still.
You will feel the noise as much as hear it. That didn't bother me, but i'm sure it can be unnerving to some.