Having an MRI today!

[SlugLobber]

No panic, it's to help set up a new one at work (I'm next to the RMH). They use volunteers, rather than cancer patients. I quite enjoy seeing how stuff like this works and think it would be slightly less unsettling if I ever need it 'for real'. I had a CAT scan years ago when that was installed and had a nice break from work for an hour. Hope this is just as nice, lol!

[piskieinboots]

yuk, rather you than me - not overly keen on they b**gers

[Hilary B]

Thoughts of claustrophobia.......

[Marthaclematis]

I think if you can relax and listen to the music (they give you headphones don't they?) you might not find it too bad. Thing is, its ok going as a 'guinea pig' but when you know its for real it might be a different matter.

[Victoria26]

I'd be scared of going....cuz they'd find out I've no brain... Just an empty skull filled with soil and a few germinating broad beans

[piskieinboots]

I took Paul Weller in with me - so as to listen to my favourite track Sweetpea...it stuck on the opening chords, which was at the 5 min point of a 20 min MRI

I could have pressed the 'panic button' to have 'em re-start it I guess

So my memories of MRIs are of a constant stuck CD sound

[SarzWix]

Nice, just lie back, and chillout for half an hour
What's a CAT scan like? I don't think I've had one of those... I had a weird scan about 20 years ago where I had to stand in a big metal tube, dunno what it was called though!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I had a weird scan about 20 years ago where I had to stand in a big metal tube, dunno what it was called though!

Are you sure that you weren't in the lift?

[SarzWix]

Are you sure that you weren't in the lift?

PMSL

I suppose it could have been... there wasn't a lot of room for anyone else though

[allotmentlady]

oooooh does that mean u ru going be lying down all day????? lol

[SlugLobber]

All day, I wish!

Sarah, a CAT scan is similar (for the patient) to an MRI. Involved lying down in a large donut-type affair, with music and a heart monitor. VERY noisy from what I remember, but the tube wasn't full body length, so not so claustrophobic.

Martha - exactly. It's a completely different scenario when you're a patient, but when questioned, many people find the actual tests and manipulations frightening and stressful, adding to the burden of the illness itself. I think it makes perfect sense to find out what it's like, BEFORE I need it. I do suffer from claustrophobia, so I imagine that in the 'real event', I would be panicking before the scan. Doing this today will help deal with that phobia and also reduce stress levels should I ever need a diagnostic scan.

[pipscariad]

I had a CAT scan years ago when that was installed and had a nice break from work for an hour. Hope this is just as nice, lol!

I was a bit alarmed at this until I read your other post, as my OH occasionally does CAT scanning at work, and the one he uses is a Cable Avoidence Tool - thought maybe it was used in robot surgery

Be interested in you feedback on the MRI later - I have to say I live in dread of one, I am very claustrophobic.

[SlugLobber]

Well, I'm setting off now. I can also report back if too much cake shows up, lol! I've eaten two large pieces already, this morning. Let's hope they don't scan my stomach! I won't know which bit until I get there. Toodle pip everyone. Me and Bond (yep, I've got the Bond CD with me) are going in. Gawd, wouldn't it be nice to find Daniel Craig in there. Women everywhere would forget all thoughts of claustro...what was it again?

[SlugLobber]

OK, just reporting back for those interested. Mine was a spinal MRI, so no contrast agent was injected.

The machine itself looked like a giant polo, just like a CT scanner. I was given earplugs in addition to headphones, as the 3T (the model) is louder than previous versions. Downside was that I could hardly hear my music at all. I missed most of View to a Kill. Boooo! It was nice and warm in there and I did feel myself drifting off and would have, had it not been for the noise! Initially I did think 'Oh carp' when my head went in, but I got a grip and stayed still like a good girl!

They also spoke whenever a new image was being prepared and whenever they were going to move the 'table'. Hopefully they won't find anything amiss!

[Hilary B]

It's my head that is claustophobic! Lifts bother me considerably (less so if there is a window) and I can't cope with underground in any form (from tube trains to cave-based tourist things, like the Hellfire caves near High Wycombe), but even in otherwise clear space having my head enclosed gets me highly stressed.