Whats an MRI like (Never had tests before)

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alice123

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Hi,

I've never had Tests before. I have a MRI next week on my head Obviously. Its to find out if I have any abnormalities from previous concussions etc. It may also show up my brain damage from my disability.

I've read the letter and I know it lasts about 30 minutes and you have to have no metal on you or in you.

I just want to be prepared so I am not too nervous! like I usually am.

How was it for you?
 
They're a lot less loud and oppressive than they used to be- my last one even had a collection of calming pictures to look up at lol

The main problem with them is being inside that enclosed space for so long whilst trying not to move- that's hard for anyone- but there's nothing to be actually nervous about and it's a pain-free procedure.

Just calm yourself before hand, take slow breaths and rationalise what you're about to do- it's just a noisy, boring but ultimately painless 30 mins playing 'sardines'...
 
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I've had a number of MRIs, the most recent one a week or so ago. The details in various places may differ slightly, but the ones I have had are where you lie on a little table and they slide you into a smallish tunnel-like thing for the test itself. I'm not at all claustrophobic so I just lie there and listen to the music on headphones they give you. I didn't have pictures to look at but I wouldn't have wanted to anyway. I just closed my eyes and rested. You can also talk to the people through a mic and the headset. You have a squeeze-bulb like thing that you can squeeze if you need to get out of the tube. The machine itself makes various loud tapping and banging noises and the table may occasionally shake. The person kept telling me when things were going to happen and how long they would last. ("there will be loud tapping for about 3 minutes.") I wanted to ask her to just be quiet and let me relax. I probably will next time I have one. The 30 minutes went by fairly quickly. I remember that during one of my previous MRIs I actually fell asleep. I would say not to worry about it at all. It's not a big deal. Cheers!
 
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Like they said, you'll probably be slid into a tube and you need to stay still. I'm comfortable in tight spaces, so I was good. They may be quieter now, but my first thought when you asked was, "Rattle rattle thunder clatter boom boom boom."

Nothing scary. A little noisy.
 
I've had a few MRIs over the years, all up I think I've had 4 or 5 normal MRIs & 1 function MRI (they are more detailed & go longer then a normal MRI).

When you have the MRI you should get some paper work to fill out which has some questions on it eg - you might be asked if you have false teeth or have any metal in your body.

The main thing is that you will have to stay still the whole time which can be hard but if you move it affects the pictures, because the MRI machine is a long tube it can be claustraphobic so you will be asked if you are claustraphobic. I'm not claustraphobic but think they can give you something to help you relax if you are.
The machine can be noisy but you usually get ear plugs to wear to drain out some of the noise & often they have music playing in the background.

I remember my 1st MRI there was a hole in the tunnel above my head so I could see some of the room I was in, I remember looking up & seeing the ceiling was different colors & i was wondeirng how come the ceiling wasn't all the same color & there was a painting on the ceiling. I think it took me about 20 mins before I realised I was looking at a mirror which was reflecting on the walls lmao :roflmao::paperbag:.
During a lot of my MRIs Ive dozed of & had a nap lmao.

Good luck with the MRI, let us know how it goes
 
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You've been given a lot of great answers but I would like to add one thing: there is a fan that blows air around in the chamber you are in, and it can help tremendously if you are uncomfortable with how close everything is to your face. I find the circulating air gives the illusion of being in a big open space, and I always ask that they turn the air on high. I wouldn't call myself claustrophobic exactly, but I did get uncomfortable once when they slid me in and didn't turn the air on (I kept waiting for them to, and after several I finally asked).
 
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