has anybody had an MRI scan?

Question

i am due to go into hospital in ten days time for an mri scan on my brain and im scared whats it like and how soon will i know the results

Answer 1

I have had two MRIs in the past three months - one of my brain and one of my lumbar spine. The good news is that they don't hurt and are non-invasive. The brain MRI may be ordered with a contrast material, usually gadolinium. They will place an IV to administer this. The gadolinium is well tolerated and most people have no side effects from it - it causes a lot less problems than the iodine based contrast used in CT scans.

The only thing about MRIs that sometimes bothers people is being confined in the small space. For a brain MRI, you will lie on a table and be slid head first into the tube. It is very small in there. The first time I had one I wish someone had warned me about this. If you are very claustrophobic you might want to ask about being sedated before the MRI. They can give you a mild sedative to relax you but then you will need someone to drive you home after the scan. My advice is to keep your eyes closed as they slide you into the tube, at least until you are inside. That seems to be the most anxiety provoking part of the scan for most people. You will be in the tube a good while - most scans take 30-60 minutes. However, the tech can hear you and you can hear them and if you need a break you can ask for one. Some people find holding still that long to be hard. Also, you will hear a lot of banging and whirring noises as the MRI scans - you will be given earplugs to keep the sound from being overwhelming and damaging your hearing. I am sure you will do fine. Your doctor will probably have the results in 2 or 3 days but it depends on the MRI facility and other factors.

Answer 2

I had an MRI Scan approx 2 years ago following surgery for breast cancer. All i can tell you is that you have to keep still inside a tunnel scanner for approx 20 to 30 minutes. It takes around 2 weeks to get the results back from your consultant. The hospital usually allow you to take in a favourite CD and will play it whilst you are in the scanner, it can help to make you feel relaxed. The radiographer stays in contact with you the whole time throughout the scan via an intercom device fitted to the scanner to ensure you're feeling comfortable. Hope this has eased your mind a little.
Good luck hope you are soon on the mend.

Answer 3

It's painless, don't worry. The hardest part for some people is claustrophobia because you're head will be put in a donut type machine. But if you are claustrophobic, you can request a sedative before hand. Other wise, it's a breeze. You'll lay on a table and they'll move the table until the machine surrounds your head. It will sound a little like air blowing as the machine rotates around, taking many images of your brain. How soon you get the results depends on how your Doctor ordered it. He can put a rush on it, then you'll get the results in a day or two. Other wise, about a week later.

Answer 4

I had one. Worst part was, I had a cold. While you are having the MRI, you can't move at all, unless they tell you that you can. Then, I began to itch and couldn't move. It didn't hurt at all, just boring! It took me two weeks to get the results, but that is not normal. Your doctor should have them within a couple of days at the most. As far as what it's like, you just lay there in a big tube like thing. They will tell you when you can move and when you can't. It's not all laying perfectly still. It'll start out gradually and build up to 4 minutes or so of being completely still. You'll hear noises and then they will stop and the techs will tell you that you can move again. It's no worse than an xray, really.

Answer 5

You will lay down on a long skinny table and the table will be padded(most likely), but not all that comfortable. The table will then slide you gently into a cylindrical hole as your head is scanned. Since it is just your head you shouldn't need to go in too far. Now while you are in there the technician will ask you to lay as still as possible. Also while you are in there the MRI machine will make some loud noises, but not so loud that you'll have to have ear plugs. They should just be more a nuisance noise more than anything else.

Answer 6

I had one done on my brain last year. The machine makes a strange noise and you have to keep your head totally still. It's quite claustrophobic but not that scary compared to some treatments (nothing awful happens). I remember that I had a sort of mirror I could look at to see my feet but I just kept my eyes closed. You can sort of tell something is scanning your head but that might just be imagination.
I got the results a few days later, a week or so I think it was. Turned out I had been having black-outs due to stress and I was not epileptic (thank God).

Overall I would say the experience was unpleasant but not bad and I was glad to find out what was wrong with me.

Answer 7

MRI, "Magnetic Resonance Imaging", heats nothing up inside the body or out. The only time an MRI can cause injury is if there is some metallic object in the body which was undisclosed. I read sometime ago about a fellow who had had abdominal surgery, his surgeon had left a small pair of forceps in him, he went in for an MRI years later and almost died when the forceps tried to come out of his abdomen. But as far as burns? Not possible.

Answer 8

No problems at all,had several on my brain also they slide you in a tube and it is very tight but the end is open and you can have earphones and listen to music.It does however make a dull thumping noise as it operates,but there is no pain involved at all.I actually fell asleep.If you can find a hospital with one you could do it on an open MRI machine.It is just like a bed or a flat plate that you lay on. Be brave no worries and get well.

Answer 9

I have had a few mri scans and can assure you thats its nothing to be scared about, you will be asked to lie flat on a bed which is then slid inside a tunnel and the scan will then take place, you wont feel any discomfort but most hospitals let you take a cd of your choice to be played if you wish to as it can help people relax. usually your results take 10-14 days. good luck

Answer 10

Sorry to hear you need an MRI on your brain. An MRI may sound scary - but it's really quite ok. They will lay you on bed and tell you to keep still (this is criticle to insure the images come out super sharp). It sounds rather loud, but it's really not going to hurt at all. Just keep still and remember that the images at the end are rather amazing! Be sure to go for a pee before you lay stil for quite some time.