i'm sure this topic has been in here before but I'm just popping in for a bit of moral support from you experts who have been in the tube many times!

Brain MRI is in 8 days... (my 3rd one in 2 years)
I just phoned them to check:
do they offer music
can I wear my track pants
can the tech person talk me through each sequence
do they have eye masks

All sounds good.

Any other tips?

Hoping it'll be clear.
(I have no dx, hoping it's just chronic fatigue...)

MRI's don't bother me....so I'm probably not the best one to give advice.....but I understand the apprehension of something that you dread.

I've never been offered eye masks but I do keep my eyes closed throughout the procedure. There's something about being able to "see" of I choose to.....and I do open my eyes momentarily from time to time....just to make sure I can! Since you have to remain so still the eye mask would probably make me anxious because I couldn't remove it whenever I wanted to.

I've been offered music but not sire I'd be able to hear it over the banging and clanging of the machine. I tend to listen to the beat of the machine and it almost lulls me to sleep. I get very relaxed and drowsy.

Some folks take a valium or xanax before going in. Is that an option for you? I hope it all goes well for you and goes quickly. And that it comes back clear.

I get cold, so I welcome blanket they give me. Attitude is important, know it'll bang and clang but will end. Bring your own music, I never like theirs. I don't like drugs and loss of control so that's out for me. I had one technician (as my leg spazzed out, she yelled "hold still". Sure. ) So I did the silent thought thing "you're an @$$$hole and I'm not". Works for me.

OMG im sucha chicken! my back screams, my anxiety rockets out of control and it takes drugs, and lots of drugs to get me in that thing.

Make sure they give you a blanket. Stay toasty. You can always pull it off you, but you cant pull it off. I cover my eyes. wont let them show me the head cage. somehow it always makes me cry. Breathe, just breathe. Remind yourself to keep breathing.

GL to you. ((hugs))

I guess I am like Kitty...I slept through part of my first one. The new machine they just got has little ear pads they put next to my head in the cage to dull the machine sound and play music, but to be honest, I was more relaxed with just ear plugs and making up song rhythms in my head to match the machine sounds.

It is cold in the room, but after being in the tube I get hot so I ask for a sheet not a blanket. They also place a mirror in mine so I can see them in the control room.

I'm like batman - I make up song rhythms in my head to match the machine sounds. Think Piink Floyd's first album...

I fell asleep once and moved too much and they had to re-do a portion of the scan.

Tom

I wore sweats and Valium was my friend.
Good Wishes.

Why so many MRIs? Your Doc own the machine?

Daft Punk has some good ones that match the machine I go to...Around the World comes to mind.

I've had mine done at three different places so far and they all had something different to offer. The best one was where I wore goggles and was able to watch a movie through them and also wore headphones to hear it. Made the time go by faster. My back did ache a bit afterward. Just keep your eyes closed and don't let the noise make you scared.