How do you prepare for your MRI?
 

Monday is my day for the big MRI. I have overcome a lot of my fears over the past several years since being dx, but the MRI lockdown is still one that gets to me.

I dont mind the noise. I DO mind how cold it is in there.

It seems that everytime i get there, its something else. Once, I was mid MRI when the power went out! yep! my worst fear. I barely had time to say "did the lights go out?" when I felt at least 2 people at my feet, stroking my legs, telling me I was fine, and they were right there.

Once I showed up and they just couldnt get the machine situated. I got locked, and relocked into that stupid headgear thing. After about 4 tries, they took me down to the basement area, and I was bumped to the head of the line for the traveling MRI machine.

Once I got locked into position, and it took several tries for them to slide the table out again. She said she had never seen anything like it.

I could go on and on.

Another issue, i have really bad veins. They used to try to slide me out, and do the GAD stick, and it takes FOREVER! its so cold in there, they simply cannot find a workable vein. Now I have an IV line planted in advance, so I no longer have to worry about it. I used to welcome the chance to be slid out of the machine, even if long enough to poke me. now they just leave me in there.

I HATE HATE HATE being locked to the table, and knowing that silly thing is almost on top of my nose! its like being buried.

Can you please help calm me? Tell me some of your stories? tell me some of your tricks on how to cope? What do you do to prepare or get through your MRI? Im scared!

I've had more than 12 so I have it down to a routine:

I take my own earplugs because they are the soft comfortable kind.

I take my own slipper sox because my feet get cold and shoes are uncomfortable.

I also take a thermos of coffee to drink on the way home. I shower and wash my hair but don't bother drying or styling it and no styling products.

I ask for a blanket because those tubes are cold and I ask the tech to please let me know what she is doing which calms me.

Oh yeah; tell them you want a pediatric needle. ;)

Hope that helps.

Why are you even having to go through an MRI? With all of your problems, I would refuse to go through it unless there is a justifiable reason.

gmi

I listen to music that has an upbeat tempo before the MRI, then replay that music mentally in time to the pulses of the noise. I just let the noise be the percussion section. Stuff from blue man group, daft punk, etc is good for that. Other than that, I usually schedule it as early in the morning as I can so that I am still tired, and I usually sleep through about half of it.

I have mine Monday morning too. I'm not so much worried about getting the damn thing as I am what it might find! :D Here's to smooth sailin'!

For the MRI, I wear sweats and ask them for a blanket to help keep the cold at bay. The scrubs they offer just aren't warm enough.

I take my own muzak that they can play for me, or if I forget to bring a CD they can pipe in local radio stations.

I have to keep my eyes closed the whole time or I freak. Gonna see what happens with the one on tuesday, since they prescribed valium to see if that will help with involuntary movement.

I'm a bad stick too. My family all has rolling veins, so that part can be fun for both me and the tech. I drink plenty of fluids the evening before to try to help with that.

Crossing fingers that this one goes better for ya. :hug:

Have a strong cocktail or a Valium..:D

I like having having the tech talk to me with a "play by play" of throughout the procedure so I know how much longer each image will take, what noises I should expect, etc. I also use "visualization" techniques to imagine myself in a place that is beautiful and comfortable....which is usually on a beach hearing the waves crashing and birds chirping, with a really 'HOT' cabana boy delivering me a nice cold coctail! :)

I have a Glioma that they are tracking, and they count lesions. I have been considered UNstable, and they want to see if the Copaxone has had any calming effect at all. The glioma is the reason for the 6 month runs though. They want to be sure they know if its growing, or changing. I felt that was a justifiable reason to lay back down in the tube.

Great Idea Sal. I am being given some Ativan before hand. I normally take xanax here at the house, and they feel the ativan is better because I am not used to it, and it helps calm differently from what they say. Its still really hard to lay down with your head in a cage, and trapped for 50 minutes to one hour.

I had forgotton about asking for a play by play. That does help. A blanket will help, and they dont do music there. They say there is something wrong with the system each and every time I have gone. Their ear phones are always rickety, and wobbly.

These suggestions are helpful, keep um coming.

I keep my eyes closed the whole time and do visualization like someone else said. I visualize sunning myself at the beach (to feel warm) and I picture watching hunky construction workers building me a dream beach house (to take care of the sounds that come through the ear plugs). That helps me to forget that my head is locked in that halo thing and I have even drifted off to sleep. This is from someone who is so claustrophobic that I have actually freaked out getting my head through a tight turtleneck.

I also make sure I have enough blankets to keep me warm.

Good luck Dej. I always ask them for the heated blankets (they should have them available!) to get over the cold problem (I hear you!).

They put a facecloth, folded, over my eyes last time.

Best to just close your eyes and drift off in your thoughts.

I am always able to peek past that silly face cloth. The hubby got me some Tranquil eye goggles. WONDERFUL!

http://www.activeforever.com/p-4731-...?intcmp=search


You can put warm packs in for a spa tx or cold packs in for swelling. I love these things! They are NOT seen by the MRI machine, so they have no issue with you wearing them. Best invention EVER! for not peeking.

I am getting ready. I have shaved my lil chicken legs. I have my warm socks. I have my comfy clothes with NO metal, so I dont have to get undressed. I have my list of 100 questions for the appointments after. I have started extra hydration so they have a hope in hades of finding a vein. Now its just a matter of calming my jangled nerves.

I can do this! I can do this! I can do this! where is the ativan? I can do this!

i was going to suggest an ativan too. it's specifically for anxiety. and if it makes you a bit sleepy so much the better. i never open my eyes. that helps.

and ask them if you can lay on the blanket and then they can fold it over your legs. that may make you warmer. even another blanket on top.

warmer clothes should help. maybe they could even start the IV before you start so you'll be warmer. maybe cold veins are harder to stick.

i try really hard to make a visualization when i'm in the tube. like the noises are birds and i'm in a forest with streams running thru it. you get the idea.

your dh's idea is great.

YOU CAN DO THIS. good luck and let us know.

My dd is afraid of CTs and MRIs too. I was allowed to go in while they started her IV and calm her down. We sang a Neil Young song - Hey, Hey - and I told her to keep her eyes closed and visualize people around her that she would not want to be a chicken in front of.

That seemed to do the trick.

That's what I do when I don't want to feel afraid - just act like there's someone around and I have to be tough so I don't embarrass myself.

:o

Good idea having you *tube shootin' suit* ready to go too. I hate having to gown up.

I was thinking, maybe a chorus of *I Shot the Tube* would help...

Insurance covers my first one
I shot the tube and I won, I shot the tube and I won
I can't wait till I get done
But I shot the tube and I won, I shot the tube and I won!

The table's chilly and man! It's loud!
I'd like to jump and run
When it's over I'll go have fun,
Cuz I shot the tube and I won, I shot the tube and I won!

I am a grown, well educated woman. I have survived many horrible things, and have witnessed many more. Why does laying down for an hour bug me? My eyes are closed! Its not like they are cutting on me, or asking me to do quatum physics in my head, just lay there, and be quiet. You would think I would welcome the change. nope, I am stressed, and I am nervous. I HATE being trapped. Every time I go, something else goes wrong.

I did the power outage in the middle of the MRI
I did the stuck table
I did the we cant read these and need to redo them
I did the crazy nurse who I swear took my drugs instead of me
I did the strict nurse who treated me like a child.

I hope this time, its just an MRI! I am off to distract myself. what a child!

Well Dej, for all the problems you've apparently had with MRIs, no wonder you're worried. I think you got all the bad stuff out of the way though!

Dejibo, I just wanted to wish you luck. :) I hope your MRI goes on without any problems and that your results are negative for growth, and no new lesions.:hug:

I do what the others have said. I also ask for a form cushion knee lift, to save my back from too much pressure from laying on that hard surface. Lots of blankets too.

Eyes never open from the time I lay on the table until I am out. I don't even open them for the shot. When they talk to me I don't even hear them. I am not there physically, in my mind.:)

I wear a sweat shirt with the hand pocket in front. I put my hands in there to keep them warm, also they don't jerk. I use self-hypnosis and fall asleep.

Thanks so much for all the hugs, and the love. it really does help to know I am not alone.

I put on my eye pads BEFORE i allow them to even show me that cage. I ask for a knee lift because I have such a bad back.

I will think of all of your cheerleading and before you know it, I will be crying, and yanked out.

One of my other concerns is that I have had so many side effects from the copaxone, I am thinking they are gonna take me off the stuff. 50% of me welcomes this, and will be thankful to lay it down. 50% of me is terrified, as this is my drug of last resort. I cant do interferons because of my old liver spike when I was on them before. I cant do LDN because of the other meds I take. I WONT do Ty, as it scares the bejeepers out of me, so if I fail off of Copaxone, I am bareback through the world of MS. Many great women before me have done it, and done it well. I am in good company.

So, I am out the door. Just wanted to say thanks for all the love. You guys rock!

Well, I took the advice on getting stuck before the first round and it wound blowing up and I had to get stuck again anyway. Other than that went smooth, from looking myself my left eye is getting pretty bad, but I knew from having to look through the darn thing. Nothing else notable that I could see but we'll wait on the radiologist to make any declarations. Hope yours went smooth too Dejibo.

Got up at the crack of ugly to get ready. Was loaded in the truck, and off we went. Listened to our book on MP3 so that was fun. We are on a good story. Talked a bit on the way up there. Frank is still of the mind that we must save this drug we are on. Me? I am of the mind that I am sick of the freaky side effects, and am about ready to lay its *** down, but we both decide that we will have a frank talk with the MD and will abide by his choices.

We are early, they are running late. Great big fat lady ahead of me, took only a lil tiny baby pill to help her get in the tube. I knew from the way she was acting, that this was gonna be a mess. She needed to be removed from the tube, an IV started, and given massive amounts of drugs to complete the scan. its a new scanner. Telsa 1.5 the strongest they make. It can hold up to 350 pound patients, but they would be smushed in like peanut butter. The other scanner was tied up with a mom and disabled child. The girl has a shunt in her head, and just needs to have it checked to see if its in place. She normally goes to Boston, but here at Dartmouth, she can crawl in the scanner with her daughter, for the 2 min scan, and keep her entertained. Stressful but it works, and the child isnt zonked out on drugs, and pulling tubes and wires, and requiring an over night stay in the hospital. Finally they call me for my IV. I am not just a hard stick, I am a horrific stick. Harry is not on today, and was transferred to the ER nights. HE was my dream. he could get blood from a rock. Pregnant nurse #1 comes in. Gives me 1mg ativan under the tongue. "thats a good start I say" She lines me up, cant find squat. I point out 2 chances for her. I roll my arm over, and let her shoot. nope, and nadda. 2 tries means bye bye. Next nurse tall and thin bragggin about how far things have cme since I had my chemo, and the damage the old stuff did to the veins was criminal. Gave me wonderful advice to get the veins back. I heard this advice 10 years ago. It didnt work then, why would it work now. One strike, and I kicked her out. My arms are starting to look choppy, as everyone wants to shave them. #3 pops in, cheerful and cute. (i can fix that, fast) she has me roll over, and cock my arm. Sees a monster vein, and is gonna go for it. She threads right on past it, creates a hemotoma, and she is bounced. #4 comes in, timid and afraid. she washes her hands, looks, and looks, and looks, and looks. I asked her to go get someone else. #5 comes in. Speaking how she works in the ER, and blah blah. Bubbly and cute. 2 tries up, and she is outta there. (I think she had tears in her eyes) #6 comes in with #7. Team work. I like it. 6 rolls my arm, traps the vein, and 7 sticks it, gets her flash, and threads it. tries to flush it and ...nothing! good try girls. They grab the other arm, shave more hair chunks out of it. Wrap my arm up behind my back. One steadies the vein, the other one threads it, and a nice flash is had. A good flush, and TA DA! I can taste it! I always know they are in if I can taste it. took 7 of them to get a pediatric IV line started. sheesh! I know I am a tough stick, but come on girls. Next stop was gonna be a leg. She gave me another 1mg of ativan to put under my tongue, and shoved me towards the scanner. I had a sparkle on my shirt, so he insisted it come off. drat!

I stood by the scanner, and asked for, a knee block to keep my legs up. Head phones to keep the noise down. blankets from the warmer to keep me from freezing to death. Before I knew it i was laying on the table, with my lil heart thumping, and banging. the drugs had not fully kicked in, and I knew I was gonna have to suck it up. I finally asked his name. "i am mark" he said. Great! I knew who I was talking to . He was great about talking to me and cheerleding me. About a half hour in the drugs started to snuggle me in. Then I hear a girls voice. "i dont like tht last scan, we are going to do it again. STOP MOVING! I know its hard but stay calm." I said , um, er...who are you? "im terry" then silence. I interupted with "wheres mark?" after several seconds pass. "he went to lunch. you got me now." DAMNIT! Just when I thought I was in the clear, nothing was gonna happen. Now I get pushy Terry. She was gruff, to the point, no extras for you. just did her job kinda girl. That ramped up my anxiety, and she did three more 7 minute runs, and then pulled me out for the Gad dye. I begged her to please push slow. I have fragile veins, and would hate to spend this week with phelbitis like last time. I got a 3 minute lecture on how tough veins are, and how much stress they can handle, and blah blah as she was pounding this stuff in. metal mouth, headache, and ****** with my newly sore arm, she shoved me back in the tube. 2 more 4 minute scans and I was free. When i sat up, I explained to her that I felt she was out of line to be so aggressive with me. Mark and I had it handled, and before she comes in to take over, should at least introduce herself. I pointed to my swollen red IV line and told her if I got phelbitis again, I was going to file a written complaint.

Wobbly and angry, I headed for the wait room to get the hubby. We ate a nice lunch at the cafe. (mangosteen was added to my juice!) anyway, we ate, and went off to the appointment.

MS dude says Copaxone can be easy to take or hard to take, and it appears its taking its toll on me. He isnt ready to take me off, but is concerned with some of the things that are happening. Wants to take me off for 2 weeks, and gonna see if all dramatically improve or stay the same. He thinks I am night sweating from age, not drugs. I explained I had surgical menopause in 83, and long since past all that. no night sweats till dx with MS, and its meds. he was upset with how deep the dents are from the drug, but said to find other places to shoot. He mentioned that it may be time to switch over to another DMD like Avonex. I explained that on Beta I had a severe reaction, and set a clinic record for the highest liver enzemes. He said he would be willing to give it a chance. Either that or he would want to see me on Tysabri. I almost feel off my chair. This is the clinic that ALWAYS tells me to stay away from it, and now has become pro? what gives?! I looked around, and there were Ty notebooks, TY books, TY stickers, TY seminars, and TY counselors. Well, 6 months ago, they wouldnt even discuss Ty in this place. Now they are cheerleading it. more than scared me.

Decisions are
Glioma is the same. no change.
MS is still considered average, and requires a DMD according to him.
Will be given a 2 week break off the copaxone and will track all sx to see which ones stay or go. He fully expects that either way, when the two weeks is up, I will be back on Copaxone, and will have to stick it out, even with side effects. I got the "benefits outweight the risks" speach.

Thanks for all the support.

Happy all went well and you have a 2 week reprieve of Copaxone..:)

Way to go Dej!!!! Bet you came out better than all those nurses who tried to stick you! That bad vein thing is the pitts.....me too. Also glad your MRI went okay, Keith. At least your docs know what's been going on inside your heads.

I didn't join in with the 'before' tips since having an MRI is one of the few things that don't seem to bother me. A blanket is a necessity and probably next time the knee block will be added, but I just keep my eyes closed until I'm in there and then gradually open them. It's kind of neat to look around as much as possible and the banging and clanging make it seem like I'm inside a video game. Guess I must be the weird one. One time I did have trouble with the GAD, it leaked out from the vein and the pain was horrible. Almost threw up in the tube but they got me out and after sitting up awhile, the yucky feeling went away. Usually I'm so relaxed that I almost fall asleep until the noise jolts me awake. :(

Guess having MS makes us a tough bunch -- have to be to get through each day. Good luck with your copax decision and congrats again for conquering the tube!!!! :)

You beat my record of number of sticks and number of people trying. Last time I went in, I think I had 3 or 4 different people try and I'm not sure how many actual sticks (I think I blocked it). They said my veins were fried from the IVSM.

I had breast cancer, and did multiple rounds of very harsh chemo, along with the IV antibiotics they used to give at the time. I ended up with a port many years ago, but after 5 years clean, I had the port removed. It was so rare for me to need an IV and the port bugged me. I usually end up using a leg or something for IV access now. HURTS! but with talent they can get an arm. Not for the weak at heart. I ended up having to shave my hairy arms, and was impressed by how many scars are left behind from all the past treatments.

I dont have to do another MRI for 1 year. Wahoo!

I am so happy its over.

i'm happy it's over too.

i think you should still file a written complaint on that chick.
that was unprofessional to say the least.

at least the glioma is stable.

hang in there. what a trip!