This morning I had my first MRI...to check out a slight asymmetry in my lower left jaw (may be the result of the face slapping that I get from the moderators ) :notetoself-callLegalBill:

Since I'm not claustrophobic, I was sort of looking forward to this...to see how it felt to get inserted into a space capsule and subjected to loud throbbing/ banging/ pulsing noises for about 25 minutes

Well, it was really not bad I followed the tech's suggestion and just closed my eyes for the entire time (This also works for me while riding the bad ass roller coasters at Cedar Point this summer....the visit to Cleveland area when Carmen would not even say to me) He told me to lie perfectly still, but neglected to tell me that I was not even supposed to swallow during the exposure sessions...

Have any other Vintagers had good/ bad/ neutral experiences with MRI, Cat Scans or other medical diagnostic contraptions

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by paS2K
This morning I had my first MRI...to check out a slight asymmetry in my lower left jaw (may be the result of the face slapping that I get from the moderators ) :notetoself-callLegalBill:

Since I'm not claustrophobic, I was sort of looking forward to this...to see how it felt to get inserted into a space capsule and subjected to loud throbbing/ banging/ pulsing noises for about 25 minutes

 

Had my first MRI this summer on my knee. The clinic uses an open MRI. Just laid down and they angled the unit over my knee. They tuned in my favorite radio station "The Bone" (classic hard rock Kiss, Ted Nugent, AC/DC,etc). My only comment to the Tech was that it was the most expensive two hour nap that I have ever taken.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mns2k
Had my first MRI this summer on my knee.

 

The tech that guided me today said that it can take more than 2 hours for a cardiac MRI

 

I don't think they are referring to the time in the machine. Then again, my cardiac tests were not MRI's but CT scans. They were called Stress Sestamibi or something like that. It is an all-day event. I don't know if this is the exact order or not, but...

They injected me with radioisotopes, let this sh*t flow through my body, and then did the scan on my heart while it was rested. Then I waited, and waited, and waited. Then they put my ass on the treadmill and said, "tell us when you get tired and can't do it anymore". Well, being a competitive person...I wasn't going to tell them to stop. I figured there was an end point somewhere. And I was going to find it. So I go full throttle. They keep raising elevation and ask, "are you tired yet?" NOPE! Elevation goes up more. Speed increases. Bastards. "Tired yet?" NOPE! Finally they say, "well, everything looks good". I say, "is it over?" They say, "there is no end". I say, "that's it, I'm done".

They then let me sit a little while and inject me with more radioisotopes. Then throw me back down on the CT scan and take pics of this sh*t flying through my system. Apparently, based on the speed and velocity etc. that this stuff flows through your arteries, they can see if you have any blockage. Thankfully, I aced it.

Hopefully my brain tests come out just as good later today. I can hear it now. "Mr. T, we have good news and bad news. The good news is, you don't have a tumor. The bad news is, we can't find a brain in your head. How are you able to speak?"

 

OhioRacer with all those radioisotopes even if they cant find your mind it should be easy to find you as you should be glowing in the dark (j/k). Hope all the tests work out well.

 

Cardiac MRI's do take a long time because soft tissue takes longer to Image. The main scary thing is if someone accientally takes metal in there. People have been killed by this. It also erases credit cards etc. Most adults do well just going it. If it get's too annoying you can get an IV and some sedation.

What can make a person nervous is child/infant MRI's. These are done under anesthesia. For an anesthesiologist a scary thing is being so far away from your patient's airway!

 

I had an MRI recently (the 2nd) and can understand someone's feeling claustrophobic. It doesn't bother me, but with my whole head buried within its confines, it could be unpleasant. My strategy was just to kind of nap and try to think of outside things. I was only in for 20 minutes, so that helped. They're expensive: $1000 for 20 minutes!

Ohio, I hope you get a report quicker than I did; I waited a couple of weeks.

 

Professor, it took about a week to get my results (no problem= ) and the Personal Choice statement arrived in the mail today:

Lankenau Hospital charge= $2950; BC paid $1095; My copay= $20; Health Insurance= Priceless (and pity those who do not have it )