MRI - no pockets?

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I saw my GI earlier this week, and he said that he wants to stop testing me for now and just concentrate on trying to get me into remission. But then a few hours after my appointment, he called to say he wants to do an MRI on me because when I had my CT scan a few months ago, it found a lesion on my liver so he wants to take a closer look at that.

So, I got the call this afternoon to schedule my MRI, it's going to be on the 20th. I don't have to drink prep or barium or any of that nasty junk, thankfully. I was told the very simple instructions of: No food or drink for at least 2 hours beforehand (check), no metal (check), and I need to wear comfortable clothes that do not have any pockets. Um, what? I understand that maybe they're concerned that I could have some metal, keys or whatever, in my pockets, but couldn't they just ask people to turn their pockets inside out before they go into the MRI machine? I mean, people can remove metal from their pockets before they go through the scanner thingy at the airport, so why not just give MRI patients a little tray to empty their pocket contents into like that? My comfiest clothes are sweats and they have pockets! And most of my un-comfy clothes have pockets too. What do you guys think, could I get away with wearing sweats with pockets as long as the pockets are empty? Anybody else had an MRI and was told no pockets?

 

[Rebecca85]

I had an mri on my brain once and I don't remember anything about pockets! And I was asked a ton of questions like 'have you ever been in a metalworking environment without using safety goggles?' So I shouldn't have thought it's a metal problem. Possibly they might interfere with the image, although you would think an mri would see straight through however many layers you have!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

They told me to show up 30 mins early (at 6:30 AM! The MRI's at 7 AM) so I assume they'll ask me all those questions during that half hour. I just don't get the pocket thing, though - the person I talked to on the phone mentioned no pockets several times, so apparently it's important to my particular hospital. I was told that they can put me in a hospital gown if I want, but I don't want that. I'm always cold, I need long pants - guess I have to find some that have no pockets!

 

[Rebecca85]

Leggings and a nice long jumper/ dress would be my suggestion! Didn't the woman say why no pockets was so important? And I guess they will ask you all that stuff in the half hour, but wouldn't it make more sense to ask when you book it? So if you can't have it done for whatever reason there's time to give your slot away?

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

No, the woman wasn't able to say why, because she's with my GI's office but the MRI is going to be at the hospital. So she just says what her computer screen tells her to. And I don't know why they don't ask me the questions ahead of time, that would make sense! When I had my pill cam, it took nearly an hour for them to ask me all the questions they had to ask! And it was all questions that they should have already known the answers to, like, "do you have a pacemaker?" Um, this is the only hospital I go to, you have all my medical records, you should know if I have a pacemaker! I'm sure I'll get all those questions again, even though I just answered them all a couple of weeks ago. No, in the last 3 weeks I have still not gotten a pacemaker!

 

[Rebecca85]

With the mri though it's reaaally important to check, I guess all it would take is for one note to go missing and if you did have a pacemaker let's just say you wouldn't survive the procedure.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Yeah, I know. It just seems silly that I keep having to answer the same questions over and over again, especially since they can look on the computer system and see all of my answers from a few weeks ago.

Now that I think about it, I had the pill cam last month, and I don't recall ever seeing the capsule expelled. I'm sure it must have come out and I just didn't see it, but I think I'll call them and ask if I should maybe have a quick x-ray first just to be extra sure.

 

[vonfunk]

The M in MRI stands for magnetic, and it's a damn strong magnet. If there is embedded metal in you somewhere it can rip it out. It's a combination safety thing and protecting the machine.

 

[Rebecca85]

Yeah, they're not bothered if the accidentally rip your innards out but they don't want the machine getting dinged!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Vonfunk: Yeah, I know - that still doesn't really explain the pockets thing though. I did just call my GI's office to see if they want to x-ray me first before I get into the MRI, just on the off chance that the pill cam is still in my guts somewhere - waiting on the nurse to call me back. I've been having normal regular poos since I started taking Entocort, so the pill cam is probably not in me and I'm definitely not obstructed, but I'm a natural worrier and I don't want to get in the MRI on the very slight chance that there is some metal floating around in my guts!

Rebecca: Yeah, the machine is probably worth a lot more than I am!

 

[Rebecca85]

Definately the right thing to do, they wouldn't even mri you if there's the slightest chance it's still in there!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I wonder, can object like the pill cam actually sit in the guts for a month without me feeling any symptoms of obstruction? I doubt it's still in there, but now I'll be wondering until I get that x-ray! Hopefully my GI's office can arrange for that to happen quickly, so I don't have to reschedule the MRI.

 

[DustyKat]

There's only two things I can think of with the pockets:

1. They may have a metal stud in them like jeans do, yeah I know pretty lame. :lol:

2. Coins might get caught down in the lining of them or if you have a coin pocket you might accidentally leave one in there and you can't turn those out.

Might be easier just to have everyone change into a gown. :whistleinnocently:

(((shrug)))
Dusty

 

[Rebecca85]

I would have thought you would have noticed if it was still there. But definately better safe than sorry!! Maybe they could ultrasound you beforehand? An ultrasound should be able to pick up a pill cam.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Yeah, I hadn't thought of ultrasound. I'm not sure which is cheaper/quicker - x-ray or ultrasound. As long as they can confirm it's not still in there, I'll be satisfied.

 

[Rebecca85]

I would imagine ultrasound, it's also safer.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Well, I just got a call back from my GI's office - the nurse said no xray and no ultrasound for me. She said that the pill cam showed the "full report" meaning they saw every bit of my intestines, so it did get expelled and I apparently just missed seeing it when it did come out. I'm sure if there was any question at all, they would x-ray me (so they don't damage their equipment like Vonfunk said!), but it sounds like they're absolutely certain that I expelled the capsule.

 

[vonfunk]

The only thing I can think of is if there is something that might be trapped in the pockets. I'd just bring so pyjama bottoms to change into. When I had an MRI I was in the hospital and wearing a gown. And I don't mind being in the hospital anymore, I have access to cable TV, they feed me and I spend my days sans pants, so it's a winning situation (with the exception of the constant pricks of blood taking and pain)

 

[Rebecca85]

Well that's all right then! Next time you should remember to check your poo!

Hey that reminds me of an old Scrubs episode!

 

[Rebecca85]

Lucky Canadians... We get pay per view, and it's only terrestrial channels and the food isn't anything to shout about. Although spending the day in PJs is nice.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Ha ha, I love Scrubs.

Actually, my pajama pants all have pockets, believe it or not. When I used to live in an apartment, the laundry in the basement was coin-op. When I do laundry, I wear pajamas - for some reason, I hate wearing jeans or slacks and doing laundry. So I bought some pajama pants that have pockets, so I could wear pajamas and still carry my quarters. At this point, even though I bought my own home 2 years ago, I still have all those same pajama pants with the pockets. Whoever would have thought that would come back to haunt me?

 

[Rebecca85]

Actually now that you mention it, I only have one pair of PJs that doesn't have some decorative pockets on either the top or bottoms.

 

[vonfunk]

the TV isn't free. It's $12 a day, if you get the premium package. It's just everything else is free while I'm there. And I no longer mind the food. September was a hospital free month, but between May and August my hospital time totalled about a month (4 stays, each a week long), I got used to the food.

 

[Rebecca85]

And talking of PJs, it's about time I went to bed, it's 11pm here! The only reason I'm up this late is because I napped through lunch, didn't eat till about 3 so had tea about half 9. Normally I would be snoring (and farting!) by now.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Goodnight, Rebecca! It's only 5 PM here.

Vonfunk, I remember when my grandfather was in the hospital for a long time, his insurance paid for EVERYTHING - including the food. TV and I think internet are included for free too in hospitals here. But if you don't have insurance, or if your insurance isn't very good, then you end up paying for everything else! I think they charge something like $12 for one Tylenol, stuff like that.

 

[Rebecca85]

Actually our hospital food isn't bad, it's just it's never quite what you expect from the menu description. They serve the same thing each week so once you've been there long enough to see what each meal is, it's OK. And when you've been nil by mouth for tests, anything will do!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

The hospital food here is quite good. I haven't been admitted yet myself (knock on wood) but when my grandfather was in the hospital, I visited him often and my grandmother would take me to the cafeteria for lunch/dinner. They had quite a selection, a good salad bar and lots of hot foods and many beverages including chocolate soy milk!

 

[effdee]

When I got my MRI done, they didn't mention pockets. Maybe they had an issue with someone else and he/she ruined it for everyone. Might try calling where you're getting the procedure done and ask them directly.

 

[vonfunk]

Internet at hospitals depends on the place here. At mine the started providing internet for free a year or so ago.
When I was in in July, I had been on a liquid diet for most of the week. The first meal they sent up when I was allowed food was allegedly "chicken curry, I'm not a doctor, but if someone is hospitalised with colon issues, curry is probably not the best thing to send up.

 

[Lucy]

They ask you about working with metal (grinding, welding, etc.) because if you did you could have small pieces of metal in your eyes and the magnet would pull them out and damage your eyes. People who work with that kind of metal have to have their eyes checked before they can have an MRI.

 

[Rebecca85]

Forgot to say, not all wards even have pay per view TV. When I was diagnosed I got moved from the stoma and surgical ward (where they put me thinking I might have a dodgy gallbladder) to a digestive problem ward, where everyone except me was over 65. Over 65s get the TV subsidised, so the TVs on that ward weren't making a profit and they got removed!

As for the suitability of menu items, they did have a 'soft food' menu with low res foods on for those recovering from surgery, however I wasn't allowed that menu because I hadn't had surgery. So I had stuff like curry too.

 

[vonfunk]

During my last stay I was moved a couple of times. I was in the coronary ward for awhile, apparently most of the ward is on liquid restricted diets. So whenever the brought the meals they would remove the cup of hot water but leave the tea bag, as if they wanted to taunt the patients.