MRI scan

[kiny]

I have an MRI scan in 2 days. Do they make you drink any disgusting stuff like for a colonoscopy to clear your gut?

Thanks.

 

[BigRed]

Nope! Don't have to do any prep to speak of...but the test itself is stressful! I haven't made it through one yet...have another one scheduled next month but this time they gave me xanax to almost knock me out!!!

 

[kiny]

Thanks. How is it stressful? I think I did one before long ago and I thought you just laid down and the machine took pics? It's been so long though, like 10 years.

 

[Mister_Hotspur]

Hi Kiny,

I was stressing about mine before hand too but its not so bad. I had to drink some citramag to get the bowels moving before hand. Whilst i was in there they injected buscopan to relax the bowels and get clear pics. There is no pain involved whatsoever, it is insanely noisy though! Once i got home and several hours passed the effects of the citramag came through..nothing major though.

 

[kiny]

Hi Kiny,

I was stressing about mine before hand too but its not so bad. I had to drink some citramag to get the bowels moving before hand. Whilst i was in there they injected buscopan to relax the bowels and get clear pics. There is no pain involved whatsoever, it is insanely noisy though! Once i got home and several hours passed the effects of the citramag came through..nothing major though.

thank you ><

 

[BigRed]

It stressed me out because of the small enclosed space. I've never really had any claustrophobic tendencies, so I didn't expect to have a problem with it. But when I was there....I panicked.

 

[ThanksP]

I had an MRE (very similar to an MRI, just newer technology) and had to drink some sort of barium something or another. I also had an IV with contrast and something to slow my bowels. Even though I had to drink crud, it wasn't bad at all. The worst part was how many times I had to go to the bathroom. That stuff goes through quite quickly. It was really quite easy compared to so many of the terrible tests we have to endure.

After reading above, sounds like "Mr Hotspur" and I had the same test done.

 

[Carrie]

I think what you have to do for prep depends on where you have it done.

When I was in the US, I didn't have to do any sort of prep before I had one done. But when I had one done here in the UK recently, I had to do the same has Mister Hotspur described.

Another difference was that in the US they had me lie on my back, whereas here I had to lie on my stomach (which I found a bit awkward and uncomfortable).

 

[deedee]

I had to drink some sort of contrast about 30 min before mine. I had a hard time getting it down, but most people find it not so bad. Then, during the actual test, I had IV contrast. If you're worried about being claustrophobic, talk to them beforehand. They should be able to give you something to take the edge off. Hope it goes well!

 

[Keona]

I had the MRE's as well. It was a breeze. They gave me 4 large glasses of orange flavoured metemucil mixed with something else. Drink it quick as it gets thicker the longer you leave it. If it is this test, ask them to make it as cold as possible - much much easier to get down (I've had 3 MRE's). I also competed with myself to see if I could down it faster then the one before so if you have something to time yourself it makes it easier. Watch out for brain freeze though

they put in the IV and put me in the scan. The dye they inject in to you will make you feel like you just wet yourself once they inject it so dont panic - you didnt.

Also had an injection into the upper arm of buscopan. The 3rd they told me they no longer give it in the shoulder and now give it in the IV. Not sure what they will do for you though.

In the actual scanner... it wasnt that bad if you deep breathe (they will get you to anyway and hold your breath. Do some self-talk.. "Im okay, will be out shortly, etc".
Not that big of a deal really - just really time consuming so if you can bring something with you to keep u occupied - all the better. I was there for about 4 1/2 hours each time.

GOOD LUCK

 

[Mark63]

As you will see I'm in the UK and have had many MRI scans for Crohns. The prep and if contrast is required or not depends on the exact procedure to be carried out. E.G.

MRI of the pelvis, no prep and no contrast material.

MRI of the small bowel, a drop of something to help the stomach empty quickly, then a litre or so of contrast material that is mix of water and locust bean gum before the procedure. An injection of Buscopan to stop the gut action and later on possibly a few ml of Gadolinium injected to highlight the blood vessels. This seems to be the "gold standard" prep, others involve drinking water based substances or bowel prep like picolax.

Nothing to worry about and no ill effects afterwards.

Mark
__________________

 

[kiny]

Thank you all. So nervous for the results, haven't slept all night, I pray to God it's not serious so I can get back to work and get some money. There was so much blood so I'm really nervous, but no pain, so maybe it's not too bad. They taking pics in a few hours, will say how it goes.

 

[Keona]

Hi Kiny
Hope the test went okay and please let us know what happened. I know for me, they said they wouldnt call unless they found something. Not sure how it works where you are. The waiting is sometimes the hardest part. How did you find the test?

 

[kiny]

Thanks Keona,

I had to drink 1.5litres of the stuff that tastes like vinegar. Was hard to get down and puked some out, oh well, I was the spectacle of the waiting room, go me.

Laying in the machine was cool, was a Siemens and they said the pictures went well and were clear.

No results yet, ran all around the clinic asking if I should go home or wait and where I needed to be. Apparently there's no crohn's doctor coming in today to look at the results. So they told me to go home, hope doc calls or notifies me soon and hope it's good.

 

[kiny]

Doc called back and said it's really serious, and I need to have a shot tomorrow morning, Remicade. I asked him about surgery and he said no, we'll see in 15-20 years, hopefully we can keep you medicin.

Is this good? I don't know anymore.

 

[xJillx]

Oh, Kiny, what a tough call to get. Did your doctor explain what the MRI saw causing your situation to be "really serious"?

Remicade has done miracles for so many on here, and I hope it will do the same for you. Good luck tomorrow!

 

[kiny]

Thanks so much! He didn't explain no, was just on the phone with him for 1 minute.

I got Remicade once before like 6 years ago and felt great after, here's hoping.

 

[Deleted member 81255]

When I got my MRI in mid-December I had to drink this disgusting stuff called PegLyte. It was this 4 L. jug and thank goodness I didn't have to drink it all but I had to drink four large glasses of it, one every 15 minutes. It tasted like chaulky water that wanted to be bubble gum flavour but it was "fruit" flavour. I got mine here in Canada so I'm not sure what the protocol is in your place of residence. Other than that I got an IV with dye in it, sort of like a CT Scan but it didn't make me hot or anything. If you're not claustrophobic then you should be fine in the machine but I laid on my stomache anyway so I couldn't tell that I was in the machine. Then you just lay there and rest. Except sometimes they tell you to hold your breath for about ten seconds. Don't worry, it's easy. Good Luck!