MRI tomorrow (24th Sept) .....what happens?

[YJ120]

Hi All,

So after being really ill for the past 3 months, my MRI scan is finally here, well in the morning!

So I've been having my normal extreme fatigue, urgency, bowel movements all over, some pains and new symptoms of nausea nearly everyday and symptoms come back of vomiting at least 3 times a week. Bloodwork come back ok, when tested in August so Consultant thinks I have some low level blockage and is sending me for the scan to determine whether I need a resection or if not then he wants me on adilumamb.

Can anyone tell me what happens before the scan? I have previously had a CT scan where I had to drink 2 jugs of juice....just wondering if it's a similar process?

Thanks Yvette.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

It depends on the type of MRI ordered. Most likely you are having an abdominal MRI which requires oral contrast. 2-3 bottles depending on your weight. You also get injected contrast while in the machine. You will be in constant communication with the technologist who will tell you to breathe and hold your breath for imaging.

Don't be alarmed by how noisy the machine is. It cranks out crazy sounds.

 

[YJ120]

Thanks for you advice, yea it's to evaluate my small bowel. I know I have to be there an hour before so I was guessing I'd have to drink something again before it.

Thanks again roll on the results!

 

[valleysangel92]

Just wanted to add, if your allowed to take a CD with you then I would go for that, helped me relax. In all the scans I've had my head has been just outside the scanner and this was a plus.

Some people have a sensation that they can't breathe in the scanner, if this happens just close your eyes and remember something positive, take deep breaths and you'll be ok .

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Just try to drink it slowly. It's gross and usually if you have trouble they let you have a little water to cleanse your palate and get it down. Good luck and I hope you have nice pretty guts that don't require anything done.

 

[YJ120]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate it

 

[Essieluv]

It depends on the type of MRI ordered. Most likely you are having an abdominal MRI which requires oral contrast. 2-3 bottles depending on your weight. You also get injected contrast while in the machine. You will be in constant communication with the technologist who will tell you to breathe and hold your breath for imaging.

Don't be alarmed by how noisy the machine is. It cranks out crazy sounds.

This is exactly how all of my MRIs of my abdomen have gone. The machine is really loud, but the technician always gives me earplugs to block out some of the noise, so that helps a lot. I hope everything goes well for you!

 

[YJ120]

Thank you I've been felt that awful for the last few months I can't wait to get in the machine and get answers lol

 

[Axelfl3333]

As one of the posts said don,t worry about the noise it's a loud machine.pain free you,ll be done in a few minutes.good luck

 

[YJ120]

It's done! Well the drink wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be! Blooming uncomfortable led on my front in the machine for 45 minutes though! Lol!

Awaiting results now, but the radiologist consultant if apparently off sick! Surely they have more than one??

 

[nogutsnoglory]

If its a hospital they definitely have other radiologists. Generally I get my results within 24-48 hours.

 

[YJ120]

Yea it is I kinda thought when the women said he's off sick! Surely there has to be others for all the scanning options! My crohns nurse is going to keep checking for my results and so I don't have to wait ages, but even she said after a week! It isn't a private hospital though it's nhs.

 

[lsgs]

YJ120, I am due to have this scan but I keep wussing out. Do you know what it was you had to drink? I'm having to drink 2L of bowel prep then go in the scanner. Is that what you had to do?

 

[YJ120]

Hi Igis

Yes 2x 1.2 lite jugs. They use a drug to attract all the water to your small bowel that is added to the juice and a drug to accelerate it getting there. It's not that bad to drink, after reading some other things I thought it was going to be awful but it's not.

Then they'll put you in the machine and start scanning giving you breathing instructions. Towards the end they inject buscapan through a cannular do some more scans and then finally they put a dye through the cannular and do the last few scans.

I wasn't worried about it because I've felt that ill I just wanted answers! You'll be ok, it's just uncomfortable led on your front for a while.

Hope that helps. Yvette

 

[lsgs]

Hi Igis

Yes 2x 1.2 lite jugs. They use a drug to attract all the water to your small bowel that is added to the juice and a drug to accelerate it getting there. It's not that bad to drink, after reading some other things I thought it was going to be awful but it's not.

Then they'll put you in the machine and start scanning giving you breathing instructions. Towards the end they inject buscapan through a cannular do some more scans and then finally they put a dye through the cannular and do the last few scans.

I wasn't worried about it because I've felt that ill I just wanted answers! You'll be ok, it's just uncomfortable led on your front for a while.

Hope that helps. Yvette

I'm really sorry to ask this but I'm kinda worried the bowel prep will take effect in the scanner! When did the bowel prep start to work on you? Any danger of erm... it 'working' in the scanner?

Unless you had totally different stuff.

 

[YJ120]

Oh gosh yes I forgot to put about that on! Well I am glad it was on one of my days off from work, lol! I'd say it kicked in about 45minutes after I'd got off the machine. I had to wait around 10 mins, my stomach had started cramping then and luckily I only live 20 mins away from the hospital! Stay near a loo for the rest of the afternoon!

The nurse said I'd experience some mild D! I wouldn't describe it as mild though! Lol!

Hope that answers the question

 

[YJ120]

Ps. They give you an 'emergency' button to press too so if you felt like you needed to go you could just press that. But it shouldn't happen until after the scan

 

[valleysangel92]

I'm really sorry to ask this but I'm kinda worried the bowel prep will take effect in the scanner! When did the bowel prep start to work on you? Any danger of erm... it 'working' in the scanner?

Unless you had totally different stuff.

This shouldn't happen, the prep is to coat the intestine and make it more visible and to allow the radiologist to see any blockages that might be there. I have heard of some people finding they have an increased urge to go but it's not usually an issue. It's not the same kind of prep you take for a colonoscopy. The busocpan injected half way through slows the bowel down.

You will probably have a panic button during the scan so if anything happens you just press that and they can pause the scan and let you use the bathroom. If you don't have a button just call out. They can see and hear you at all times.

 

[lsgs]

This shouldn't happen, the prep is to coat the intestine and make it more visible and to allow the radiologist to see any blockages that might be there. I have heard of some people finding they have an increased urge to go but it's not usually an issue. It's not the same kind of prep you take for a colonoscopy. The busocpan injected half way through slows the bowel down.

You will probably have a panic button during the scan so if anything happens you just press that and they can pause the scan and let you use the bathroom. If you don't have a button just call out. They can see and hear you at all times.

The head radiologist said they use klean-prep

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I'm really sorry to ask this but I'm kinda worried the bowel prep will take effect in the scanner! When did the bowel prep start to work on you? Any danger of erm... it 'working' in the scanner?

Unless you had totally different stuff.

They put materials under you that are disposable. You are also fasting 4-6 hours before so going while in the machine is not very likely. Like others said there is an emergency button and you can wear an adult diaper for extra safety.