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I have an MRE coming up. It's a special kind of MRI. Did anyone have one ever done on here? What is an MRI like? I never had one done before. Thanx!
Mri?
- Thread starter KatieRose00
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Is it a small bowel MRI? MRI's are a walk in the park so try not to worry
If it is a small bowel scan you will have a cannula inserted first of all. You will also have to drink a shot of contrast beforehand, along with large amounts of fluids. Once you've done this they will take you through for the scan.
The radiologist will then inject some buscopan to relax the bowel ready for the procedure and put you in the scanner. It takes around 30-40 minutes and you will be lying on your stomach. They give you headphones playing music to drown out the noise so it isn't too distracting!
A voice will come over the headphones occasionally telling you to take a deep breath and hold it in for a few seconds. A word to the wise, I found it didn't give you much time to recover in between commands, but to be fair I'm asthmatic and was quite anaemic at the time so that wouldn't have helped, and you will probably find it easier.
Once it's all over and done with they whip you out and you can go straight home. They do say not to drive yourself home afterwards as buscopan can cause blurred vision, but I didn't find it had this effect on me at all.
Best of luck, it's honestly nothing to worry about and that's coming from a massive worrier!
I've had an MRE, and it was a little different from what is described above. I had to drink a rather large quantity of contrast liquid - perhaps 2 or 3 quarts, which didn't taste very good. The procedure itself involved laying on my back while the device slid me in an out of in a sort of large tube apparatus that appeared to have some spinning parts that created and recorded the images. The machine was rather noisy with a lot of metallic clanging. A voice came through the headset instructing when to hold my breath and when to breathe.
The machine looked like this: http://www.tabletsmanual.com/img/wiki/mri_machine.jpg
Overall, it was painless and I was allowed to drive immediately after.
The machine looked like this: http://www.tabletsmanual.com/img/wiki/mri_machine.jpg
Overall, it was painless and I was allowed to drive immediately after.
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I've had an MRE, and it was a little different from what is described above. I had to drink a rather large quantity of contrast liquid - perhaps 2 or 3 quarts, which didn't taste very good. The procedure itself involved laying on my back while the device slid me in an out of in a sort of large tube apparatus that appeared to have some spinning parts that created and recorded the images. The machine was rather noisy with a lot of metallic clanging. A voice came through the headset instructing when to hold my breath and when to breathe.
The machine looked like this: http://www.tabletsmanual.com/img/wiki/mri_machine.jpg
Overall, it was painless and I was allowed to drive immediately after.
Thanks for the the info! I'm actually rather looking forward to it. I had a CT scan already but never this. The CT scan fascinated me.
The machine looked like this: http://www.tabletsmanual.com/img/wiki/mri_machine.jpg
Overall, it was painless and I was allowed to drive immediately after.
Thanks for the the info! I'm actually rather looking forward to it. I had a CT scan already but never this. The CT scan fascinated me.
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Ah maybe I'm mistaken! The machine I was in looked very similar but it was definitely an MRI that I had. Out of interest what the difference between the 2?
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Ah maybe I'm mistaken! The machine I was in looked very similar but it was definitely an MRI that I had. Out of interest what the difference between the 2?
It's an MRI performed with contrast to produce detailed images of the small intestine.
It's an MRI performed with contrast to produce detailed images of the small intestine.
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Gotcha, that'll teach me for posting late at night and not reading the question properly [emoji85]
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Ive also had the same experience and same machine as katierose00. I had to get there at 7am, drink 2 litres of some kind of laxative as fast as i could over 30mins. Then i couldnt get off the toilet for 2 hours so missed my call haha. Then you get a line put in and lay you belly down in the machine with headphones (no music). Do some images then put some dye in, and take more images. The whole thing was quick and painless. I actually had to stop myself falling asleep in the machine lol. Also due to completely emptying my bowels, i felt alot less bloated and clearer. Its honestly not something to worry about.
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I had an MRE and it was as Scipio described. Just a normal MRI (lying on my back) but had to drink 1 or 2 litres of fluid before. I then had a canular inserted too. When laying down whatever was going through the canular made me feel like I was wetting myself... I wasn't lol, but that's the feeling it gives.
If you're not claustrophobic, you'll be fine with an MRI. It's just the laying so still for such a long period of time that some struggle with. I did struggle with the breathing a little bit as they seemed to want me to hold my breath for ages and then relax, but before I knew it, I had to do it again. It didn't feel like I had enough time to catch my breath again! Lol. But that could be as I was a little panicky as I'm claustrophobic.
If you do suffer with claustrophobia, just let them know beforehand and you can have a sedative. I didn't, but I know people that do xx
If you're not claustrophobic, you'll be fine with an MRI. It's just the laying so still for such a long period of time that some struggle with. I did struggle with the breathing a little bit as they seemed to want me to hold my breath for ages and then relax, but before I knew it, I had to do it again. It didn't feel like I had enough time to catch my breath again! Lol. But that could be as I was a little panicky as I'm claustrophobic.
If you do suffer with claustrophobia, just let them know beforehand and you can have a sedative. I didn't, but I know people that do xx
scottsma
Well-known member
I was on my stomach with a weighted belt (?) across my lower back.I went in feet first
which was fine,but I don't think I would of had a problem head first.
which was fine,but I don't think I would of had a problem head first.
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I used to get annual MRIs before my resection a few years back. My anatomy was so screwed up, they could not make full sense of it with a scope.
Its not too bad. They will give you plenty of barium to drink. I hope it is cold or darn near frozen when they give it to you... it helps it go down.
The hardest part is being in that damn machine with only a few inches between your nose and the tube. It is a battle between you an your nerves. I suggest putting together a few albums of the most serene, quiet, and relaxing music possible. A good technician will be able to play it through the intercom.
The key to an MRI to to close your eyes, relax, and follow the tech's instructions. The calmer you are and the more you are able to lay still will your eyes closed, the better it will go.
Its not too bad. They will give you plenty of barium to drink. I hope it is cold or darn near frozen when they give it to you... it helps it go down.
The hardest part is being in that damn machine with only a few inches between your nose and the tube. It is a battle between you an your nerves. I suggest putting together a few albums of the most serene, quiet, and relaxing music possible. A good technician will be able to play it through the intercom.
The key to an MRI to to close your eyes, relax, and follow the tech's instructions. The calmer you are and the more you are able to lay still will your eyes closed, the better it will go.
