MRI TOMORROW

[Slattery]

I am having my first MRI tomorrow for my Ablation on the 25th of this month. I am starting to feel anxious, please let me know your experience was.

[Hidden]

I was surprised by the loud clanking noises. Possibly mildly alarming for claustrophobics.

[Slattery in reply to Hidden]

Did they give you ear plugs and did it help?

[Hidden in reply to Slattery]

No ear plugs, you have to be able to hear what the radiographer is saying.

[bantam12 in reply to Slattery]

They usually provide headphones with music to block out the noise then the music is turned down when they need to give you instructions.

[seasider18 in reply to bantam12]

I asked for music last time and it was an Afro Jazz radio station that they ignored my request s to turn off/down.

[bantam12 in reply to seasider18]

Sounds grim, we can either take our own music, choose a radio station or cd they have, trouble is the volume has to be to high to drown out the scanner noise !

[seasider18 in reply to bantam12]

I had ear plugs one time but they did not really help

[pottypete1]

They will probably inject you with dye as the MRI scanner passes. Not painful but you have a warm feeling and metallic taste in your mouth.

Nothing to worry about.

Try to relax as much as you can over the ablation by keeping occupied.

After the ablation you will need to rest a lot so keep occupied with jobs you need to do that you may not be too fit to do straight after.

In 26 days it will all be over.

Pete

[Slattery in reply to pottypete1]

Pete,

Your advice is helping, thank you so much!

[RayB]

You don't need earplugs its just a bit of banging,, the worst thing about it is the lying there waiting till it finishes,, the table is not exectly comfortable.

It's more you just want it done as your fed up lying there,, nothing to worry about!

[SMRM]

I was surprised by the dye and the accompanying warmth - if there's a next time I'll ask them to cue me when they do that part.

I was anxious, too, prior to the ablation, but now I wouldn't hesitate to have a 2nd one if that were needed. Give yourself plenty of time to rest and take it easy afterwards and continue to stay away from any known triggers.

Hope you have excellent results! Susan Marie

[jedimasterlincoln]

Have had 3 MRI scans. All of the knee.

The first one was when portable and in a truck and very loud and cold.

The second was in the middle of a 12 hour shift, lay down and fell asleep even with headphones on and the loud noises.

The third one was in the evening and the only one I was offered to have music through the headphones. Ended up being salsa music.

I tend to shut my eyes and listen to the noise.

[irene75359 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

My daughter fell asleep too in the middle of a heart MRI scan. A side effect of very young children who don't sleep well...!

[BobD Volunteer]

Any I have had I was given headphones with music and kept my eyes clamped tightly shut the whole time. Despite spending a large percentage of my life under cars I am actually quite claustrophobic!

Oh yes and when they put in the dye. you haven't pee'd. That warm feeling is normal.

[Slattery in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, I will keep my eyes closed!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Slattery]

I did the same and kept my eyes shut, would recommend that. I thought the machine was going to be totally enclosed at the head end, but it wasn't.

[Beebop8]

Keep your eyes closed. It’s a bit claustrophobic. 😌

[Gowers]

I had to drink a pint + of water before my heart mri - dont know if this is standard in all hospitals ? I think its to do with having the contrast dye.

It doesnt take that long & it will be over before you know it!

Do let us know how you get on + with the ablation

[Slattery in reply to Gowers]

Will do!

[Angie06]

I had to have an MRI scan of the brain (yes there is one!) and with headphones on and eyes shut I just imagined lying on a sunbed then nearly fell asleep! It was over in no time and no problem at all. 😎

[Jamse]

I had an MRI yesterday ...was supposed to be at 18.30 but i got called in at 16.00 early

nice new clean cabin .

I wore headphones but they did not play music just a message saying breath in out and hold ...after 25 mins they put some dye in my arm

you get a call button but i did not use it ...and I asked them how long i had been in there

there was a fan and a blanket ...im fat so i got hot as they had to turn the power up to see

I arrived at 16.15 I left at 18.00 but the first 20 mins was filling in forms and telling me what would happen ...i should have listened better as i had 25 mins to think about very little

[Jamcarr]

I had mine last month and it's not as bad a going to the dentist

[100h]

I just jaf mine today. The noise didn't worry me. I wasn't offered headphones 😣 I was veey nervous going in, but all the staff were wonderful & explained everything fully.

I don't have a large lung capacity so I found it difficult, but not imppssible, to hold my breath for long enough!

I found it veey cold so I had a blanket over me. Just be aware that when they tell you that you may feel hot, they reaaly mean it! Honestly I felt like I was literally burning up from the inside out!

Once they get started it's probably all over on about w0 minutes. I had to stay for 30 minutes afterwards to have my heart rate & bp monitored.

Good luck with it all!

[Hidden]

Probably a bit late now, but I have had 3, 1 brain and 2 heart.

The brain one was worse as my head was in a "death mask" to stop movement.

The heart ones were ok, it is uncomfortable lying on the table for so long when you have a back condition.

It is LOUD, but you have headphones with music playing and the operator can talk to you through them. (I asked for Radio 6 music)

The dye being injected makes you feel warm and is metalic tasting, but the sensation is over in seconds, some people can feel like they are wetting themselves, but they are not.

All the best

[Sabrina70]

I’ve had a few MRIs for my brain tumour and have ear buds and always ask for the mirror which enables you to see the radiographers working in the back so you don’t feel as claustrophobic. Good luck. You’ll be fine.

[Hidden]

The MRI will be painless-it is completely non-invasive. You will hear loudish noises reminiscent of the early Dr Who programmes and be required to lie still. Depending on the type of machine you may be given headphones or earplugs which will muffle this sound- as an approximation it is like listening to noisy DIY from a neighbour next door with lots of different drilling and hammering sounds - really no worse than that. I was offered the option of listening to a local radio station through the headphones which I accepted. The bland babblings of the DJ helped to

distract and pass the time. On a scale of unpleasant experiences from 0 to 10 it wouldn’t even make 1 imo.

[Morzine]

Hey don’t worry the worry beforehand it’s the hard bit......think we all were there.

Yes the machine makes a noise, amd you feel a warmth but it’s not unpleasant, it’s all over soon,they give headphones amd music...shut your eyes don’t keep them open, and they do give you a panic button, but don’t press it, just tell your self it’s nesrly over..........ablation next and then restrestrest!

[Hidden]

Forgot to mention: you are monitored the whole time by the operator who can speak to you through the headphones or speakers. There are lots of really unpleasant medical procedures, but an MRI really isn’t one of them.

[Hidden]

I had an MRI of my knee a few years ago & they gave me headphones. The ‘music’ was Radio 1 which I loathe! Would have asked for Classic FM if I’d realised! 🎧 🎶

Apologies for levity as I realise you are anxious

Pat x

[LouBrig]

I’ve had 3 Ablations in the last 18-months and never been offered an MRI. What does this actually show?

[Slattery in reply to LouBrig]

They use the MRI to map the heart before the procedure. It can tell the doctor how healthy your heart is.

[LouBrig in reply to Slattery]

Thank you. I had an Echocardiogram but never an MRI!

[Jennifer53]

Ask for the contraption they put on your head to have a mirror. It really helps to be able to see into the room. It can get a little noisy but nothing to be alarmed about. I have even managed to fall asleep during one of mine. Just concentrate on remaining completely still and it will take less time.

[KMRobbo]

Overall it was a great experience! I have not had Afib since the ablation 29/01/18 and have not taken ANY drugs since 15th May 2018! Focus on the potential upsides! In any event my pvi cryo ablation was no issue. Local in the groin meant I felt nothing. The cryo itself , the pain is like the pain of Biting into a very cold icecream - the brain freeze. Little felt in the chest. I also had a right atria RF ablation for reentrant flutter, smaller shorter procedure. The pain there is a bit more and is felt in the right shoulder, again not in the chest. I have had much worse pain at the dentist.

[Dawsonmackay]

I HATED THE MRI with every fiber of my being. I am very sensitive to sound and it drive me nuts for the twenty minutes or so that I was cooped up in there. BUT I was determined to not be a nuisance and/or have to do it again! Noooooo! So I made a wager with myself to be good and patient. A good patient and I got through it. Take care of yourself, that's the sure way to get over the hump if anything starts to bother you once you're in that confounded machine. And I love technology!

[marshameesha]

Noisy but no pain. Piece of cake you got this

[F-M-C-MM]

Like LouBrig who earlier asked why have an MRI before an ablation, I am asking the same question as I had an ablation two years ago and had a CT Angiogram shortly before the ablation.

There was never a mention of an MRI.

Would someone kindly explain why it is required prior to an ablation procedure.

[Slattery in reply to F-M-C-MM]

MRI IS USED FOR MAPPING THE HEART BEFORE THE PROCEDURE. THE DOCTOR HAS A BETTER IDEA ABOUT THE HEALTH OF YOUR HEART.

[Chaben]

I never had an MRI for my ablations, but have had them for other things. Yes, it is very loud, so take some soft ear plugs. Best advice that I can give is to relax! You have to stay very still, but not bad at all!