MRI's

[SORRELHIPPO]

I have Crohn's and have seen from some on this site that they have had MRI's. You could not get me in one when awake at any level. I know that for certain MRI's you need to be conscious, (when they need to ask you to do things/think things etc) however not for others, why will hospitals not put you out completely? A freind of mine recently spent over an hour in one, in a dreadful state after. When you watch Super Vet, they put the dogs etc out for MRI's, so why not us?!!

[Offeiriad]

One thing an MRI does require is for you to stay still when told to, something my dog certainly won't do! In my experience the machines are getting faster and less claustrophobic, so should cause less anxiety for most people. I remember my first MRI ever, 25 years ago- I had a be at a difficult angle, then the wretched machine broke down with me inside it. After three attempts each ending with a 'bang' I was sent home, and had to come back in a month when they had fixed it. Not fun!

[SORRELHIPPO in reply to Offeiriad]

Thanks, if that had happened to me, I would have had what my Granny called "the screaming ab dabs"

[willow24 Administrator]

MRI's are expensive to perform so are not done as a matter of course in NHS

they will give you sedation if required as you need to stay very still. sedation is given if like yourself are very nervous, if you have involuntary movements like parkinsons disease or unable to follow commands and stay still if you have dementia.

They can also offer CT instead if someone is very scared of MRI, however results are not quite as clear. my first MRI I had sedation to chill me out. To be fair it wasn't as bad as I thought. Because they did abdomen and pelvic area, my head was just out of the machine so I didn't feel claustophobic.

[SORRELHIPPO in reply to willow24]

Thanks, the bit about the head being out for you, I have never seen an MRI where this happened, so pleased that does happen, means I have something to discuss, if ever offerred this. I have had a CT with a contrast dye, I had no problems with this, and it actually gave me a diagnosis I rather enjoyed, as it confirmed something I had been telling medics for 4 years, that they kept saying had not happened!! I was not pleased iwth the problem, but when a charming surgeon has told you (over 3 issues) to stop being stupid, to have my views being confirmed as correct, on each of the 3 issues, was cheering.

[Hidden]

There is a machine at a hospital in Croydon which has a more open format for those who are anxious about the procedure. You could ask your GP about this. The hospital is a private one, but the NHS does referrals there. There may be others in other parts of the country. Google for “open MRI” to get an idea of what these machines look like. In some of them you can sit and there is nothing in front of you.

[SORRELHIPPO in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, cheers me up no end