How often are your MRIs?

Mine are annual, I have one 10/17. I don't mind the torpedo tube much. That noise is kinda nice lol.

[Kenu]

Use to be twice a year, then once a year for long time. Then five years ago throat cancer ♋️ back to every six months and pet scans. Craziness 🤪. Due for another 😊 Ken 🐾🐾

[Hidden in reply to Kenu]

i did every 6 mos (because my biologist wife demanded it) for first few years actually. Clean MRIs since Tecfidera started working...i did have an attack in the first 2 months of Tecfidera use back in 2014...hand and waist numbness treated with steroid infusion. Yum, the taste of metal!!

[RoyceNewton]

annually and always with valium

[Hidden in reply to RoyceNewton]

I use medicinal marijuana to stay calm. I can sleep thru that crap lol. I could sleep thru a 21 gun salute.

[RoyceNewton in reply to Hidden]

I have used Cannabis for pain, it did nothing, I prefer valium, just personal

[quitetruly in reply to RoyceNewton]

I used to be fine, now I panic. My doc gave me a small dose of Valium, but I was still too tense to go in, even after half an hour. Had to be talked down.

[crobert1207 in reply to quitetruly]

I now have to use the sitting mri. I recommend it for anyone who has severe panic attacks in tube.

[mrsmike]

I get one MRI a year

[Hidden]

everyone is different Royce, I am not claustrophobic at all

[RoyceNewton in reply to Hidden]

Turns out unbeknownest to me I am, learn something new everyday

[Neworleanslady in reply to RoyceNewton]

I am claustrophobic but i ask the tech to cover my eyes and i schedule early in a.m. so i sleep in the tube

[RoyceNewton in reply to Neworleanslady]

I find a low dose of valium works wonders

[Neworleanslady in reply to RoyceNewton]

I probably wouldn’t be able to drive home after if i got valium

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

After my diagnosis, I would get a mri every six months. Now, I get one every year, but at my last visit by zoom, the neuro suggested that, because my PP'ms' has been 'stable' for many years, that the frequency of my mri's will change to every 2 years, unless something changes. I am fine with that.

[IFwczs in reply to carolek572]

I thought the insurance wanted it annually for Ocrevus?

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador in reply to IFwczs]

I am not sure about that, IFwczs I go with what my neuro says, but this is interesting.

[Tinker-Belle]

Initially, I think mine were every 6 months. Then, every year. Now, not even really that. We know I have MS so unless I start having some new weird symptoms we need to check out, the MRI probably wouldn’t reveal anything they’d treat any differently than they are now. I am 100% fine with that. I used to actually fall asleep during the MRI. Now, I get sort of anxious. Plus, I’m real small so even if I’m not freaking out you can see me breathing. Last time I had one, they said my breathing messed with the clarity. Well, I can’t stop breathing! Anyway, not so much anymore.

[Hidden in reply to Tinker-Belle]

thanks TB, I appreciate your experience I always get tickle in my throat and fight it off lol.

[Tinker-Belle in reply to Hidden]

Enjoy the little victories! Some folks have to be knocked out to go into one of those machines, so I’d say it definitely counts as a victory.

[DM0329]

Hmm. . .I often wondered what other folks do as well. For me, when I was "still working full-time" (dx at age 25 & SSDI at age 45) I would have a MRI once each year. Stable with the help of Avonex (since 1997).

But, since my neuro retired recently (now I feel old LOL), my new neuro said "one every two years" which I appreciate with the help of the MSAA's MRI Fund. Even with Medicare, the $300 co-payment is quite an expense!

Remember, we are Mighty Strong!

[Hidden]

Thank you DM, we are

[vsn15nml]

Totally depends.. Right now about once a year, now that I have been on Ocrevus for a year and relatively stable. Not that I mind them, I just sleep

[mm1527mm]

Brain every year. Spine and neck every 2 to 3 years. Lol i don't mind the noise but i need a xanax for going in

[mrsmike9 in reply to mm1527mm]

The only time my spine was checked was when I was diagnosed! I wish they would do that now and then. Mine is always head and neck.

[kdali]

Annual and relapses, whichever comes first.

[Hidden]

So, since I went on Tecfidera I have had no relapses. Am I extremely lucky to have this be the case on the first med I tried? It sounds like it?

[sashaming1]

Annually but when I get out of the tube I expect to have been transported to another planet due to the odd sounds , but I haven't moved an inch. No other issues.

[nes78]

like someone else said it totally depends! at one point it was at least every 6 months, now a year or more since hsct has stopped any ms activity for me for the past 7 years. at last count i've had over 45 brain mris, all with contrast. so used to it i almost fall asleep in that tube.

[Hidden]

I do too!

[mrsmike9]

I have one every year. (Just had one.) Went to a different hospital for it and they had a brand new scanner. They had headphones so I listened to Jack Johnson and could only hear the scanner in the background.

[CrazyCatWom]

I get an MRI every 6 months, originally with my current neurologist, for the MS thing. But since November 2019, it is to also keep tabs on my brain anurysms. I've had so many in the last 2 years, that even with the porno disco noise that machine makes, I fell asleep during my last one in June. I'll be coming up for another one in the next month or two.