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I got my first MRI yesterday evening. For me it was pleasant. I actually nodded off a few times! How was your experience?
The entire staff was extremely friendly and funny. In contrast, every single patient I saw looked pissed off. The female nurse who handled my MRI was hilarious. She made fun of me that I didn't know how to tie the gown correctly. As they were about to wheel me into machine, she placed an emergency squeeze activated switch in my hand. "Just squeeze this at any time if you have trouble." I replied "Great! Can I take it home?"
As for the experience in the MRI, it was a lot louder than I expected. It sounded like a large industrial press that was falling apart: heavy clunks, hammering, shrieks, and squeals. The nurse piped in some classic rock tunes, and that drowned out much of the noise. The space was very confined, and I could see how someone who is claustrophobic could have problems. I was completely comfortable, showed up kinda tired anyhow, so that helped to lay still and relax.
Afterward, the nurse told me a little about the process. She said it's very common for people to freak out in the MRI. That's one of the reasons they were able to move my appointment up an hour. Oftentimes, they have to sedate patients to even get them in the machine. The other problem is heavy people. She said they often have to call for multiple staff to physically shove patients into the machine inches at a time. That's got to be a miserable experience for both patients and staff.
The entire staff was extremely friendly and funny. In contrast, every single patient I saw looked pissed off. The female nurse who handled my MRI was hilarious. She made fun of me that I didn't know how to tie the gown correctly. As they were about to wheel me into machine, she placed an emergency squeeze activated switch in my hand. "Just squeeze this at any time if you have trouble." I replied "Great! Can I take it home?"
As for the experience in the MRI, it was a lot louder than I expected. It sounded like a large industrial press that was falling apart: heavy clunks, hammering, shrieks, and squeals. The nurse piped in some classic rock tunes, and that drowned out much of the noise. The space was very confined, and I could see how someone who is claustrophobic could have problems. I was completely comfortable, showed up kinda tired anyhow, so that helped to lay still and relax.
Afterward, the nurse told me a little about the process. She said it's very common for people to freak out in the MRI. That's one of the reasons they were able to move my appointment up an hour. Oftentimes, they have to sedate patients to even get them in the machine. The other problem is heavy people. She said they often have to call for multiple staff to physically shove patients into the machine inches at a time. That's got to be a miserable experience for both patients and staff.
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