avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in gadolinium for MRI

[Guest guest]

I have the injection in the last part too. Usually it's a bit longer than 15

min. The whole deal (for head) takes about an hour to an hour and 15 min and

the dye is usually put in about a half an hour after I've been in. I have a

great sense of smell, but never smelled the dye ) I can feel it going in

though along with anything I've had injected. Feels kind of hot for a few

seconds.

Hugs,

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have always gottem my Gad half way through the MRI,first half without and

second half with.

Lana in Minnesota

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/18/2000 5:22:35 PM Eastern Standard Time,

sherynstewart@... writes:

<< Are the covering your neck area thoroughly as well? >>

Yeah the " neck unit " is the one that sorta reminds me of the front of a

football helmet , don't they at least have to pull you out to swap receptors

(there's 3 that all the MRI's I've ever had use, the Helmet for the head, the

football guard like thing for the neck and the mat for the back

Pete

[Guest guest]

Hmm.. my MRIs happen like this -

pictures without Gadolinium - about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours, then they pull me

out of the machine

administration of Gadolinium (shot)

pictures with Gadolinium - about 1/2 hour

June

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-02-18 14:52:00 EST, you write:

<< some of them have this neat little

mirror on the helmet so when you look up, your actually looking down the

tube

and out the end >>

Sounds great! All I have to look at is a little dot at the top of the tube!

June

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-02-18 16:03:50 EST, you write:

<< Hmm funny, mine has to be 2 sessions (head and then spine seperate)

because

they said the contrast doesn't last long enough for both to be back to back

Pete >>

Pete, I find this odd, because I have the head and spine every time. But

it's done in 1 session. Maybe that's because they do about 1 to 1/1/2 hours

without the Gadolinium and then about 1/2 hour with it. I'm wondering why

they tell you it doesn't last long enough.

June

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-02-18 16:03:50 EST, you write:

<< Hmm funny, mine has to be 2 sessions (head and then spine seperate)

because

they said the contrast doesn't last long enough for both to be back to back

Pete >>

Oh Pete, my sessions are also head and spine. June

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/18/2000 7:14:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,

HandsomeJimmy@... writes:

<< Not sure if all mri machines are like this,but I had an Mri where they

could

talk to me and I could talk back.I actually found this out by mistake.I had

a hot date,and the mri was taking too long,so I cussed at them:-)oops >>

Yeah most places have a Microphone in the room near the end of the MRI where

your head is so they can listen to you , the place where I have mine done,

also gives you a little rubber ball that's connected to a small (like IV tube

size) air hose and when you squeeze the ball it makes a light go on in the

control room

It's my " Houston we have a problem " ball <g>

When I used to use Sedation, they also put a Pulse Oximeter on my toe while

I was in so they could make sure I was still alive <g>

Pete

[Guest guest]

i get the shot halfway into the MRI session. i wonder what they're doing

for the first half... does anyone know why there is this difference in times

for the shot?

-nisha

Re: avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in

gadolinium for MRI

>

>

> Hey I have a question about the MRI:

>

> How many people get the Gadolinium shot in the last 20 minutes or so of

the

> MRI?

>

> My brother went in for one last week and told me they gave him the

injection

> in the last 10 or 15 minutes. I had no idea they did this. I always get

my

> injection before the MRI scans begin.

>

> Answer to June's previous question:

>

> I now go every 3 months to get an MRI because instead of treatment we are

> just following up and watching the tumors. They have not grown any since

my

> first scan in July. The only body part I have scanned is the head

(brain).

> We do not do the spine because a) there are no tumors near my brainstem

> which I was told if there was it would be consistent that I would have

them

> in the spine also I have had no apparent problems that would indicate

I

> have them and

> c) they would not take action on any tumors there unless it was causing

> problems. They theorize that I probably have some meningiomas throughout

my

> spine because I have several in my head. However, they would most likely

be

> very small like the others I have and therefore would not qualify in any

> treatment action at this time.

>

> The total length of my MRI is 40 minutes (without the getting the

injection

> part).

>

> It does not bother me at all to be in the machine and I usually fall

asleep

> listening to Beethoven. I can hear all the noise but just pretend that I

am

> an underwater welder of some sort or on a secret space mission in a

> Bond movie. LOL I guess I like to fantasize. )

>

> -Beck

>

>

> See what's happening for NF2Con 2000!

> http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DeckDr/earld/nf2convegas2000.html

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pete,

Are the covering your neck area thoroughly as well? My scans are 4 areas:

head, cervical spine, thoraic spine, and lumber spine. They have tried to

make as little area scanned as possible, hmm, LA broke them up too, the

appointments were made before they found no success with the gadolineum. Our

newest machine has beautiful pictures and without the gad they are very

poor. Id love 2 sessions instead of 1 of 3 hours. In Nov. '99, they didn't

do it till last 15 - 20 min......... I wonder. They critisized allk MRI's I

never had without Gad. Have you ever gone in feet first? Calgary has one

site that does the spine that way. It was great!

Sheryn

Re: avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in

gadolinium for MRI

> From: PeteEMT@...

>

> In a message dated 2/18/2000 4:00:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> sherynstewart@... writes:

>

> << I'm told that to break this into

> two sessions wouldn't have as good results. Something about continuety.

>>

>

> Hmm funny, mine has to be 2 sessions (head and then spine seperate)

because

> they said the contrast doesn't last long enough for both to be back to

back

>

> Pete

>

> See what's happening for NF2Con 2000!

> http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DeckDr/earld/nf2convegas2000.html

>

[Guest guest]

Misha,

I get sort of a tinny taste from the gad.

Sheryn

Re: avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in

gadolinium for MRI

> From: Misha64@...

>

> I have the injection in the last part too. Usually it's a bit longer than

15

> min. The whole deal (for head) takes about an hour to an hour and 15 min

and

> the dye is usually put in about a half an hour after I've been in. I have

a

> great sense of smell, but never smelled the dye ) I can feel it going in

> though along with anything I've had injected. Feels kind of hot for a few

> seconds.

> Hugs,

>

>

> See what's happening for NF2Con 2000!

> http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DeckDr/earld/nf2convegas2000.html

>

[Guest guest]

Yeah most places have a Microphone in the room near the end of the MRI where

>your head is so they can listen to you

They just here me snore !! I make sure I have a late night the night before.

Only have to watch I don't try to roll over,, get stuck. Have also woken up

from dreams in the MRI tube, so I hope I wasn't talking my sleep... " Pam oh

Pam baby !! leave Jeff come live with me !!! "

Compared with the Sixties and Seventies an MRI is a vacation . Better 3 hrs

of cramped conditions then 3 hours of hell.

Marcus

-

[Guest guest]

oh boy..you didn't know that? They get all " huffy " at me cuz they have to

pull me out cuz I'm quite vocal inside the machine and it screws up the

pictures and they have to take more (keep doing it longer). I didn't do this

until the last two or three years. I always want them to " Get me outta

here!!!! Get me out!! "

June

[Guest guest]

Mine is 1 session It takes 2 hours total.I get the shot the last 15 min or

so.I remember when they first came out with the mri,there was no shot!Boy I

loved that,after years of the cat scan and the shot,but alas it was too good

to last.

Jimmy

Re: avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in

gadolinium for MRI

> From: ManelyCat@...

>

> In a message dated 00-02-18 16:03:50 EST, you write:

>

> << Hmm funny, mine has to be 2 sessions (head and then spine seperate)

> because

> they said the contrast doesn't last long enough for both to be back to

back

>

> Pete >>

>

> Oh Pete, my sessions are also head and spine. June

>

> See what's happening for NF2Con 2000!

> http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DeckDr/earld/nf2convegas2000.html

>

[Guest guest]

Not sure if all mri machines are like this,but I had an Mri where they could

talk to me and I could talk back.I actually found this out by mistake.I had

a hot date,and the mri was taking too long,so I cussed at them:-)oops

Jimmy

Re: avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in

gadolinium for MRI

> From: ManelyCat@...

>

> In a message dated 00-02-18 14:52:00 EST, you write:

>

> << some of them have this neat little

> mirror on the helmet so when you look up, your actually looking down the

> tube

> and out the end >>

>

> Sounds great! All I have to look at is a little dot at the top of the

tube!

>

> June

>

> See what's happening for NF2Con 2000!

> http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DeckDr/earld/nf2convegas2000.html

>

[Guest guest]

Be careful Marcus it will take longer to scan your body with dreams like

that:-)

Jimmy

Re: avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in

gadolinium for MRI

>

>

> Yeah most places have a Microphone in the room near the end of the MRI

where

> >your head is so they can listen to you

>

>

>

> They just here me snore !! I make sure I have a late night the night

before.

> Only have to watch I don't try to roll over,, get stuck. Have also woken

up

> from dreams in the MRI tube, so I hope I wasn't talking my sleep... " Pam

oh

> Pam baby !! leave Jeff come live with me !!! "

>

> Compared with the Sixties and Seventies an MRI is a vacation . Better 3

hrs

> of cramped conditions then 3 hours of hell.

>

> Marcus

> -

>

>

> See what's happening for NF2Con 2000!

> http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DeckDr/earld/nf2convegas2000.html

>

[Guest guest]

Pete,

Yes, I get the three 'cages' I call them with our new machine. It also gives

me 'angiography' - pictures of the carotid and jugular to determine amont of

blood flow. Its new here so I hope I have the name right.

Sheryn

Re: avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in

gadolinium for MRI

> From: PeteEMT@...

>

> In a message dated 2/18/2000 5:22:35 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> sherynstewart@... writes:

>

> << Are the covering your neck area thoroughly as well? >>

>

> Yeah the " neck unit " is the one that sorta reminds me of the front of a

> football helmet , don't they at least have to pull you out to swap

receptors

> (there's 3 that all the MRI's I've ever had use, the Helmet for the head,

the

> football guard like thing for the neck and the mat for the back

>

> Pete

>

> See what's happening for NF2Con 2000!

> http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DeckDr/earld/nf2convegas2000.html

>

[Guest guest]

Beck,

I alway get mine in the last 20 minutes or so. They pull me out the the MRI,

do the needle and they put me back (I am lying down the whole time). I was

sorta curious about this but never did ask why.

>

>

>Hey I have a question about the MRI:

>

>How many people get the Gadolinium shot in the last 20 minutes or so of the

>MRI?

>

>My brother went in for one last week and told me they gave him the injection

>in the last 10 or 15 minutes. I had no idea they did this. I always get my

>injection before the MRI scans begin.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have the mirror and the microphones too. They usually always stop between

scans to tell me what is going on (even though I usually fall asleep or

can't really always understand them.

-Beck

[Guest guest]

--- bluediver wrote:

>

>

> I have the mirror and the microphones too. They

> usually always stop between

> scans to tell me what is going on

I am always asked if I want ear plugs, so I just tell

them I am deaf. One time, after I told that to the

technician, she said, " I'm sorry... DO YOU WANT

EAR PLUGS?!?! "

In addition to the little mirror (which enables me to

stare at a potted plant for 3 hours), I am also

sometimes given a little bulb in my hand to squeeze if

I need anything ( " My nose itches! " )

My first spine and brain scan together took over 7

hours. Now they only take about 2 and a half. They

are finally figuring out what to do.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

thanks for the infor on open MRIs. Vicki

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-02-20 10:57:01 EST, you write:

<< I would also avoid orange juice/oranges and thick drinks.

WATER is a good choice the day of your MRI. I find it's easier on the

stomach and doesn't make you feel all quesy in the machine.

June- >>

Well, I find that if I drink OJ or eat an orange shortly before the MRI, I

either get a quesy stomach or this awful taste in my mouth that makes me want

to spit all the time. This is especially true because with my MRIs, I'm on

my back for hours at a time. I find that I get a lot of phlegm too. I think

this comes from the interaction of the saliva and the thick drinks (milk, for

example). This, too, makes me want to spit or I feel like I'm gagging while

I'm in the machine (and we have to stop).

I find it's just better to avoid these. I try to eat hours before the MRI

and drink only water until the MRI is finished.

June

[Guest guest]

I have MRI's alot. The toughest ones fpor me are the chest and spine scans

where they put me in alot. I found the open MRI's help me out a great deal I

am not scared in them. I am totally deaf so they cannotalk to me and I do not

know it's knocking unless I put my hand on it. As for the shot stuff. It is

in no way similar to the feeling of cat scan shots it is really just a shot

in a vein. You can taste it sometimes but it is not that bad. My MRI's last

45 mins. An open MRI is not restricting and is shorter than a regular one.

Sara

[Guest guest]

Sure, Vicki, no problem. K.

Re: avoiding painful aspect of injections - as in

gadolinium for MRI

>From: vjpcook@...

>

>thanks for the infor on open MRIs. Vicki

>

>See what's happening for NF2Con 2000!

>http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DeckDr/earld/nf2convegas2000.html

>

>

[Guest guest]

sorry for the delay.. i'm way behind my male...

when i wes in germony for my AN opration, they had lots of sticers inside

and that was a lot intresting. it's not a t/v but still...

when i came back to israel i told the MRI stuff about it and they said they

tried it but the people didn't like it so they took it off. well... you can

never said i didn't tried...

netta (who is going right now for my MRI :-))

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