MRI question

[hdugger]

My son is scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday. I was pretty much prepared for what to expect until, while scheduling, they told me that it would take 3 hours!?!

Is that really the normal amount of time! I expected more like one hour. What she said is that they need to look at the entire spine, so it was in three parts. He has a history of pretty extreme anxiety, although it's been much better recently. I'm not sure he'll last through three hours.

Edit: (Not that his spine is in three parts :))

[mamandcrm]

Hi hdugger,

I infer from your post that he will not be put under for the scan. If he is being put under than 3 hours does not sound unusual. My daughter had a full spine MRI and the actual MRI procedure took less than 1 hour. But she was sedated so maybe that allows the scan to proceed more quickly (and she was smaller)?

[Pooka1]

Hdugger's son is an adult though if he wants to be put under then they should do that in my opinion!

My one kid had an MRI and it did not last 3 hours. I think it was more like an hour. She was not put under as she was 13. She fell asleep as I recall. They played music as I recall.

[joyfull]

I've never heard of sedation for an MRI! Is this is make the time go faster and prevent anxiety?

[LindaRacine]

Your son should definitely talk to the MRI facility and/or the referring physician. They can at least prescribe some valium.

[sccrm08]

I had 3 MRIs the first one lasted about 1 hour....and the machine started malfunctioning so I was told I would need to come back and have the cervical part of the spine re-done. I went back for this it took about 30 minutes and I freaked out and panicked I begged to come out the they kept telling me just another minute or two. Well after seeing the Dr. again he told me I had to go back and get the Lumbar spine done and I said NO WAY!!! So he perscribed something that knocked me out while they did the MRI and I slept the whole time my husband said it took about 30 minutes and then he took me home and I slept for hours. I for one don't ever want to have another one done.

[titaniumed]

I had a few through the years. The longest one was about an hour.

You have to lay in a cradle, that slides in and out of the machine. They usually prop your legs up on a soft cube to provide support for the lower back. I never took any medications as I felt it wasn't necessary.

The noises sound like an organ. My father was an organist and I grew up listening to these sounds my whole life as a child. Valuable prep for MRIs.

You can request music while in the machine and so I asked for some soft rock and they started with Van Halens "Hot for teacher"
I had to have them stop the music, as it was a bit much. I wondered how many people listened to that album while having their MRIs done?

They have some pretty fast machines these days. Maybe, they want the extra time just in case you move. I never had that happen where they had to start over because I moved.

While laying in the machines I have always thought of sci-fi movies like "2010" and laying in a time travel tube. A surrealistic experience.....
Ed

[leahdragonfly]

Hi Hd,

My daughter had a full-spine MRI when she was 6 y/o for the same reasons as your son. I had her pediatrician prescribe her a small dose of oral Ativan which she dissolved under her tongue 1/2 hour before, and she did completely fine. The entire thing took about one hour and 15 minutes or so. They had to repeat just one 4-minute segment because she moved, otherwise no problem. I think they may schedule 3 hours "just in case" more segments need to be repeated or if the pt needs to get out of the machine for a break between each portion of the spine.

You can call the MRI clinic and ask to speak directly to the MRI tech beforehand. I am sure they will be happy to talk to you and answer any questions you may have. And Linda's suggestion of some valium or something similar is a good idea, as the MRI tube they lay in is very close quarters.

There have been some similar discussions of MRI's here if you search the archives (although some of them are for younger children). But if you have a chance you might find some useful info there too.

Good luck,

[ScoliSkye2]

Hi,
I was also told that the MRI would take 2 to 3 hours but it only took 30 to 45 minutes and you should see the panic that gave me :eek:- because I thought they missed something. That the tech did not follow the perscription to the Dr. specs. I called everybody. My poor husband (who took Pooks for the procedure) I gave him hell - thinking he didnt ask the right questions etc. When all was said and done Dr. Laufers Admin said the Dr. would look at the report and if they did not do the correct procedure we would go again. (All was done properly but someone should tell the scheduling desk to stop telling folks that it will take 3 hours or 2 sessions :) - I was also concerned about my insurance getting billed for a 3 hour procedure that only took 30 minutes :cool:

[hdugger]

Thanks. I'll be very happy if it only takes an hour. Three just seems grueling.

My son wants to tough it out without sedation, so, we'll see how that goes. Maybe I'll take the sedation instead :)

[titaniumed]

Hd

MRIs are a piece of cake. I'm sure he will find it an interesting experience as I did.

Sometimes, they will give you the films. I've looked, but you want to keep them in order, and not leave too many dingy fingerprints, ketchup, or mayo on them. That's not a good thing. LOL

No worries.
Ed

[hdugger]

Thanks, Ed. That helps.

The good news is that, if the MRI is signficantly shorter than expected, we can kill the free time before our afternoon Dr. appointment by riding the new OHSU tram up and down the hill.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Aerial_Tram

[titaniumed]

Hd

Hmmm... I see some people don't like the tram. LMAO Watch for the banner!

Being a skier for 47 seasons, and having skied approx 90 areas in the US and Canada, I've been on a few trams. The one I remember most was the tram in Rio de Janeiro, it climbs sugarloaf mtn. That one is freaky high.

When I saw the Bond film "Moonraker" with "Jaws" biting into the cable with his trademark cobalt teeth, I told others that I was there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarloaf_Mountain_(Brazil)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1It-YC92MQ&feature=related

Hope this doesn't change your mind.

"Sorry about that"
Ed

[hdugger]

Whoa - http://www.bondinho.com.br/ - that's a high tram!

Portlanders hated the tram right up until the moment it was finished. Now we can't believe we lived without it.

[Singer]

I'm not normally claustrophobic but I was surprised at how tight the space is inside an MRI. I had two scans several months apart and sort of white-knuckled it through the first one. For the second one, I asked for a blindfold and that helped a lot...it's unnerving to see the roof of the machine just centimeters away from your face.

[krbreezin]

I have located an MRI designed specifically for scoliosis patients. The patient sits between two "unfinished" walls, if you will, and can view television while the MRI is taking place. See number 4. on the following link. http://www.fonar.com/patient/ I have not yet taken my daughter for this procedure so I'm not sure how long it takes, but I intend to take her when it's time for her first 6 month follow-up. Has anyone tried this machine? BTW wishing you all a Happy Healthy New Year with good news!!!

[sccrm08]

I noticed on the link that there is an increased risk of Breast Cancer for people who were x-rayed every few months as a child. I am one of those people as my scoliosis was discovered in the late 70's. Although I don't think i have Breast Cancer, does anyone know if there is also an increased risk for Ovarian Cancer going through all these x-rays as a child or were our ovaries not in the x-rays. I don't remember having a lead shield put in place until I was an adult. I am going in for surgery 2 weeks from today to have a solid mass removed from my Ovary and Abdamon. I pray this is not cancer.

[hdugger]

So, it turns out that, while my son sometimes experiences generalized anxiety, he doesn't suffer from claustrophobia. 2 hours in the MRI and totally fine (although he did say he got pretty hot in there.)

The problem the Dr. was looking for (tethered spinal cord) turned out not to be an issues. So, now he's just a kid with a big curve (and, as I posted in another thread, a small syrinx).