I had my first MRI today...

[Pazuzu]

Can one of you techs explain how you can have headphones (small vibrating magnets) in an MRI? Are they actually audio tubes leading to a remote speaker or something?

[SiberianDVM]

I've had 10. You get used to it.

Was supposed to have my 5th spinal surgery today, but it got cancelled at the last minute die to the Covid insanity.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Can one of you techs explain how you can have headphones (small vibrating magnets) in an MRI? Are they actually audio tubes leading to a remote speaker or something?

Think string and soup cup

[URY914]

Originally Posted by chocaholic

one manufacturer houses their gradient magnet in an active vacuum. It results in a very quiet exam. Highly regarded in va’s and children’s hospitals.

ge?

[URY914]

Here's one we installed a few years ago. Tight fit.

[Skytrooper]

Claustrophobic also. They put me in the infernal machine and I started to lose it. They let me out and rescheduled for the following week with heavy sedation. I made it through, but the sedation wasn't enough. Next time they either put me out or use an open MRI.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I had one last year & didn't know what to expect. When I got out, I commented it sounded like a bunch of clown in a junk yard (or something to that effect). They said nobody had ever described it like that. "aston@xxxx". That was a great description.

Thanks

I worked in the design and manufacture of MRI systems from 1982 for 20 years.

[Nostril Cheese]

I had a bad infection in my ankle a couple months ago. They had my ankle in an MRI for at least an hour, doing all kinds of whatever scanning it does. It wasnt loud at all.

The only other time was two years ago to check for kidney stones. That wasnt fun.

[svandamme]

you can feel the slices on your body.
very slight tingly sensation

similar to those electrical muscle stimulators at the lowest setting. very weird.. but not uncomfortable.

My main concern with MRI was the laying still.. If i'm laying that still, in an uncomfortable position, it constantly feels like I am moving.. like slight vertigo. And i try to make sure i don't move.. but it just feels weird.

afterwards they told me they could barely even see me breathe I was so still

[911 Rod]

I had one on my head not too long ago.
They didn't find anything.

[Nostril Cheese]

Aston,

Have you heard of the gamma knife procedures? I imagine that tech is somewhat similar to MRI stuff?

My hospital room was across the hall from the gamma knife department. I rolled my wheelchair over there to ask what it was. Amazing stuff. It blows my mind that we can do things like that now.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Aston,

Have you heard of the gamma knife procedures? I imagine that tech is somewhat similar to MRI stuff?

My hospital room was across the hall from the gamma knife department. I rolled my wheelchair over there to ask what it was. Amazing stuff. It blows my mind that we can do things like that now.

My wish is for an imaging colonoscopy. I'll still deal with the prep in exchange for not getting poked with that camera!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Aston,

Have you heard of the gamma knife procedures? I imagine that tech is somewhat similar to MRI stuff?

My hospital room was across the hall from the gamma knife department. I rolled my wheelchair over there to ask what it was. Amazing stuff. It blows my mind that we can do things like that now.

Yet most extraterrestrial abductions supposedly involve an anal probe!

I have had a CT scan and a MRI. They got me all strapped in and said relax and don't move around. I fell asleep waiting for them to get going, and then the table moved and woke me up. Hey, they said to relax and I did.

When I got the CT scan of my sinus area just before smart phones were released, I remember taking a seat in the patient waiting area and looking for a magazine to read. I picked up a National Geographic and it had this fantastic story of the upcoming manned missions to the moon!

I asked the nurse about the old Nat Geo and she said a family came in with their mom's collection of Nat Geo that she refused to get rid of. The nurse said the magazines go home with patients, and they did more out of the pile in the back.

[NY65912]

With my crunched up spine and neck and now hearing loss in my right ear I have had 15 MRIs since the early 90s when they came out. With / without contrast you name it. The current generation of machines are a piece of cake. The first MRI was like slipping into a piece of 8" pipe, very very constricted. My nose was touching the ceiling and very loud. Over the years I have become claustrophobic, so I medicate with 2mg of Clonazepam, works wonders. Just had a MRI of the brain a few weeks ago. They gave me earphones and a blindfold. The blindfold really works.

[javadog]

I think we installed the 4th MRI in the US, decades ago. It had a bore so small it looked like it was only suited to imaging anorexic dachsunds. Lots of people simple wouldn't fit. No way I'd go anywhere near it. I pulled it out in the early 90's and sold it. Can't remember if it went for scrap or if it got sold into veterinary service.

I'd encourage anybody to check out whatever machine they may have to face, before they book the appointment. Lots of imaging centers out there, lots of choices in machines. Some are a LOT better than others.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Aston,

Have you heard of the gamma knife procedures? I imagine that tech is somewhat similar to MRI stuff?

My hospital room was across the hall from the gamma knife department. I rolled my wheelchair over there to ask what it was. Amazing stuff. It blows my mind that we can do things like that now.

The equipment looks somewhat similar: large box with a cylindrical bore and a patient table lined up.

But the actual process is very different.

Gamma knife "cuts" tissue using ionizing radiation, MRI images tissue using magnetic and RF fields.

Within the safety limits MRI does no detectable damage.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

My wish is for an imaging colonoscopy. I'll still deal with the prep in exchange for not getting poked with that camera!

Funnily enough, 20 years ago I came across a virtual colonoscopy using CT data.

I thought, great they will have that perfected by the time I need it. But that hasn't happened apparently

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by javadog

I think we installed the 4th MRI in the US, decades ago. It had a bore so small it looked like it was only suited to imaging anorexic dachsunds. Lots of people simple wouldn't fit. No way I'd go anywhere near it. I pulled it out in the early 90's and sold it. Can't remember if it went for scrap or if it got sold into veterinary service.

I'd encourage anybody to check out whatever machine they may have to face, before they book the appointment. Lots of imaging centers out there, lots of choices in machines. Some are a LOT better than others.

4th in the US - cool! Can you remember more about it?

The small bore was required to get the magnetic and RF coils as close to the signal source as possible. Even then, it barely worked!

Subsequent development increased the dia and reduced the length.

[javadog]

Can't remember who made it, offhand. Cryogenic magnet, .5 tesla, I think. Field strength may have been a little less, hard to remember now.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I had one on my head not too long ago.
They didn't find anything.

ROLFMAO! Thanks for that.