I had my first MRI today...

[Superman]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

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

This would qualify you for PARF.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thinking back, it might have been made by Siemens. Field strength might have been less than .5T, maybe as little as .3T. Seems like it was used for research at first, not so much for patient care. By the time I yanked it out in favor of something more modern, it had been used for patient care for a number of years.

I always thought the cryogens were fascinating. Pretty Buck Rogers stuff, for the time. I remember keeping some of the mylar internal insulation, in case I needed it for a bit of lightweight insulation on one of my motorcycle projects.

[matthewb0051]

I've had a bunch of MRIs on several body parts. Started with an open sided machine for my ankle in Germany. Docs said that the "open sided isn't as powerful and image is not as good". Bollocks

Next was right shoulder pre surgery in Northern NY, north of Syracuse. I was younger and invincible then. Went in head first and I swear the tube was only a couple of inches from my nose. Gives me chills just thinking about it now.
For the shoulder they brought me out to put in the contrast. It hurt so bad to lay in the position on my shoulder to get the injection that I told them to stop. Dude was fairly mad at me. The surgeon later told me that the contrast really didn't make any difference. Thanks for that, the Effen needle was about 5 inches long.

Then I've had a bunch on lower back and hips. I always tell them to put me in feet first and they always oblige. Funny how so many people just submit to what the techs tell them. But I know that it doesn't make any difference which direction I enter the tube. So if I go in feet first, my melon doesn't have to go all the way down the tube and ends up at the open end.

Like others I have become claustrophobic and can't stand to be inside the tube. As long as my head is at the end and is the last thing to go in I am ok but still need a valium in advance.

Worst pain ever was having my hips imaged. They put a block between my feet and turned my toes like pigeon toed then tied them in that position. It was the worst ever and took a long time.

[tops911]

I've have had several, enough that I am able to fall asleep in one. One time as I fell asleep I was twitching in my sleep and the tech told me to quit moving, LOL

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by javadog

Thinking back, it might have been made by Siemens. Field strength might have been less than .5T, maybe as little as .3T. Seems like it was used for research at first, not so much for patient care. By the time I yanked it out in favor of something more modern, it had been used for patient care for a number of years.

I always thought the cryogens were fascinating. Pretty Buck Rogers stuff, for the time. I remember keeping some of the mylar internal insulation, in case I needed it for a bit of lightweight insulation on one of my motorcycle projects.

Back in the day a .5T superconducting system was a nice piece of kit.

[Deschodt]

The noise didn't bother me one bit....
Having the "roof" 1 inch from my nose and feeling trapped in a barrel did. A bit.
Not a fan of tight spaces...

[DonDavis]

Cool thread. And I'm calibrating this mama when I typed this.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I've had a bunch of MRIs on several body parts. Started with an open sided machine for my ankle in Germany. Docs said that the "open sided isn't as powerful and image is not as good". Bollocks.

Your Docs were right. Open field MR’s are nice for patient comfort but not for field strength and image quality.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Cool thread. And I'm calibrating this mama when I typed this.

I could probably handle that one. It doesn't look too long so that some part of your body is outside of the tube.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Cool thread. And I'm calibrating this mama when I typed this.

Is that a CT Scanner, or an MRI machine? I had a CT scan last week, and the device looked just like that...no closed tube, just a large open ring that I could see right thru.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by rcooled

Is that a CT Scanner, or an MRI machine? I had a CT scan last week, and the device looked just like that...no closed tube, just a large open ring that I could see right thru.

Yup, this is a mid level CT in an Urgent Care mini hospital.

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I could probably handle that one. It doesn't look too long so that some part of your body is outside of the tube.

Yeah, I hear you. The MRI scans can be unsettling. However, with proper explanation of what's going to be happening, it can be a lot easier.

This is a CT scanner. Easy peasy.

Technologists deal with all types of people. Patients are mostly reasonable, but many can be a pill.

I haven't worked on MR in a few years. CT, PET and Nuc are my wheelhouses.