Don’t think I’m looking forward to this I avoid lifts like the plague for being the fear of being trapped in there . Someone tell me the mri machine isn’t that bad ? 
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You’ll be fine in there mate - the teams running the scan are usually nice and, will often offer any music you like through the headphones to help with the machine noise. You literally just lay there and relax until they’ve taken the images requested. I’ve fallen asleep in them a few times.
Do you know what you’re having done? - a full spine takes a while - my last head scan took just 5 minutes.
It might sound daft but, try to enjoy it - the technology is amazing.
All the best.
Jon.
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Hello Jon , I’m having brain and full spine . Gunna be in there a while I take it ? . Thanks Lee
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Yes, probably mate - the spine is a long bit to get images of. The images are done as slices so, it does take a little while. It won’t be too bad though.
At the very least, after this one, you’ll be more prepared for the next one.
Come back and let us know how you get on afterwards mate.
Jon.
The first MRI scan I had I asked the radiographer if I could close my eyes! She said it makes no difference to them. I did actually close them for a few minutes when I first went into the scanner. No longer do that and I’ve had quite a few over the years now. I’m not saying you’ll get used to it but, you’ll know what to expect the next time
As Jon said. Lie back, enjoy the music. They always let you choose what you want to listen too.
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Helllo @quinn_123 I be had about 19 MRI scans. Can’t say that I enjoy them at all but over the years I’ve learned to deal with them. I’m not sure how to arrange this but I know some people take sedative or similar before the scan.
I have brain scans which last about 20 minutes in 4 cycles. One thing that has helped me is when over the speakers the team tell me when each cycle has finished . I can then tell myself things like ‘ OK that’s the first one done’ , ‘OK that’s half way through’ , ‘ Great just another 5 minutes’.
Talk to your team about sedatives or similar, bringing in a CD or similar of your favourite music, and ask if they can let you know how much time has gone/ left to go.
P.S you are given a button to use if you find it too much, want to get out etc. The teams are very used to nervous patients!
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@quinn_123 I am one of those weird people that actually finds it quite therapeutic and I am not particularly keen on lifts! I don’t have the music, just the sounds of the machine (it is very loud so don’t be surprised by that) and I keep my eyes shut the whole time and relax to the beeps, bangs and whoops of the machine.
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I understand the prospect of an MRI is quite daunting. I was not looking forward to it!
The machine is very loud and the banging noises sound like road works. Thee is also a noise that sounds like a fire alarm going off, but it’s not an alarm, it’s just part of the machine doing its thing.
I found that it jangled my nerves quite a lot, but I’m also autistic and pretty sensitive to noise so that makes it worse.
It has got easier each time I’ve done one since.
The last one I had was a brain and spinal MRI with contrast and that took about 40 minutes - just to give you an idea.
They put a pillow under your knees to support the curve of your back, so it’s quite comfy. And they put a kind of metal frame over your head, it has holes it so you can see through and it’s a few inches away from your face so not too bad.
Let us know how you get on, and praxtixe deep breathing while you’re in there.
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The way I look at it: it’s so clever that it’s (to me) indistinguishable from magic. While it works its magic all I have to do is lie there and not fidget, and that feels like a good deal. 
Seriously, what I do is shut my eyes before the trolley is wheeled into the machine and keep them firmly shut until it’s all over and they wheel me out again. I don’t like enclosed spaces either, but I’ve had many MRIs over years and honestly, they’re fine.
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I’ve had many MRI scans and I just close my eyes before I go in. The radiologist usually updates you once the brain scan has been done and the spine scan begins.
I’ve never been offered music to play in the background but my sister who also has MS always is and says it helps.
You do have to try not to move at all and you also have a button you can push if you can’t cope or need to get out.
Take care
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I find this too. There’s sometimes (not always) an odd sensation of sort of micro-twitches in the muscles - isn’t there? - and the urge to do some conscious twitches can be quite strong. Is that your experience too? Something to do with the strong magnetic forces, I suppose.
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Hi Alison,
I don’t remember having any twitching I don’t think. Maybe a bit, but not a lot.
I was concentrating hard on trying to regulate my nervous system with slow deep breathing and singing musicals to myself in my head! I LOVE musicals 
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