Discussion
You've got to laugh.
I went for one yesterday, the one where they inject the dye into you so they can get a good picture of the walls of your heart. There were two Doctors and a trainee carrying out the procedure.
So I'm in the tunnel and the headphone recording is telling me to breath in, then out, then stop, the whole bit. It's taking ages and every now and then the doctor presses the mic button and says stuff like "You're doing well" or "Concentrate on these next few". I'm pretty happy in my own little world and trying not to fall asleep.
Then she accidentally hits the mic button and in the middle of all the instructions I hear:
"...and any questions at all just ask, even if you think it's something silly it's better that we cover it together than..."
[silent pause]
"Oh wait, that's not good..."
Then the mic button goes off again!
When they wheeled me out I said "Bloody hell girls watch what you're doing with the mic!"
I mean it's the last thing you want to hear when your crammed into that thing!
I went for one yesterday, the one where they inject the dye into you so they can get a good picture of the walls of your heart. There were two Doctors and a trainee carrying out the procedure.
So I'm in the tunnel and the headphone recording is telling me to breath in, then out, then stop, the whole bit. It's taking ages and every now and then the doctor presses the mic button and says stuff like "You're doing well" or "Concentrate on these next few". I'm pretty happy in my own little world and trying not to fall asleep.
Then she accidentally hits the mic button and in the middle of all the instructions I hear:
"...and any questions at all just ask, even if you think it's something silly it's better that we cover it together than..."
[silent pause]
"Oh wait, that's not good..."
Then the mic button goes off again!
When they wheeled me out I said "Bloody hell girls watch what you're doing with the mic!"
I mean it's the last thing you want to hear when your crammed into that thing!
Riley Blue said:
I was due to have one a month ago, get gowned up, lie down and in I go... GET ME OUTTA HERE!!
Bloody claustrophobia...!
Yeah I can understand that, it's all in the head. There's no physical discomfort at all but mentally you do have to switch off. Bloody claustrophobia...!
They strapped all these things to my chest and pinned everything down, when you first get wheeled in there's a definite feeling of "Hmm, I can't get out of here!"
Did they not offer you a sedative RB? I thought they could relax you if they needed to.
Riley Blue said:
I was due to have one a month ago, get gowned up, lie down and in I go... GET ME OUTTA HERE!!
Bloody claustrophobia...!
I have big issues with the older generation machines with tight tubes.Bloody claustrophobia...!
Newer machines are a little easier, but when I needed one for a back problem, I was sent to an open sided machine.
tbh once you're inside the scanner it's pretty safe. "That's not good" is probably a software thing, I use colourful language when trying to use our GE scanner most of the time. Obviously not ideal to be hearing what goes on behind the glass while you're wedged in the scanner though.
Not all modern scanners are wide bore. They cost considerably more as they use a lot more copper coils inside the gantry, but are more common now as so many people are just too fat to fit in a normal sized scanner. Personally I don't see why we should be accommodating for these. In my experience many of the 10% of the population who are too claustrophobic for MRI can't tolerate a wide bore scanner either - they are promoted as better for claustrophobics but if you're having a head scan you still see precisely f
k all so only a few people see benefit. They're mostly for the fatties.
We don't sedate patients for MRI as there is no reliable way to monitor them. The magnetic field plays havoc with ECG monitoring so all we can get is sats and sometimes a pulse rate. Either you go in under your own steam (a diazepam from your GP is fine) or it's done under full general anaesthetic.
Not all modern scanners are wide bore. They cost considerably more as they use a lot more copper coils inside the gantry, but are more common now as so many people are just too fat to fit in a normal sized scanner. Personally I don't see why we should be accommodating for these. In my experience many of the 10% of the population who are too claustrophobic for MRI can't tolerate a wide bore scanner either - they are promoted as better for claustrophobics but if you're having a head scan you still see precisely f
k all so only a few people see benefit. They're mostly for the fatties.We don't sedate patients for MRI as there is no reliable way to monitor them. The magnetic field plays havoc with ECG monitoring so all we can get is sats and sometimes a pulse rate. Either you go in under your own steam (a diazepam from your GP is fine) or it's done under full general anaesthetic.
Edited by zeDuffMan on Sunday 10th July 00:15
If i'd heard what you heard, would have set off a cardiac event there and then.
Reminds me when I was having the snip, doc had local radio on in theatre. Part way through he raises his voice 'oh bloody hell that's not good'. When a man has your plums in his hands that can't be good, right! Fortunately the nurse on seeing my face explained he was just referring to the traffic report on the radio meaning he'd be late home. I was a bit relieved...
Reminds me when I was having the snip, doc had local radio on in theatre. Part way through he raises his voice 'oh bloody hell that's not good'. When a man has your plums in his hands that can't be good, right! Fortunately the nurse on seeing my face explained he was just referring to the traffic report on the radio meaning he'd be late home. I was a bit relieved...
br d said:
Riley Blue said:
I was due to have one a month ago, get gowned up, lie down and in I go... GET ME OUTTA HERE!!
Bloody claustrophobia...!
Yeah I can understand that, it's all in the head. There's no physical discomfort at all but mentally you do have to switch off. Bloody claustrophobia...!
They strapped all these things to my chest and pinned everything down, when you first get wheeled in there's a definite feeling of "Hmm, I can't get out of here!"
Did they not offer you a sedative RB? I thought they could relax you if they needed to.
br d said:
You've got to laugh.
I went for one yesterday, the one where they inject the dye into you so they can get a good picture of the walls of your heart. There were two Doctors and a trainee carrying out the procedure.
So I'm in the tunnel and the headphone recording is telling me to breath in, then out, then stop, the whole bit. It's taking ages and every now and then the doctor presses the mic button and says stuff like "You're doing well" or "Concentrate on these next few". I'm pretty happy in my own little world and trying not to fall asleep.
Then she accidentally hits the mic button and in the middle of all the instructions I hear:
"...and any questions at all just ask, even if you think it's something silly it's better that we cover it together than..."
[silent pause]
"Oh wait, that's not good..."
Then the mic button goes off again!
When they wheeled me out I said "Bloody hell girls watch what you're doing with the mic!"
I mean it's the last thing you want to hear when your crammed into that thing!
I went for one yesterday, the one where they inject the dye into you so they can get a good picture of the walls of your heart. There were two Doctors and a trainee carrying out the procedure.
So I'm in the tunnel and the headphone recording is telling me to breath in, then out, then stop, the whole bit. It's taking ages and every now and then the doctor presses the mic button and says stuff like "You're doing well" or "Concentrate on these next few". I'm pretty happy in my own little world and trying not to fall asleep.
Then she accidentally hits the mic button and in the middle of all the instructions I hear:
"...and any questions at all just ask, even if you think it's something silly it's better that we cover it together than..."
[silent pause]
"Oh wait, that's not good..."
Then the mic button goes off again!
When they wheeled me out I said "Bloody hell girls watch what you're doing with the mic!"
I mean it's the last thing you want to hear when your crammed into that thing!
Hope all is well Brad?
E65Ross said:
Hope all is well Brad?
Yeah I hope so. I've been having a lot of heart palpitations and all that nonsense, I strongly suspect that it's just stress but I have had aggressive Sarcoidosis in my lungs for about 10 years and it is a disease that likes to spread to other organs, so they are concerned that it has gone into the pump!
If it has it would start to calcify the walls of my heart and degenerate it's function. As ever I'm working too hard so my moneys on that but if it is the sarcoid then I'll just have to get on with it. My lung consultant told me that 20 years ago before modern treatments what I have would have killed me inside a year, so I tend to have a very positive attitude to all this stuff. Every day you wake up is a bonus!
Nothing I have could ever be on the same scale as the stuff you have been through and beaten mate, people like yourself are a continuing inspiration to the rest of us.
zeDuffMan said:
tbh once you're inside the scanner it's pretty safe. "That's not good" is probably a software thing, I use colourful language when trying to use our GE scanner most of the time. Obviously not ideal to be hearing what goes on behind the glass while you're wedged in the scanner though.
Not all modern scanners are wide bore. They cost considerably more as they use a lot more copper coils inside the gantry, but are more common now as so many people are just too fat to fit in a normal sized scanner. Personally I don't see why we should be accommodating for these. In my experience many of the 10% of the population who are too claustrophobic for MRI can't tolerate a wide bore scanner either - they are promoted as better for claustrophobics but if you're having a head scan you still see precisely fk all so only a few people see benefit. They're mostly for the fatties.
We don't sedate patients for MRI as there is no reliable way to monitor them. The magnetic field plays havoc with ECG monitoring so all we can get is sats and sometimes a pulse rate. Either you go in under your own steam (a diazepam from your GP is fine) or it's done under full general anaesthetic.
Thanks for taking the time zeDuff.Not all modern scanners are wide bore. They cost considerably more as they use a lot more copper coils inside the gantry, but are more common now as so many people are just too fat to fit in a normal sized scanner. Personally I don't see why we should be accommodating for these. In my experience many of the 10% of the population who are too claustrophobic for MRI can't tolerate a wide bore scanner either - they are promoted as better for claustrophobics but if you're having a head scan you still see precisely f
k all so only a few people see benefit. They're mostly for the fatties.We don't sedate patients for MRI as there is no reliable way to monitor them. The magnetic field plays havoc with ECG monitoring so all we can get is sats and sometimes a pulse rate. Either you go in under your own steam (a diazepam from your GP is fine) or it's done under full general anaesthetic.
Edited by zeDuffMan on Sunday 10th July 00:15
The one I was in was very tight, plus I had a load of stuff strapped round me. Personally I didn't have a problem with it but I can see why other people would, it's pretty oppressive in there, would be easy for the rising panic to take over.
A question for you. If you're having your heart or lungs scanned (I've had both) why wouldn't they put you in feet first so you can keep your head out?
I'm missing something very obvious here aren't I?
Riley Blue said:
They said I could ask my GP for a sedative if my cardiologist needed a MRI scan in the future. I'm seeing him (cardiologist) on Wednesday so will find out then. Even sedated I don't think I could go through with it, I've never experienced such panic before. Six weeks ago I had an angiogram that indicated 70% and 99% blockages - that's enough anxiety for now.
I feel for you RB, easy to say "man up" but it is an odd experience. The professionals administering these things probably don't realise how awful it can feel for somebody who's new to it all. I don't mean to sound trite but could you just not keep your eyes shut for the whole thing? The cramped feelings only really manifest when you try to see out of the bloody thing and realise you are trapped!Hope it works out for you, there are other people around this forum who have experience of getting those blockages sorted, it's almost routine stuff these days I think, good luck sir.
br d said:
Hi Ross, thanks for your concern.
Yeah I hope so. I've been having a lot of heart palpitations and all that nonsense, I strongly suspect that it's just stress but I have had aggressive Sarcoidosis in my lungs for about 10 years and it is a disease that likes to spread to other organs, so they are concerned that it has gone into the pump!
If it has it would start to calcify the walls of my heart and degenerate it's function. As ever I'm working too hard so my moneys on that but if it is the sarcoid then I'll just have to get on with it. My lung consultant told me that 20 years ago before modern treatments what I have would have killed me inside a year, so I tend to have a very positive attitude to all this stuff. Every day you wake up is a bonus!
Nothing I have could ever be on the same scale as the stuff you have been through and beaten mate, people like yourself are a continuing inspiration to the rest of us.
All the best with your results, Brad. Yeah I hope so. I've been having a lot of heart palpitations and all that nonsense, I strongly suspect that it's just stress but I have had aggressive Sarcoidosis in my lungs for about 10 years and it is a disease that likes to spread to other organs, so they are concerned that it has gone into the pump!
If it has it would start to calcify the walls of my heart and degenerate it's function. As ever I'm working too hard so my moneys on that but if it is the sarcoid then I'll just have to get on with it. My lung consultant told me that 20 years ago before modern treatments what I have would have killed me inside a year, so I tend to have a very positive attitude to all this stuff. Every day you wake up is a bonus!
Nothing I have could ever be on the same scale as the stuff you have been through and beaten mate, people like yourself are a continuing inspiration to the rest of us.
br d said:
Thanks for taking the time zeDuff.
The one I was in was very tight, plus I had a load of stuff strapped round me. Personally I didn't have a problem with it but I can see why other people would, it's pretty oppressive in there, would be easy for the rising panic to take over.
A question for you. If you're having your heart or lungs scanned (I've had both) why wouldn't they put you in feet first so you can keep your head out?
I'm missing something very obvious here aren't I?
Whatever bit is being scanned has to be the middle of the scanner. This is the only bit of the scanner where the physics comes together to get images out so there is no way around this. Often the mechanism the table sits on isn't long enough to accomodate scanning that high up on the body going in feet first. But even if it did, your head will be the same distance from the end of the tube, so you gain nothing going in feet first.The one I was in was very tight, plus I had a load of stuff strapped round me. Personally I didn't have a problem with it but I can see why other people would, it's pretty oppressive in there, would be easy for the rising panic to take over.
A question for you. If you're having your heart or lungs scanned (I've had both) why wouldn't they put you in feet first so you can keep your head out?
I'm missing something very obvious here aren't I?
zeDuffMan said:
br d said:
Thanks for taking the time zeDuff.
The one I was in was very tight, plus I had a load of stuff strapped round me. Personally I didn't have a problem with it but I can see why other people would, it's pretty oppressive in there, would be easy for the rising panic to take over.
A question for you. If you're having your heart or lungs scanned (I've had both) why wouldn't they put you in feet first so you can keep your head out?
I'm missing something very obvious here aren't I?
Whatever bit is being scanned has to be the middle of the scanner. This is the only bit of the scanner where the physics comes together to get images out so there is no way around this. Often the mechanism the table sits on isn't long enough to accomodate scanning that high up on the body going in feet first. But even if it did, your head will be the same distance from the end of the tube, so you gain nothing going in feet first.The one I was in was very tight, plus I had a load of stuff strapped round me. Personally I didn't have a problem with it but I can see why other people would, it's pretty oppressive in there, would be easy for the rising panic to take over.
A question for you. If you're having your heart or lungs scanned (I've had both) why wouldn't they put you in feet first so you can keep your head out?
I'm missing something very obvious here aren't I?
Now, what's the score going to be in the final of Euro 2016 tonight?
br d said:
E65Ross said:
Hope all is well Brad?
Yeah I hope so. I've been having a lot of heart palpitations and all that nonsense, I strongly suspect that it's just stress but I have had aggressive Sarcoidosis in my lungs for about 10 years and it is a disease that likes to spread to other organs, so they are concerned that it has gone into the pump!
If it has it would start to calcify the walls of my heart and degenerate it's function. As ever I'm working too hard so my moneys on that but if it is the sarcoid then I'll just have to get on with it. My lung consultant told me that 20 years ago before modern treatments what I have would have killed me inside a year, so I tend to have a very positive attitude to all this stuff. Every day you wake up is a bonus!
Nothing I have could ever be on the same scale as the stuff you have been through and beaten mate, people like yourself are a continuing inspiration to the rest of us.
br d said:
Riley Blue said:
They said I could ask my GP for a sedative if my cardiologist needed a MRI scan in the future. I'm seeing him (cardiologist) on Wednesday so will find out then. Even sedated I don't think I could go through with it, I've never experienced such panic before. Six weeks ago I had an angiogram that indicated 70% and 99% blockages - that's enough anxiety for now.
I feel for you RB, easy to say "man up" but it is an odd experience. The professionals administering these things probably don't realise how awful it can feel for somebody who's new to it all. I don't mean to sound trite but could you just not keep your eyes shut for the whole thing? The cramped feelings only really manifest when you try to see out of the bloody thing and realise you are trapped!Hope it works out for you, there are other people around this forum who have experience of getting those blockages sorted, it's almost routine stuff these days I think, good luck sir.
I'm OK about any treatment or surgery that may be required; in the last three years I've had a course of radiotherapy for prostate cancer and it was during a pre-op assessment for surgery for that when my heart problems were discovered, ruling out prostate removal in case I pegged out in the theatre...
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