nervous

[mellowtigger]

Initially, I thought it would be really cool to have a brain MRI done.  Now, I'm not nearly so thrilled.  "Permutation exploration" is not always my friend.

• I had sinus surgery done a long time ago.  If they left anything metallic behind in there, it could rip out through my eyeballs or zip through my brain and turn it into swiss cheese.
• I have a cap on my baby tooth that was built up with huge amounts of amalgam (various metals).  If that stuff heats up, it could burn the tooth and sear my jaw.
• Searching the web tonight, I find that some people do have reactions to the scans: dizziness, nausea, headaches.  I've already emailed my boss tonight in case I have to call to skip work Thursday afternoon.

All 3 very unlikely to happen, I know.  But I'm supposed to wake up in 7 hours to get ready for the appointment, and I'm still in no mood to sleep right now.

Comments

[geometrician.livejournal.com]

Fillings are non-ferrous metals. There really isn't anything metallic that would have been left behind in your sinus surgery, but tell them about it. The first series of scans in an MRI are low-power and will show anything untoward. I've sent hundreds of patients for MRIs, and none have had physical adverse reactions. More commonly, people with a history of claustrophobia need a wee pill to settle down.

I'm interested to hear more, after your scan and your neurology appointment!

[mellowtigger]

Ah, good! The low-power preview sounds like a great idea to me. That'll be very reassuring. I'm not claustrophobic, so I expect no problems there.

Oh, and I go in Tuesday morning to see the neurologist to talk about the results of the MRI and the metabolism bloodwork.

[fingertrouble.livejournal.com]

yeah it is very claustrophobic in there, and odd staring inside a tube. That probably heightens the initial fear; but when nothing happens it soon subsides.

And I get really nervous around ALL medical procedures, esp. blood work.

[fingertrouble.livejournal.com]

I've had one for epilepsy, it seems quite scary at first but it's harmless, and you realise it's OK fairly quickly.

The biggest thing is having to keep *completely* still. I had no after effects at all, or can't remember any if I did so nothing major. I'd have remembered I think though, it's very fixed in my memory visually and feeling wise.

[fingertrouble.livejournal.com]

P.S. I was neg for epilepsy. Even had an EEG. No idea why my brain decided to have a fit on the top of a London bus then (I wouldn't know, I wasn't there).

[elfkat.livejournal.com]

I've had 10 MRIs and 2 of them were head scans. I was never claustrophbic until I had an MRI so be prepared for that if it happens. I always get really dizzy when they get anywhere near my head, which I was told was impossible but I was so who knows.

They also ask if you have tattoos since some inks react with the MRI too. Good Luck!