Is there anything I should know before I go in for these tests?
Should I state anything to the doctors/technicians beforehand?
I dont think they even recognize that I have Lyme Disease... Its a very conventional hospital UCSF
So any advice here?
Posted by shelly23 (Member # 16124) on :
NOTREALLY BUT IN A CLOSED MRI IF YOU DONT LIKE TIGHT SPACES IT WILL SEEM SMALL THE EEG THAT IS THE BRAIN TEST THING RIGHT? I HAD A BRAIN TEST NERVE CONDUCTION TEST AND SOMTHING ELSE?
GOOD LUCK
Posted by shelly23 (Member # 16124) on :
NOTREALLY BUT IN A CLOSED MRI IF YOU DONT LIKE TIGHT SPACES IT WILL SEEM SMALL THE EEG THAT IS THE BRAIN TEST THING RIGHT? I HAD A BRAIN TEST NERVE CONDUCTION TEST AND SOMTHING ELSE?
GOOD LUCK
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
The MRI will be very noisy. I had an EEG many, many years ago, so the technology probably has changed. Can't help you there.
Good luck
Posted by Ocean (Member # 3496) on :
Hurtinggramma,
Good point, no they have not apparently changed. I know a fellow Lymie who had an MRI earlier this month (full body/head), after 45 mins she told them she couldn't take it anymore and they had to stop.
She said it sounded like machine guns in her head.
I've never had an MRI, but she wished she'd known and taken her pain meds.
So if you need to take pain meds, make sure they are OK to take with the contrast dye and take before your appointment.
My brother had just head MRI and didn't say anything about the noise (but he is also a hunter and used to guns/noise).
Take care, Ocean
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
i had anesthiologist put me under ... lyme NOISES ARE MURDER ON ME.
murphy's law hit for the entire procedure ... everything that could go wrong did!! not an experience i would chose to have again!
including a bulb burnt out and they don't have a huge supply of them; someone ACCIDENTALLY ordered 1 extra.
BEST WISHES; didn't mean to scare you; that's what i encountered. they were warned ahead of time i wanted to be put completely under due to the noise/sounds! acted like they knew nothing.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
If you don't like enclosed spaces, I would ask for a relaxant or take one before. A brain MRI is in a really tight space. I also would close my eyes and not open them until the test is done.
The noise is bad but they give you headphones so that you can listen to music.
I have not had an EEG so no comment there.
Goood luck, Feelfit
Posted by Kali Dhi (Member # 19686) on :
Goodness why dont they even tell you about the noise beforehand?
Im about to leave soon...more nervous about the results than the actual process.
Except the EEG (I guess they try to MAKE ME PASS OUT)
Hopefully I can just zone out during this whole day...
Thanks for the heads up
Posted by Ocean (Member # 3496) on :
Kali,
awww..I'm sorry you are so worried, it is understandable. I know that usually what I was fearing never came to pass.
Why don't you ask the MRI tech about what they may be able to do for you about the noise. Make sure you have your ordering doc's number and maybe they can call to order something for you if needed?
Like I said, my brother was fine with his MRI, I know a lot of people have them done.
Take care and let us know how it goes!
Ocean
Posted by buckfever (Member # 9876) on :
Kali , don't get to worked up over these tests . I've had like 8 or 9 brain MRI's with and without contrast from 3 or 4 different places and they are noisy but the music helps .the eeg's not a big deal either ,the only part that was a little uncomfortable was when they use like a pencil eraiser on your scalp to make sure the electrodes stick well !Just relax and you'll be done before you know it !
Posted by karatelady (Member # 7854) on :
Kali,
Let us know how your MRI came out. I'm the one who couldn't do more than 45 minutes. The noise was horrendous to me. I took a Valium ahead of time and it didn't help at all.
Buckfever ~ music, what music? lol
A friend of mine told me she fell asleep while they were doing hers but she doesn't have lyme and neuro issues.
I've since found out there are open MRI's and much more pleasant than what I experienced. I don't intend to go back to the one I went to.
Hope it turns out okay for you.
Sandy
Posted by Janice70 (Member # 16319) on :
Bring earplugs just in case, but they will probably provide you with some.
Bring a eye mask just in case, but they will probably give you one.
Ask if you can have mirrored goggles so you can see out of the machine. I preferred that to the eye mask.
DO NOT trust yourself to keep your eyes closed the whole time. You need a mask or goggles.
Just one curious peek caused me to have a panic attack. I was fine with the mask or goggles.
MRIs are not my favorite activity, but they are tolerable.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
MRI's are obnoxious.... I've had 2 done in the past 2 weeks.
If you can get past the noise and the tightness you will be fine....
I just close my eyes. A good place will give you headphones to listen to the radio while having the MRI done or earplugs.
You will still hear the noise, but it wont be as bad.
Good Luck and keep us updated!
Posted by Kali Dhi (Member # 19686) on :
So thanks for all the info.
It wasnt that bad though. Just energy consuming.
Luckily all the staff was incredibly nice & aware. (maybe because they found out I had just reported a resident for discrimination?)
MRI sounded like a computerized robot shooting at my head but I found it somewhat soothing :/
![[Frown]](frown.gif)