- 21 May 2003
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I get one every 2 years. This latest one was in a brand new machine and different than the last 5 or 6 I have had. If you have never had one or have one coming up , feel free to ask about how it is.
MRI info...have you had one?
- Thread starter Grandpa Frank
- Start date
I get one every 2 years. This latest one was in a brand new machine and different than the last 5 or 6 I have had. If you have never had one or have one coming up , feel free to ask about how it is.
- 8 Aug 2005
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I had one for a partially torn bicep muscle, I guess I moved in the 5ish minutes needed to get a clean look, but it was still apparent enough. I don't have any previous experience to compare it against, but it was a lot of "lay in this semi-stress position and don't move for the next 2-5 minutes"
- 21 May 2003
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Mine last week was in a brand new machine and quite different than earlier ones. It took about 45 minutes where as past ones were about 20 minutes. This one had a special board placed on top of me that covered from the groin to neck. The old machines had a large tunnel tube where as this new one was pretty tight and claustrophobic. Even with ear plugs and headphones, the noise was like a loud train whistle at times and even like a full auto machine gun for a while. I remember in the old ones , they asked me to take a deep breath and hold it about 10 or 12 times. In this new one , is was 30 to 40 times. I just got my results today and was happy to hear I'm OK for 2 more years.
- 8 Aug 2005
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find anything of interest?
- 6 Mar 2003
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They claimed they found a polyp, same as last time. I think it's just a scam so they can say they need to see me again in 5 years instead of 10.
As an aside, I consulted with the doc about a month before the colonoscopy and when I said I'll see him in a month for the colonoscopy, he responded "looking forward to it." Somehow I found that disturbing. My theory is that the only doctors that would go into this line of work are those who have a sense of mission (like if their loved one died of colon cancer or something) and perverts.
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Ukigumo
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- 15 Mar 2025
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We used to use MRIs machines for research purposes, tweaking the analysis to produce functional MRIs (fMRI) where active areas of the brain 'light up' on the image. It measures changes in blood flow to a part of the brain- BOLD signal (blood oxygenation level dependant signal)- the correct assumption being that if an area requires more blood and therefore oxygen, it's more active.
As a junior team member I was tasked with learning how to drive the scanner…very daunting as it's complicated to get a meaningful image. So we used each other as subjects to test our skills. Pietro, a disgustingly handsome, tall and charming Italian neurosurgeon was often stuffed in the little hole, often for an hour or more as we pushed buttons (it's suggested you don't put anyone in the machine for longer than 40mins because it's can be tiring.) To our surprise we got lovely clear images very quickly and then we spotted a 'shadow' in his brain! A small spot that we had him and the hospital consultant to look at. Six hours later he was on the operating table having it removed! It saved his life as it was found so early and he made a recover, his good looks being totally unaffected
I've often wondered if having a full body scan and assessment is worth paying for just to spot malignancies early when they can be more effectively dealt with.
The Earth's magnetic field strength varies between 25-65μT ; millionths of a tesla. so a 3T magnet is very strong requiring liquid helium to produce superconductivity in the electromagnetic coils of the scanner. There are magnets up to 12T and stronger(!), but they're used for MRI microscopy on tissue sample as it takes many hours to build up the image.
As a junior team member I was tasked with learning how to drive the scanner…very daunting as it's complicated to get a meaningful image. So we used each other as subjects to test our skills. Pietro, a disgustingly handsome, tall and charming Italian neurosurgeon was often stuffed in the little hole, often for an hour or more as we pushed buttons (it's suggested you don't put anyone in the machine for longer than 40mins because it's can be tiring.) To our surprise we got lovely clear images very quickly and then we spotted a 'shadow' in his brain! A small spot that we had him and the hospital consultant to look at. Six hours later he was on the operating table having it removed! It saved his life as it was found so early and he made a recover, his good looks being totally unaffected
I've often wondered if having a full body scan and assessment is worth paying for just to spot malignancies early when they can be more effectively dealt with.
The Earth's magnetic field strength varies between 25-65μT ; millionths of a tesla. so a 3T magnet is very strong requiring liquid helium to produce superconductivity in the electromagnetic coils of the scanner. There are magnets up to 12T and stronger(!), but they're used for MRI microscopy on tissue sample as it takes many hours to build up the image.
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- 21 May 2003
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- Thread starter
- #10
Oh the joys of a colonoscopy prep. I get one every 5 years and they always seem to find polyps. Each time they remove them for examination and always find them benign.
A couple MRIs long ago, nothing to worry about. More recently a doc said that an MRI and CT show different things, and that sometimes one or the other is better, or that the two 'views' might complement each other.
I now have a fair amount of metal in my body, so when the docs at my local uni hospital ask the MRI folks about it, the reply is that it's better not to do the MRI (a more serious condition or need could change that equation). I don't know which type of machine they have--my implants are mostly CoCr (cobalt-chromium) with some titanium on the side. Not magnetic, but with an MRI, maybe it would still heat up. I'm fine with the docs being cautious.
(someone once commented, 'it looks like they spilled a tackle box in there')
I now have a fair amount of metal in my body, so when the docs at my local uni hospital ask the MRI folks about it, the reply is that it's better not to do the MRI (a more serious condition or need could change that equation). I don't know which type of machine they have--my implants are mostly CoCr (cobalt-chromium) with some titanium on the side. Not magnetic, but with an MRI, maybe it would still heat up. I'm fine with the docs being cautious.
(someone once commented, 'it looks like they spilled a tackle box in there')
Ukigumo
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- 15 Mar 2025
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I am slightly claustrophobic so when I needed a scan for my back pain I was confident that I could control my claustrophobic feelings like the real man I am.
It turned out that I was actually a six year old little girl who wanted to scream the whole way through the procedure 
It turned out that I was actually a six year old little girl who wanted to scream the whole way through the procedure
- 8 Aug 2005
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what would be better, hearing "I'm looking forward to it," or 楽しにしています
Konnichiwa Mina-san!
Some time ago, maybe a few years ago, I had a visitor at home. There is a big hospital close to my house, and the visitor was staff from that hospital. And he explained to me about the arrival of a new MRI machine.
I asked why he had come all the way to tell me that a new MRI machine was being delivered. He told me.
The MRI machine is replaced with a new one every few years, and when it is replaced, a hole is drilled in the wall and a crane is used to bring it in, which makes a very loud noise.
He went around the neighborhood explaining and understanding the noise. It was then that I realized for the first time how difficult it is to transport an MRI machine in and out.
Maybe I'll meet him again in a few years, when they break down the wall.
In this video, it looks like they were able to bring it in through the front door. Still, it seems like it would be difficult to bring it in.
NANGI
Some time ago, maybe a few years ago, I had a visitor at home. There is a big hospital close to my house, and the visitor was staff from that hospital. And he explained to me about the arrival of a new MRI machine.
I asked why he had come all the way to tell me that a new MRI machine was being delivered. He told me.
The MRI machine is replaced with a new one every few years, and when it is replaced, a hole is drilled in the wall and a crane is used to bring it in, which makes a very loud noise.
He went around the neighborhood explaining and understanding the noise. It was then that I realized for the first time how difficult it is to transport an MRI machine in and out.
Maybe I'll meet him again in a few years, when they break down the wall.
In this video, it looks like they were able to bring it in through the front door. Still, it seems like it would be difficult to bring it in.
NANGI
- 2 Jun 2005
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I had one of those 3 years ago good to catch it early it there is a problem. My wife yesterday gave a poop sample as an alternative.
- 21 May 2003
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- #16
Meanwhile , women reading this are , LOL. Guys haven't had their boob squished for a mammogram or given a pap smear. I would not want to go through a pelvic exam anymore than a prostate check. At least my feet weren't up in stirrups for that.
Ukigumo
後輩
- 15 Mar 2025
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In my old department we had a 'small bore' MRI machine installed in the imaging suite on the top floor of the building ('The Borg Cube' as we called it). The hole is only just big enough to get a hand/wrist into it but it cost £millions. The problem was they just couldn't get a clear image with the device. They tried everything to locate the issue to no avail. Eventually it was realised that the slight sway of the building in the wind was the problem and they had to relocate the scanner, at enormous expense, into the building's basement!
