Comments on: My first MRI http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/ For those who have been recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis -- and need to feel hope. Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:10:23 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Cranius http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-27 Cranius Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:05:26 +0000 http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-27 Performing these tasks actually helps. I expect the results of today's test around the 19th of February. Pls. refer to my blog cranius.wordpress.com for more details. Stay safe, Cranius Performing these tasks actually helps. I expect the results of today’s test around the 19th of February. Pls. refer to my blog cranius.wordpress.com for more details.

Stay safe, Cranius

]]> By: fMRI: The real thing « Time Pressure http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-26 fMRI: The real thing « Time Pressure Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:49:06 +0000 http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-26 [...] was just as Andrea wrote in her blog (Newly Diagnosed MS) with the big difference of course that I was told to keep my eyes open to be able to read the [...] [...] was just as Andrea wrote in her blog (Newly Diagnosed MS) with the big difference of course that I was told to keep my eyes open to be able to read the [...]

]]> By: brauchi http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-25 brauchi Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:20:00 +0000 http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-25 Good. How did you do all of this while being scared? Thank you so much for this description. I have never heard about an (f)MRI before. It sounds like a very interesting procedure which could be actually fun if it wouldn't be for a serious test. I hope your results came back ok. Good. How did you do all of this while being scared?

Thank you so much for this description. I have never heard about an (f)MRI before. It sounds like a very interesting procedure which could be actually fun if it wouldn’t be for a serious test.

I hope your results came back ok.

]]> By: Cranius http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-24 Cranius Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:09:43 +0000 http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-24 Please note that you can keep your eyes closed in MRI, just in case of fMRI you need to perform tasks with open eyes. Anyway, to answer your questions: I had to perform the following tests. Test #1 was to 'think' words starting with the letter projected on a screen outside the MRI tunnel. After a few letters (4-5) a little star appeared, the sign that I was not allowed to think about words but instead of a walk on the beach. Then a similar sequence started and this was repeated for about 10-15 minutes. Test #2 was to repeatedly bend and straighten the fingers of my right hand while I was seeing the word 'Action' projected on the screen and to stop doing so when the word 'Rest' appeared. This sequence was to be performed for about 6 minutes for each hand and each foot. Prior to the tests I was asked whether or not I needed a pear of reading specs (I didn't). I am quite sure though that they will prepare a pair of plastic specs for those that really need them. Plastic is fine in (f)MRI. Hope all this helps. Please note that you can keep your eyes closed in MRI, just in case of fMRI you need to perform tasks with open eyes. Anyway, to answer your questions: I had to perform the following tests.

Test #1 was to ‘think’ words starting with the letter projected on a screen outside the MRI tunnel. After a few letters (4-5) a little star appeared, the sign that I was not allowed to think about words but instead of a walk on the beach. Then a similar sequence started and this was repeated for about 10-15 minutes.

Test #2 was to repeatedly bend and straighten the fingers of my right hand while I was seeing the word ‘Action’ projected on the screen and to stop doing so when the word ‘Rest’ appeared. This sequence was to be performed for about 6 minutes for each hand and each foot.

Prior to the tests I was asked whether or not I needed a pear of reading specs (I didn’t). I am quite sure though that they will prepare a pair of plastic specs for those that really need them. Plastic is fine in (f)MRI.

Hope all this helps.

]]> By: kfabrizio http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-23 kfabrizio Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:30:38 +0000 http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-23 It's terrific that you don't have many lesions! I'm so excited for you. Did they share with you where the lesions are located? remember, it's not always about the number, it's more about the locations. I have them all over the place on my brain and one on my spine. The various locations each cause different symptoms. The MRI experience gets better with practice (smile). Kim It’s terrific that you don’t have many lesions! I’m so excited for you. Did they share with you where the lesions are located? remember, it’s not always about the number, it’s more about the locations. I have them all over the place on my brain and one on my spine. The various locations each cause different symptoms. The MRI experience gets better with practice (smile).

Kim

]]> By: brauchi http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-22 brauchi Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:41:37 +0000 http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-22 Here is a question. How could an almost blind person like me look at a screen without my glasses to perform certain tasks? Just yesterday I banged my head in the attic and lost my glasses. And it took me almost 20 minutes to find them by carefully moving my heads forward. I didn't want to break them. Of course, after finally finding them, I saw that they had to be fixed anyway. What kind of tasks did you have to perform? It is not that you can do much in that small tunnel... Here is a question. How could an almost blind person like me look at a screen without my glasses to perform certain tasks?

Just yesterday I banged my head in the attic and lost my glasses. And it took me almost 20 minutes to find them by carefully moving my heads forward. I didn’t want to break them. Of course, after finally finding them, I saw that they had to be fixed anyway.

What kind of tasks did you have to perform? It is not that you can do much in that small tunnel…

]]> By: Cranius http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-21 Cranius Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:12:16 +0000 http://newlydiagnosedms.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/my-first-mri/#comment-21 Your description of your claustrofobic MRI experience is so very well described. The combination of tunnel with a diameter of 60cm, the loud banging noises, having no idea about time and the uncertainty about the outcome are very frightening. I know now that by keeping my eyes shut I can better deal with the ordeal. Today I had my first fMRI where you have to keep your eyes open to perform tasks projected on a screen. It adds a new dimension to the experience. In case the nurse or operator is a person you trust and you have a person with you who touches your toes or feet that helps a lot. It is a mental thing indeed. For some a piece of cake for others a serious ordeal. Thanks for your post and I hope things will continue to go well for you. Your description of your claustrofobic MRI experience is so very well described. The combination of tunnel with a diameter of 60cm, the loud banging noises, having no idea about time and the uncertainty about the outcome are very frightening. I know now that by keeping my eyes shut I can better deal with the ordeal.

Today I had my first fMRI where you have to keep your eyes open to perform tasks projected on a screen. It adds a new dimension to the experience. In case the nurse or operator is a person you trust and you have a person with you who touches your toes or feet that helps a lot. It is a mental thing indeed. For some a piece of cake for others a serious ordeal.

Thanks for your post and I hope things will continue to go well for you.

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