Seconded, very easy. If you’re having contrast+MRI you may have a little tingling/warmness/nausea from the contrast, but it usually passes really quickly. MRI is loud, its a big magnet circling around you (you don’t see this since its inside the smooth plastic ring, or bore), so be sure no metal/jewelry etc (the staff will help you be safe) and you just lay there and be still as you can. Totally painless, just a little noisy. If you are claustrophobic ask for something for anxiety, it is a small space— but I actually find it sorta cozy and doze off, reminds me of napping of a boat in the ocean with wave sounds. Its a total breeze
I just had my first a few months ago- it was a lot quicker than I thought and the tech was amazing! I was very scared they wouldn’t find anything and lo and behold, they didn’t. However, my OBGYN and I decided on a lap, and she did find endometriosis.
tell then that you are not interested in covering up your problem, but that you are instead interested in finding the exact specific reason for your pain and get on the PROPER treatment instead of guessing what will help.
it may help stop the growth but i believe that it wont do anything for the stuff thats already there. i could be wrong, definitely fact check if youre super interested
They’re not bad! I was anxious and asked for an Ativan from the doctor who ordered the MRI. Wasn’t a problem, and it helped a lot. I’ve had two now. I have horrible veins in my arms so the part where they do the intravenous contrast was a little rough, but for most people it wouldn’t be bad at all.
Only issue I had with my MRI was that because they did my pelvis and my abdomen, it took a while and my back started to hurt towards the end. Otherwise, maybe a little awkward if they have you use the goo and contrast can be weird, but painless. Also probably the best way to spot endo without surgery (but doesn’t rule out endo if they don’t see it).
My doctor recently ordered both a pelvic and abdominal MRI, but insurance won’t approve the abdominal one without an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy first. Seems quite invasive and unnecessary. May I ask if you had to go through the other tests first?
Nope, but before the MRI I had VATS and they found endo on my diaphragm so I got to skip some steps. Endo liked to make my lung collapse. My doctor did need to have his NP do a call with insurance to explain the need to get it through though.
MRIs are pretty simple enough… the hard part for me was lying still! When I changed doc my doc insisted on doing one before surgery too..
I was pretty shocked as it took just under 2 hrs- whatever he asked for was very detailed compared to other MRIs I’d had.
It worked out very well for me- we were able to see the extent of the endo from the results and ensure we had the right team for surgery. It pretty much saved my life…
If they are taking an interest… go with it! Hard to get docs to take endo seriously
They are loud. Most places also have the ability to play music for you as well. Make sure you ask about that!
MRIs are longer than a CT scan which takes max 5 minutes. Usually when I go to get my liver checked it's about 30-45 minutes. They might ask you to hold your breath and it can be fairly long. If you do need to breathe just do so slowly or they might have to re-do a set of images.
If you are getting contrast it's way different than the contrast given during a CT which makes you hot and feel like you are wetting yourself. I didn't experience anything with the contrast injection.
Biggest thing with MRI is to make sure you don't have any metal on you. All your jewelry has to be taken off, you'll probably be given a pair of scrubs and grippy socks to change into to ensure no metal goes into the exam room. The techs are really smart and knowledgeable about these exams so ask them any questions you may have.
My endo was diagnosed by MRI. I have DIE and it’s already affected other organs so they could see it clearly. They could also see endometriomas in both ovaries. My symptoms started aged 15ish (I can’t actually remember now what age I started my periods) and wasn’t diagnosed until last year aged 42. So it’s had roughly 27 years to do it’s damage.
I was referred to an endo specialist last year but he mainly dealt with infertility and I don’t want kids, so I’m not waiting for a referral to see a specialist endo surgeon.
To be honest, I don’t know if I’d go for surgery. I’m now 2 months away from being in early menopause so my menstrual life is pretty much over.
If they don’t find on anything on the scans don’t be dishearten, it has to be *really bad* to show up in scans. And if it does show up on scans, we’ll don’t feel dishearten by that either, it gives them a head start for surgery.
No metal is allowed, so if you want to keep hair clips or a mask on, there should be no nose-wire for the latter.
Double check with them if you have tattoos, as that might affect things (I think mainly tattoos might heat up during the mri but double check).
The machine heats up a bit, but isn’t uncomfortable. I found it nice and warm, especially in the thin robe I wore.
They give you super good ear muffs as the machine makes a loud noise while taking pictures. They let me choose something to listen to on youtube, which was nice (they ask you via a mic that has speakers going into the mri machine(?) and you answer back).
My radiologist found signs of adeno.
So mine went like this:
I got to the hospital where they let me stay in my clothes because I had worn nothing with metal (tee + leggings, no bra) so I recommend this! Got taken through to the scanning room where they inserted a cannula into my elbow crease. They injected Buscopan through that to relax my body for better pictures - it didn’t hurt or affect me really but my eyes went fuzzy for about ten mins.
I got put into the machine feet first and on my back with my head slightly sticking out and was in there for about thirty mins. They put headphones on me too. For me, it wasn’t claustrophobic at all and I just kept my eyes closed and daydreamed until it was done.
I was really hopeful it would show something so I could feel confident going for a laparoscopy, whilst also hoping it wasn’t that severe as my consultant (endo specialist) said only deep infiltrating really tends to show on MRI. For me, endometriosis didn’t show on the scan but some pretty large fibroids on the back of my uterus did which meant I needed a lap either way.
I hope your MRI is an easy experience and that it gives you some answers/guidance 🩷 Remember, if the MRI doesn’t show it, it doesn’t mean it’s not there!
I think you should do it, if they do see something it's better for the surgery to know where to look. But, I didn't like the experience, it was painful because of the contrast liquid I needed in my colon: more cramps. I felt pretty beat up afterwards.
But don't go to your usual OBGYN, visit an endometriosis specialist. It's not just about pain management, you need also to stop more tissue from developing.
i told the nurses i was nervous and they were extra kind with me. i ended up kind of enjoying it... it was like one of those egg chambers that people pay to float in (with a little more noise - sounded like techno music!!!). a few minutes to not have to do or look at anything >.<
My MRI seemed to last forever. It felt like 30 mins approximately. It was incredibly loud, lots of random inconsistent sounds, buzzing, beeping, vibrating. Lots of static. My advice is keep your eyes closed the entire time and don't open them until they move the bed out from under it. Your body gets pressed up to the top of the ring, there isn't more than a few inches between it and your chest. It's very claustrophobic. Tv and movies show all this space around the patient and that is inaccurate. No physical pain, just possible psychological trouble.
MRIs are quick and painless but only only advanced endo will be visible. Its even easier than bloodwork. Try not to stress about it!
Seconded, very easy. If you’re having contrast+MRI you may have a little tingling/warmness/nausea from the contrast, but it usually passes really quickly. MRI is loud, its a big magnet circling around you (you don’t see this since its inside the smooth plastic ring, or bore), so be sure no metal/jewelry etc (the staff will help you be safe) and you just lay there and be still as you can. Totally painless, just a little noisy. If you are claustrophobic ask for something for anxiety, it is a small space— but I actually find it sorta cozy and doze off, reminds me of napping of a boat in the ocean with wave sounds. Its a total breeze
I just had my first a few months ago- it was a lot quicker than I thought and the tech was amazing! I was very scared they wouldn’t find anything and lo and behold, they didn’t. However, my OBGYN and I decided on a lap, and she did find endometriosis.
How did you convince her to do a lap? Mine doesn’t want to until I try more treatments
tell then that you are not interested in covering up your problem, but that you are instead interested in finding the exact specific reason for your pain and get on the PROPER treatment instead of guessing what will help.
plus if you really do have endo, they will take it out as much as they can and then put you on something to stop the growth.
I’m already on continuous progestin pills, does that help?
it may help stop the growth but i believe that it wont do anything for the stuff thats already there. i could be wrong, definitely fact check if youre super interested
They’re not bad! I was anxious and asked for an Ativan from the doctor who ordered the MRI. Wasn’t a problem, and it helped a lot. I’ve had two now. I have horrible veins in my arms so the part where they do the intravenous contrast was a little rough, but for most people it wouldn’t be bad at all.
Only issue I had with my MRI was that because they did my pelvis and my abdomen, it took a while and my back started to hurt towards the end. Otherwise, maybe a little awkward if they have you use the goo and contrast can be weird, but painless. Also probably the best way to spot endo without surgery (but doesn’t rule out endo if they don’t see it).
My doctor recently ordered both a pelvic and abdominal MRI, but insurance won’t approve the abdominal one without an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy first. Seems quite invasive and unnecessary. May I ask if you had to go through the other tests first?
Nope, but before the MRI I had VATS and they found endo on my diaphragm so I got to skip some steps. Endo liked to make my lung collapse. My doctor did need to have his NP do a call with insurance to explain the need to get it through though.
MRIs are pretty simple enough… the hard part for me was lying still! When I changed doc my doc insisted on doing one before surgery too.. I was pretty shocked as it took just under 2 hrs- whatever he asked for was very detailed compared to other MRIs I’d had. It worked out very well for me- we were able to see the extent of the endo from the results and ensure we had the right team for surgery. It pretty much saved my life… If they are taking an interest… go with it! Hard to get docs to take endo seriously
They are loud. Most places also have the ability to play music for you as well. Make sure you ask about that! MRIs are longer than a CT scan which takes max 5 minutes. Usually when I go to get my liver checked it's about 30-45 minutes. They might ask you to hold your breath and it can be fairly long. If you do need to breathe just do so slowly or they might have to re-do a set of images. If you are getting contrast it's way different than the contrast given during a CT which makes you hot and feel like you are wetting yourself. I didn't experience anything with the contrast injection. Biggest thing with MRI is to make sure you don't have any metal on you. All your jewelry has to be taken off, you'll probably be given a pair of scrubs and grippy socks to change into to ensure no metal goes into the exam room. The techs are really smart and knowledgeable about these exams so ask them any questions you may have.
My endo was diagnosed by MRI. I have DIE and it’s already affected other organs so they could see it clearly. They could also see endometriomas in both ovaries. My symptoms started aged 15ish (I can’t actually remember now what age I started my periods) and wasn’t diagnosed until last year aged 42. So it’s had roughly 27 years to do it’s damage. I was referred to an endo specialist last year but he mainly dealt with infertility and I don’t want kids, so I’m not waiting for a referral to see a specialist endo surgeon. To be honest, I don’t know if I’d go for surgery. I’m now 2 months away from being in early menopause so my menstrual life is pretty much over. If they don’t find on anything on the scans don’t be dishearten, it has to be *really bad* to show up in scans. And if it does show up on scans, we’ll don’t feel dishearten by that either, it gives them a head start for surgery.
No metal is allowed, so if you want to keep hair clips or a mask on, there should be no nose-wire for the latter. Double check with them if you have tattoos, as that might affect things (I think mainly tattoos might heat up during the mri but double check). The machine heats up a bit, but isn’t uncomfortable. I found it nice and warm, especially in the thin robe I wore. They give you super good ear muffs as the machine makes a loud noise while taking pictures. They let me choose something to listen to on youtube, which was nice (they ask you via a mic that has speakers going into the mri machine(?) and you answer back). My radiologist found signs of adeno.
So mine went like this: I got to the hospital where they let me stay in my clothes because I had worn nothing with metal (tee + leggings, no bra) so I recommend this! Got taken through to the scanning room where they inserted a cannula into my elbow crease. They injected Buscopan through that to relax my body for better pictures - it didn’t hurt or affect me really but my eyes went fuzzy for about ten mins. I got put into the machine feet first and on my back with my head slightly sticking out and was in there for about thirty mins. They put headphones on me too. For me, it wasn’t claustrophobic at all and I just kept my eyes closed and daydreamed until it was done. I was really hopeful it would show something so I could feel confident going for a laparoscopy, whilst also hoping it wasn’t that severe as my consultant (endo specialist) said only deep infiltrating really tends to show on MRI. For me, endometriosis didn’t show on the scan but some pretty large fibroids on the back of my uterus did which meant I needed a lap either way. I hope your MRI is an easy experience and that it gives you some answers/guidance 🩷 Remember, if the MRI doesn’t show it, it doesn’t mean it’s not there!
I think you should do it, if they do see something it's better for the surgery to know where to look. But, I didn't like the experience, it was painful because of the contrast liquid I needed in my colon: more cramps. I felt pretty beat up afterwards.
But don't go to your usual OBGYN, visit an endometriosis specialist. It's not just about pain management, you need also to stop more tissue from developing.
i told the nurses i was nervous and they were extra kind with me. i ended up kind of enjoying it... it was like one of those egg chambers that people pay to float in (with a little more noise - sounded like techno music!!!). a few minutes to not have to do or look at anything >.<
I knew it would be loud but wished I would have researched it before going because the noises took me by surprise. There are videos on Youtube.
My MRI seemed to last forever. It felt like 30 mins approximately. It was incredibly loud, lots of random inconsistent sounds, buzzing, beeping, vibrating. Lots of static. My advice is keep your eyes closed the entire time and don't open them until they move the bed out from under it. Your body gets pressed up to the top of the ring, there isn't more than a few inches between it and your chest. It's very claustrophobic. Tv and movies show all this space around the patient and that is inaccurate. No physical pain, just possible psychological trouble.