Has anyone ever had one of these before and if so what did it intale and how was it done and how long did it take? I am having 1 done this afternoon for my headaches and I was just curious what I was in for.

By Breann on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 01:28 pm:

I have had a CT scan and an MRI on my head. You basically just lay on the table VERY still, and they move you back into the machine. They tell you to hold very still and they talk to you through the procedure. There is also a panic button that you can push if you are feeling sick or scared or anything.

It's not a scary experience at all. I was worried because I tend to get nervous in things that are enclosed. But, you can actually see out of the machine. It's not bad at all.

Good luck!

By Nicki on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 01:36 pm:

I think they may even give you the option of laying something soft over your eyes if you prefer, and listen to calm music. I was nervous when I went in for one, and this really helped. It wasn't uncomfortable for me at all, and I am sensitive about being in small spaces.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

By Tonya on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 01:40 pm:

Did they have to give you an IV with some sortof dye before you went in for the scan?

By Karen~admin on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 05:00 pm:

Tonya, I had one several days before we went on vacation, for the exact same thing you are having it for. No dyes, no IVs, the scan literally takes only a few minutes - like 5 minutes - all you have to do is lie still and don't move. You'll be in and out before you know it.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 06:09 pm:

Well, by now you've had it and know it is not a big deal. I had to have one to "rule out" possible benign brain tumors, ordered by my ear/nose/throat guy when I had vertigo. It was just a "rule out" procedure, because he didn't really think I had brain tumors, but waiting for the date of the test was a very worrisome two weeks. The test itself was nothing - waiting for the results was anxious.

By Kaye on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 07:35 pm:

My step mom went in for a rule out MRI, they were looking at her vessels and build up in them. They found tumors, she had a call within an hour. The point of my story, if something is really wrong, they will call you soon.

By Tonya on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 08:34 am:

Well I am at work waiting to hear something I guess the longer it takes to hear something the better right!!

They did do the dye and IV. The did the scan once without the IV on then they turned the IV on let the dye run into me fully and did the scan again. My appointment was at 5pm I was out of there at 4:15pm. They told me to be there 1 hr early for signing in and stuff. Man did it feel weird like I was warm from the inside out and like I had peed myself.

I hope they find something mild just so I have a reason for the headaches and they can fix it cause I cannot keep going like this. It is so bad right now (since Saturday)that my neck and face (my cheeks) hurt and Rich said they look swollen.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 10:44 am:

Sounds like you may have TMJ with the symptoms you described. If they don't find anything, I'd consider getting checked for TMJ. It will cause headaches, neckaches, and face pain.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 10:54 am:

I'm glad it's over with. Waiting for results is hard. Emily had to have a CT scan of her abdomen 1-1/2 years ago, to rule out appendicitis. She was supposed to drink some stuff beforehand. She had no appetite, even for food, so drinking the stuff was hard. She never did finish it. They started the IV and told her she would feel warm and like she was peeing. I don't remember her perception of it, though. It really only took a little bit and then the radiologist came in right away, to look at it, and said, "Yes, she does have appendicitis." So, off to surgery she went. They let us stay in the control room, to watch!

By Kay on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 01:36 pm:

I had a CT with contrast (the injected dye) and found out the hard way that I'm allergic to iodine. Luckily, the only reaction was a heated rash that spread quickly but dissipated. I now specify iodine as one of my known allergens.

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 08:02 am:

Tonya, if they used dye, then they wanted films with contrast, so I imagine they want to rule out something specific, in your case. Have these headaches started suddenly recently, or have you had them in the past? I too, was thinking if not migraine, it could be TMJ. Let us know what you find out. I feel for you!

By Brooke327 on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 07:14 am:

How did you make out Tonya? And what is TMJ? Hope everthing is fine.

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 07:39 am:

Brooke (or anyone else not familiar with it), TMJ is the commonly used acronym for temporomandibular joint disorder. The pain associated with TMJ is thought to be caused by displacement of the cartilage where the lower jaw connects to the skull causing pressure and stretching of the associated sensory nerves. Many people have it, but some of the symptoms are similar to other conditions or illnesses so they are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

By Tonya on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 08:43 am:

Sorry ladies it has been one hell of a weekend. I went Friday and my CT Scan was fine everything came back normal.

The hot flashes we are concluding are from my period (and I agree) the period went away (Saturday) and so did the hot flashes from hell.

The rest he told me he will monitor and see waht happens. He doesn't want to pull me off the pills too fast if they are helping so he said to wait a few weeks and let him know about the rest of the affects. The headache is gone it was a severe sinus headahce and that is why my eyes were hurting as well as my neck.

So for now I am fine. I am going to see a chiropractor on friday (friend of the family) and she is going to do x-rays and see if anything is out of whack that could be causing the headaches and we will go from there.

Thanks for asking ladies!!