MRI scans

Hello,

I am new to the board, and firstly want to say it's great the way people are so open and supportive.

I am 24 years old, English, and have been suffering with moderate to severe Crohn's since 14/15.

I am currently suffering from a flare up which the doctor thinks is an partial obstruction and has suggested I have an MRI Scan of the small bowel. Basically I'm interested as to what it involves?

Also I wonder if any of you out there have recovered from partial obstructions without Remicade and/or surgery.

Thanks.

oh yeah you can clear partial obstructions w/o remicade or surgery, but if that blockage is so compacted or part of your intestine then it is a surgery or remicade situation....

MRI's are so easy I fall asleep during them, they put in a tube (or it might be an open MRI) sometime with constrast and take pictures of your intestines

Ct scans are a faster but sometimes easier to see...

You'll probably be made to drink a lot of licorice-flavoured water, then be asked to lie on your stomach in the MRI tube. They'll strap some antennae to your back and then pass you into the tube, and you'll just lie there while the machinery bangs around you. You'll be given ear-phones (and maybe music) to drown out some of the banging.

Oh, you may also be given an injection of Buscopan to slow the transit of the contrast through the gut.

Take a book - you'll be down there, drinking, for a while before you're actually scanned. And it might be a good idea to talk to the radiographers beforehand if you're susceptible to claustraphobia.

Don't wear clothing with metal attachments, or jewellery.

Hope this helps, and good luck! I agree with Navy; I find MRIs much more relaxing than c/ts.

Welcome,

Ivy.