My last MRI, (the 5th in a year), was with and without contrast as well for both my head and neck. They told me it was going to be about 90 minutes but I really don\'t think it took that long. How many regions are they going to be imaging? Usually they don\'t do more than 2 at a time.

I\'m super claustrophobic so I was always in a panic because of them. I found a place that lets be bring my own music in and they also put gauze patches over my eyes so I wont open them and see the tube. That has helped out so much! With the music I can time how long I\'ve been in there and the familiarity of songs you know seems to help.

Good luck and try to think of it as a relaxing Spa treatment, lol. It\'s a weird way to think of it, but changing it from a fearful thought to a "I\'m choosing to do this because it\'s sooooo relaxing and good for me" thought can help trick your brain into not being so anxious. :o)

I got a scrip for some drugs to help me relax. They say have a driver but I have another appt 5 hours across the street so I am going to try to do this solo, thanks for your reply

@ xavier

I had five MRI\'s in one day ~ I took half a Benadryl to relax ~ worked great in that I was relaxed enough to fall asleep but up & at \'em when it was over w/ ...

Not sure what your five hour app\'t afterwards entails, just voicing an option for you to consider, if the med they\'ve given you is going to really out you out of it ...

Best wishes to ya & drive safe! :)

(TYPO:: \'*put* you out of it\' is what I meant to type)

Hi Xmom. I\'m wishing u the best with ur upcoming MRI. I know they may be recommending mad drugs to you to keep you calm and relaxed but the advice I wanna give you is to keep ur eyes closed and breathe deep. Oh and visualize urself laying on a Carribean beach with a tropical drink. I just wish they could come up with an MRI machine without all those loud knocks and bangs. That\'s what irratates me the most. The only thing good about getting slid into that MRI machine is that they eventually slide u back out. LOL TC

Got the script for the mad meds. LOL

If it\'s a full body. I was in the tube for 3 hours. 1 leison on the back 3 in the neck and 7 to 10 on the brain. It fely like forever.

Like others have said, the length of the testing depends on how much theyr\'e looking at. Ask the tech if they would tell you when each test cycle is to begin. It helps me because I\'m less startled each time a test cycle starts.

Mine was also 3 hours. I did not take anything because I was breastfeeding but tried to relax with the music It is hard but hopefully the meds they gave you will help. You will do fine.