Best Of

I think the MRI I had of my abdomen, I had my head out. Can't remember well, but they might have given me a choice to go head first or head out. I also got ear plugs and music. I didn't exactly like the whole set up, but it was "doable". I found the weight on my abdomen odd and wasn't crazy about it, but again, it was manageable. The velcro straps can be a bit anxiety producing for me when they first fasten them, but then oddly perhaps I usually wind up finding them comfortable and allowing me to relax more and not having to worry about the position of my hands, body, etc. Wendy, usually if I just close my eyes, and take myself to "another place", I can get through that stuff without medication or freaking out. I will say that even when you get music, it can be hard to hear, because the machine still makes it's usual noise, so you can really only hear the music intermittently. However, I still prefer it with music than without, and when I hear the snippets what I can, I can then often follow the rest of a song in my mind, with my eyes closed, even though the sound of the machine takes over. I've never had a PET, so can't compare any differences there. The MRI is a little more "daunting" if you will than a CT with contrast, but for me at least, I can get through it. For the MRI, you also have to get into their scrubs, whereas with a CT, I can usually just wear my regular clothes and slide my jeans down to my thighs, under a blanket they give me, and that's another difference. I can totally understand having anxiety about it. I hope that whatever choice you make, it goes very well for you.