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Brain Tests - Do They Hurt?

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batgirl

MyPTSD Pro
Hey. I am having a brain test of some kind next week. It's part of some preliminary testing before I see this psychiatrist who specializes in PTSD. I can't remember if it's a CT scan or an MRI or what... I wasn't paying attention. The hospital is calling on Monday to set up the test.

Anyways do brain tests hurt??? I keep remembering that scene from The Exorcist where green vomit girl gets a needle in her neck and there's this loud banging noise and she's screaming. Bleah.
 
I had tests done after I had what they say was a TIA "mini-stroke" years ago. Nothing intrusive at all, you just lay down and they stick you in a tube that does a long x ray type of thing. They were looking for bleeding or a clot on me (something like that). Very painless unless you are clastrophobic, if you are they can give you meds to calm you. But if they are only doing the head then it should be just your head going in. Again that was how mine went. Don't worry it is very noninvasive - one of the few procedures docs do that are not. I wish I could get the scan just "to know for sure"... Doubt still lingers with me, maybe I may be just a bit crazy. I know I know but still would like to see it to know 100% Too bad they were not looking for that when I had the stroke.
 
I wish I could get the scan just "to know for sure"... Doubt still lingers with me, maybe I may be just a bit crazy. I know I know but still would like to see it to know 100%
What!!!!!!?? Oh, Veiled. You have ptsd. I don't need brain scan to know. And I have never seen you face to face. On the flip side though, I'm so glad I'm not the only one that has some serious doubts on whether or not this ptsd stuff is real and that it applies to me. I'm an apparently textbook case....so why am I not totally convinced?

Batgirl, I'm glad you are having these tests done. They are painless. If you are claustrophobic is the only concern I have (like veiled said..) Please keep us updated on your results...
 
On the flip side though, I'm so glad I'm not the only one that has some serious doubts on whether or not this ptsd stuff is real and that it applies to me. I'm an apparently textbook case....so why am I not totally convinced?

Raising my hand and getting into the back of this line. MAN...I'm glad I'm not the only one standing in it! LOL :smile:



Batgirl, according to my hubby, an MRI is a bit noisy and if I remember, I've heard a CT scan it pretty quiet. Good luck!
 
yeah, i thought that for a long time, too. my therapist told me that's a form of denial, sigh. who knows?
don't worry about your test, batgirl, it won't hurt at all, take the time to get a little nap!
cathy
 
Batgirl,

Neither test (MRI or CT) hurts. They both have their share of noise, but the place where you get the test done will most likely have headphones for you to wear to help block some of the noise out; if they don't offer it to you, ask about it, but be sure to do so ahead of time (some even let you bring your own CDs with you!).

I've had them done when I had some terrible headaches that wouldn't go away. And, as luck would have it, my prediction came true: there really ISN'T ANYTHING in there....it's all air!!!! LOL :biggrin:

So breathe....it'll be painless and over with in no time. Heck, you might even fall asleep while they're doing it!
 
Oh goodness I hate that lame joke... Uhh we did not find any thing.
 
Wow thanks for all the advice guys. I feel more relaxed about it now. I am quite claustrophobic, but I don't mind needles, so maybe they'll give me a sedative drip thing, like they do for gastroscopies (which I've had a lot of). And yes I will let you know the results, when I know them myself.

Veiled I'm sure you have PTSD too. Sorry about the stroke. Aren't you kind of young?? God. Anyways, just a thought, but maybe your records from when you had the brain tests still exist and you could access them? Like to look for the PTSD, if you want? My mother died when I was 7, of cancer, and in my last year of highschool I was worried about getting cancer myself (my mom was only 25 when she died). Anyways for a fee I was able to gain access to my mother's medical records, I guess they keep them for about 20 years before destroying them. Here in Canada anyhow. So it might be something to consider for you.
 
My goodness... more of "if it were a snake it would have bit me!" My records should have gone to the old doc I dropped when he said I had mild mania... was not open, just told him I could not sleep due to thoughts in my head even though he knew I was raped. Actually I don't think he believed me as my ex and I saw the same doc. And on the surface the ex is a teddy bear.

The records were put in storage years ago (I got notice they are up north in storage) but they should be able to get it if I do a bit of paper work, I will call about it to see how to get it. Hell already paid for those, don't know if they have to do cetain types to look for it or not but certainly worth digging out if I can!

I know I know I am taking a break... I am really!

Also the guy who ran my test was really hot with super long blonde locks down his back and very cool... Hey it does not hurt LOL!
 
I found the CT, and MRI to be a much better test than the EEG which caused me to get SICK. DANG why did'nt I get the HOT TECH LOL. No the guy that did mine was old and fat LOL. OH WELL. For the MRI they gave me valium and that pretty much made it tolerable because I to am clostraphobic, so it was a nice relaxing 45 minutes. They are loud but if your medicated you don't care. With me they did find some scaring from the head injury so when they did say it was all in my head THEY WERE RIGHT LOL. Good luck with you tests.
 
I've had 2 scans now, one CT on my brain and one MRI on my hip... neither hurt, the MRI was kind of noisy but I had headphones with music to listen to. What the exorcist girl had was a contrast MRI where they injected dye into her bloodstream to show up the vessels in her brain. My brother has had this done as he had a cyst in his brain amongst other problems, he said it's uncomfortable but not painful really. :)

I was supposed to have a a contrast MRI of my hip done but I am very phobic of needles so that didn't happen in the end as I went bonkers when they brought the needle near me... but I'm told it doesn't hurt... it's just me being freaky about needles.

A lot of places will sedate you for scans too if you tell them you're phobic. I had valium on prescription anyway so I was just scoffing them like sweeties to try not to scream at the all about the needles! The actual scan is totally fine.. just boring as for an MRI you have to lie still for aaaages. The CT was really fast though...
 
Yeah, what Sibemom said. Just don't drink anything about 12 hours before the MRI. Everytime Iv'e had one, 15 minutes into it I have to go to the bathroom. It's loud too. CT scan, no sweat. EEG had alot of them too. They superglue the electrodes on your head (20 or so). No pain but it takes weeks to get the superglue out. Last time I had a week-long test so I just shaved my head. Honestly, non of the test are that bad. You might want Valium or something like it for the MRI if they say it's OK.
 
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