1. < Digestive Health

MRI-E or Magnetic resonance (MR) enterography: What to expect?

Posted by mutter3 @mutter3, Jul 29, 2020

Had this test last week at Mayo. I wish I would have been better prepared. Wear depends,bring wipes,extra depends and a change of clothes. I got through the test but horrific diarrhea immediately afterward. This lasted about three hours. I could not make it to the restroom. I was so embarrassed and angry. No one in radiology helped me. I made a huge mess and cleaned with paper towels as best I could. Then the walk of shame back to the hotel for several showers. Later I talked to GI and they told me every floor has patient care packages. They contain a depend, scrubs, large paper like towel. I wish I would have known this. At least all of you now know what to do if it ever happens to you,you'll now where to get some help. I am going to have a very difficult time ever going to radiology again!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

suzanne2 | @suzanne2 | Jul 29, 2020

My heart goes out to you. I have not had that test and particular experience but I do have the diarrhea issue and I have had the accidents and not being able to make it to the bathroom. I have been embarrassed one to many times in so many situations. Part of my everyday life is taking lomotil and always having depends at hand. I went through a colonoscopy and endoscopy at Mayo three weeks ago. The prep was a living hell for me. After having a mess to clean up I literally sat on the toilet for almost 4 hours. I had to, because when I have to go it just comes and I have no control or ability to stop it. But that is an everyday issue for me and that was why I had the test. Now I have a diagnosis and a prescription to hopefully put it in remission. There is no cure for microscopic colitis. So I will continue to carry/wear depends and keep a bathroom at arms length.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 29, 2020

@mutter3, I, too, am so sorry that you had to go through such an experience. I encourage you to contact Mayo Clinic's Office of Patient Experience at the location where you were tested. They will want to feed this information back to the department to improve the experience for others. Here's the contact information: https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/patient-experience

I'm deeply grateful that you posted about your experience here on Connect to help others prepare for Magnetic resonance (MR) enterography. It sounds like discomfort and embarrassment can be avoided with preparation and knowing what to expect. You recommend that patients bring the following with them:
- adult diapers or protection like Depends. Bring extra.
- wipes
- change of clothes
- ask for a patient care package if you don't have supplies

Great tips. What else do you think people should know about the procedure? How long did the test take? Was it uncomfortable? Where should you go after the test if you can't get home right away?

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jul 29, 2020

@mutter3 What a horrible experience. I am so sorry you were not better prepared for what to expect. I have not had that test, just regular MRIs which are apparently much different.

When I have had colonoscopies I wear Depends to the appointment in case I have an accident on the hour drive to there, plus they are easy to just dispose of then. By the time the colonoscopy is over though I can wear my regular underwear.

Again, I really sympathize with your experience. That must have been miserable and embarrassing.
JK

REPLY
1 reply
mutter3 | @mutter3 | Jul 29, 2020
In reply to @suzanne2 "My heart goes out to you. I have not had that test and particular experience but..." + (show)
@suzanne2

My heart goes out to you. I have not had that test and particular experience but I do have the diarrhea issue and I have had the accidents and not being able to make it to the bathroom. I have been embarrassed one to many times in so many situations. Part of my everyday life is taking lomotil and always having depends at hand. I went through a colonoscopy and endoscopy at Mayo three weeks ago. The prep was a living hell for me. After having a mess to clean up I literally sat on the toilet for almost 4 hours. I had to, because when I have to go it just comes and I have no control or ability to stop it. But that is an everyday issue for me and that was why I had the test. Now I have a diagnosis and a prescription to hopefully put it in remission. There is no cure for microscopic colitis. So I will continue to carry/wear depends and keep a bathroom at arms length.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your kind words!!

REPLY
mutter3 | @mutter3 | Jul 29, 2020
In reply to @contentandwell "@mutter3 What a horrible experience. I am so sorry you were not better prepared for what..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@mutter3 What a horrible experience. I am so sorry you were not better prepared for what to expect. I have not had that test, just regular MRIs which are apparently much different.

When I have had colonoscopies I wear Depends to the appointment in case I have an accident on the hour drive to there, plus they are easy to just dispose of then. By the time the colonoscopy is over though I can wear my regular underwear.

Again, I really sympathize with your experience. That must have been miserable and embarrassing.
JK

Jump to this post

This was very different from a normal MRI. Don’t think I’ll be doing it again. Thank you for your support!

REPLY
mutter3 | @mutter3 | Jul 29, 2020
In reply to @colleenyoung "@mutter3, I, too, am so sorry that you had to go through such an experience. I..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@mutter3, I, too, am so sorry that you had to go through such an experience. I encourage you to contact Mayo Clinic's Office of Patient Experience at the location where you were tested. They will want to feed this information back to the department to improve the experience for others. Here's the contact information: https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/patient-experience

I'm deeply grateful that you posted about your experience here on Connect to help others prepare for Magnetic resonance (MR) enterography. It sounds like discomfort and embarrassment can be avoided with preparation and knowing what to expect. You recommend that patients bring the following with them:
- adult diapers or protection like Depends. Bring extra.
- wipes
- change of clothes
- ask for a patient care package if you don't have supplies

Great tips. What else do you think people should know about the procedure? How long did the test take? Was it uncomfortable? Where should you go after the test if you can't get home right away?

Jump to this post

I contacted department of patient experiences the next day. The test was about 45 minutes plus an hour prep. 3 bottles of contrast and a bottle of water. Plus IV contrast and glucagon. Glucagon made the test difficult because it lowers your blood sugar so you need something to eat after the test yet don’t dare eat because of the diarrhea. Just a difficult test. Glad it’s over.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.