I have an MRI scheduled for 9:30 tonight. I’ve never had one before, but my husband has had several, so my only frame of reference is what I’ve seen from the outside looking in. I’m not sure what to hope for at this point.
The Tegretol seems to be mostly doing it’s job. I’m only taking 100mg in the morning and night and still have some tolerable pain. The doctor hash allowed dosing up to 400mg per day. Any advice on how long I should stay at the lower dose before I bump it up to 200mg? I’ve read that Tegretol takes a few weeks to “work”. Do I wait two weeks before upping the dosage?
I had no problems with the MRI machine so far - I’ve been in it twice. I was not provided with headphones as Ro was 
bummer for me, since once I listened to the radio, the second time was allowed to take a cd of my own music - but their maximum volume on our Australian MRI machines, drowned out any music they played, I could only hear anything from it when the machine paused between taking it’s happy snaps.
There’s a little mirror above your head, so you can see into the technicians office and the people who are there monitoring you, and there’s a two way microphone so you can talk to them also. The mirror did not help me as I couldn’t wear my spectacles in there - and without my glasses, I can’t see anything 
but it was still a comfort to know they were there.
I basically just went with the rhythm of the machine and pretended it was waves on a beach and that I was lying on the sand. I made sure to ask them for a blanket, because lying still even for 30 minutes or an hour, however long they decide to take, in an airconditioned room, made it a little chilly without the blanket. But that’s just me and I’m in a totally different country.
All the best, take it easy and make sure you relax as much as possible during the test. I apparently fidget they kept asking me to stay still!
Cheers ~Ko xx
I survived my first MRI experience. It was louder and took longer than I expected, but tolerable.
Since I routinely wake up with headaches and have for 3-4 years, I’m now starting to think it’s related to TN rather than migraines. I’m going to bump up my evening dosage to 200mg, which is what the doctor recommended should I feel I’m not getting pain relief. I was able to nip this morning’s head pain in the bud which may be the secret. I spent most of the day in bed on Saturday because I let the pain get out of hand before taking my morning dose of Tegretol, then it was impossible to keep anything down.
Now I wait for MRI results and a referral to a neurologist.
Thanks all for your helpful comments. It was good to know what to expect.
Great Linda that you have the MRI behind you. I won’t even advise you on the Tegretol except to say that I started of on a slightly higher dose and it took a good to weeks to ebb my pain initially. I had a hard time getting a dx so I was well into pain by the time I got started on treatment. Best for you to see the neuroligist and have him/her advise you. Take care and talk soon…Judy