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I would like to get copies of my MRI's.

I would like to be able to put photos of them on-line (on my blog) as well as send them to doctors.

How do I know what to ask for? Will I receive copies that are user friendly?

Please help me.

emmsgems wrote:I would like to get copies of my MRI's.

I would like to be able to put photos of them on-line (on my blog) as well as send them to doctors.

How do I know what to ask for? Will I receive copies that are user friendly?

Please help me.

I was told (6 years ago) when I got my first MRIs that I should contact the hospital to get copies of them to take with me to my future doctor appointments; they gave me one copy of the giant films free, and I carried them around with me. The next time I got MRIs, I asked the tech while I was there and he printed up a set for me right then and sent me home with the films.

Nowadays they can put them on CDs, so I recently called back and got a free CD of ALL those MRIs. But...apparently it takes special software to view them correctly and I can't post them like I wanted to. I assume that all I have to do is take my CD to my doctors now, but they've already seen those old films so I didn't bother.

Long story short...call the facility that did your MRI and ask for a copy - especially a CD - and see what happens. And I wonder if anyone here has suggestions so I can actually use that CD myself?

Good luck!

P.S. They also gave me copies of all the radiologist's reports on the films.

As for my other medical records, all of my doctors (except one) have been very cooperative with giving me copies of my office visits and lab reports. I had a whole folder of them that I carried around with me for about a year after my surprise MS diagnosis. As I made the rounds of other specialists who gave me one diagnosis after another (conditions having NOTHING to do with MS), they would make copies of the whole folder for their own files and thanked me for bringing it.

Thank you. A CD would be wonderful.

I'm in Canada, and I had the MRI's in the hospital - so I would assume they aren't so free with handing them out right afterward.

emmsgems wrote:Thank you. A CD would be wonderful.

I'm in Canada, and I had the MRI's in the hospital - so I would assume they aren't so free with handing them out right afterward.

I got all my MRIs in our local hospital, and all I had to do was call the lab and give them 24 hours notice - for the 1st films and for the later CD. The hospital MRI tech made the 2nd set of films on the spot, but I had to call for the written radiologist report on it later - once it had been written and submitted.

I still can't do anything with the pics on the CD - all I can see is teeny, tiny versions that won't allow me to enlarge or copy & save them.

Every place is different but I also had my last set done in a hospital and I walked straight to the films department after my MRI and not even 10 minutes later I was walking out with a copy on CD. If you wait a little longer to get the copy, the Radiologist Report can be put on them as well.

Most places seem to offer the first copy for free and each additional copy for $10.00, but like I said, all places are different.

euphoniaa,

There is usually a program on the CD for viewing.

If you have Windows XP, when you put the CD in your computer, a window usually pops up asking what you want to do. Choose "Open Folder to view files". You should see all of the pictures on the CD (or a folder named JPEG), and be able to view them by clicking on them.

You will probably see another file named "ViewSel.exe" (or something similar), if not, look for a folder named DICOM, open it, and click on "eFilmLt.exe". These are viewing programs for all of the 3D stuff, etc. Clicking on them will install the program on your computer.

You can also copy all of the pictures into a folder on your computer, for easier access.

emmsgems,

In Canada, you have the right to have copies of all your medical records under The Freedom of Information Act (or whatever Melodic Name they use this month), including imaging. I was charged $60 by UBC last time for the CD (gouge, and I think, illegal), but prior, had all on films for free since 1993.