I'm getting an MRI in an hour - scared!

[Avalux]

OK - I'm really claustrophobic and I've been assured that 5 mg of valium will get me through being stuck in a constrictive tube for 30 minutes without losing my mind. To those of you who've been there - will it help? Do I have a reason to be scared?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Don't focus on being in the tube... think of being somewhere else

Good luck and I hope that all is well!

*hugs and prayers*

[Avalux]

9. thanks -

I'll try to do that! :hi:

[trotsky]

2. I haven't had one, but my mom did.

Her advice: keep your eyes shut the entire time, and just listen to the music.

[ArkDem]

4. Hard to listen to music with earplugs. The hammering

sound is very LOUD. I've had 6 MRI's and I am claustrophobic. They give me xanac and I just try to think of something else. It's not too bad.

[auntAgonist]

3. best wishes!!

I hope you do alright. You can always ask for more meds.

[Avalux]

16. thank you -

I just hope the valium takes care of my obviously unfounded fears. We'll see. :hi:

[brainshrub]

5. Be thankful that you have access to heath-care.

Many Americans die when an MRI and access to basic care would have saved their lives.

[warrens]

6. It's not that bad, I've had two of them

Just relax and doze. That worked for me.

[Wickerman]

7. You should be ok

and that valium should take care of you. Me? I'd ask for 10, maybe 20 just to be safe - but, that's just me. :hippie: Just concentrate on the end result - you'll find out for sure what is causing your discomfort.

When you get back I'll tell you a story about my middle sister and the MRI, it'll be funny then.

good luck.

:hi:

[Avalux]

12. Thanks -

can't wait to hear the story. :hi:

[Debbi801]

8. Is there any place you can get an accessible MRI?

They look like this: http://www.jhbmc.jhu.edu/Imaging/openmri1.html
instead of the tube.

I've had an MRI and did not enjoy it. I did not take valium, though. So, I cannot tell you if that would help.

What is the MRI for? If it is for a lower extremity, you can ask that they put you in feet first and leave your head out. That might help, too.

Good luck!
Debbi

[Avalux]

11. I was told the closed MRI is more accurate than the open one -

it's for a car accident injury; I've got some nerve damage going on in my neck, so my head has to be in it. :hi:

[Lerkfish]

19. oh, piece of cake, then...it should not take long.

the neck is a very short part of your body.

the one I had in the closed MRI was of my entire torso for cancer...that takes quite a bit longer.

[MindPilot]

10. no, just lie there, close your eyes and go someplace else

I've had several and they are not bad; but I've never taken valium before either. The worst part is the noise. No actually the worst part is that as soon as you are strapped in some part you can't reach will itch.

It's not much worse than a long flight in coach.

[Avalux]

20. I am worried about the itchy thing -

hopefully the valium will keep that from happening. Thanks.

[Gato Moteado]

13. i've had 2 or 3 of them and i'm a little claustrophobic

i just closed my eyes and tried to relax the whole time. just do the same and you'll be fine.

[4morewars]

14. I did it twice

without the valium. I nearly freaked out both times, the thing that stopped me was the thought of starting over. The second one really sucked, because the operator thought lying about the time remaining was a good thing. It was not, plus the air conditioning was not working and it was hot and sweaty. If I ever have to go through it again, I will try for the open machine, or the valium. Closing my eyes really helped. The machine makes some noise, but that was not a big deal.

[Avalux]

18. He lied about the time?

I don't think that would be a good thing. I will definitely close my eyes and try to think of something else! Sorry your 2nd experience was so awful. :hug:

[4morewars]

31. I've been in worse positions !

LOL, but thanks anyway ! :hi:
Yes, lying about the remaining time definitely made it more stressful, and I had to ged an injection (some type of dye) about halfway through. But, almost anything the dentist does is worse for me ! I get through that section of hell by going to my "happy place" usually a clearing in a nice cool forest with a stream and waterfalls, which I want you to feel free to visit as needed !

[tmooses]

15. I had an full MRI recently and it turned out not as bad as I thought.

I,too, get claustrophobic but was able to get through it with a helpful and caring staff and a little mind control. They told me to let them know if I was getting a bit squirrely and they would stop immediately.
I had headphones and a cd playing and kinda forced myself to concentrate on the music and NOT open my eyes. I hope you have the cd option-I think it helps, especially if it's one you can relax with. Good luck and hope everything turns out okay.

[Lerkfish]

17. been there many times... both open and closed MRI.

many places now have an open MRI device, which is less claustrophic.

I am also a bit claustrophic myself, but you can get through it. Even if its a closed MRI, all you really look at is a blank piece of the machine. I just closed my eyes and replayed a favorite movie or thought about a project I needed to work on, etc. In other words, just thought about something else.

oddly enough, the tight confines did not bother me as much as the "breathe" "don't breathe" routine.

good luck! if its open, its really no big deal, and if its closed, it'll be over soon.

[Avalux]

21. Thanks Lerkfish -

I read your above post too - I hope all turned out OK with your health problem. Your advice is appreciated! Take care.

[Lerkfish]

33. oh, yeah old news...

that MRI for cancer was in 1985. I'm a cancer survivor, had testicular cancer, removed one testical and then removed 24 lymph nodes in my abdomen (hence the MRI).

Have not had a reoccurence. But thanks for asking, I'm just fine.

coincidentally, my next to last MRI was for neck surgery: I had to have 3 vertebra fused, and my last MRI was for an auto accident -- rotator cuff injury and broken collarbone.

but enough about me...meh!

good luck on your test. Before you know it it'll be over.

[Burma Jones]

22. Make sure you look around the room for Oxygen Tanks

or other metal objects. They can be drawn in by the magnetic force and kill you.

But don't worry, just look around.

[Avalux]

25. Hey!

That's not very nice! :rofl:

[Burma Jones]

36. Sorry

I hope it went well - I've had two, they were fine

[GOPBasher]

23. I've had one and it wasn't bad at all for me.

I'm not terribly claustrophobic, though. But still, it's comfy and you get to listen to music or watch TV. I hope it goes well for you. :-)

[Madrone]

24. ESPECIALLY keep your eyes closed when they are

pushing you in. I don't have major claustrophobic issues - so I was okay - but even without those issues I had a split second of "panic" when being pushed in the tube with my eyes open. One second, ceiling - next second - something one inch from the tip of my nose (or it at least seemed that close) - whew! Freaky!

Once in, I had a little mirror right above my face that allowed me to see down and out the end of the tube - I could see my feet and the people behind a little window in the room. That helped - I just focused on watching stuff in the mirror.

[Avalux]

28. Good point -

I will remember to close my eyes while being pushed in. Makes sense! :hi:

[Lars39]

26. Yes, the Valium will help!

With my first MRI I didn't have anything! :scared:
I've had MRIs that have taken 3 hours, with only xanax in my system
The last MRI I had was an hour,but they gave me Valium.
The Valium relaxed me so much that I actually opened my eyes while in there.
Valium's good. :) You'll do fine! :hug:

Make sure that they know you are *very* claustrophobic.
Also make sure that they properly cover your ears; MRIs are very noisy.
I also wear socks, 'cause it's cold in there.

Think of something now to visualize later that will help keep you calm.
Mine was fluffy kittens. ET Awful's Quinn helped enormously! :)

[Avalux]

29. Oh no - forgot socks -

it's 95 here today so I'm wearing sandals. Oh well. Good to know the valium will help. Fluffy kittens...awww! :hi:

[Steve Nash is god 13]

27. is it a "open" or the old fashioned? I had an open. my knee took 40 mins

GOOD LUCK!!!!! :hi::hi::hi:

[Avalux]

30. Old-fashioned - neurologist I know said it's more accurate

Otherwise, I would have chosen the open. Sorry about the Steve and the Suns - good series with the Spurs (I'm in SA). I am worried about Detroit. :scared:

[Strawman]

32. No, and I'm a total wuss, so I would tell you

it's not enclosed. just keep your eyes closed. air circulates through the tube and your feet will stick out the end so it's not so bad. You get a shot that raises your body temp for a half minute or so. Don't freak when that happens. Just ride it out.

I've had an MRI and a cat scan. What I tend to do is think of five or six of my favorite songs in my head. Concentrate on them and when those songs are done it will be over.

[Avalux]

34. THANK YOU EVERYONE - here I go!

I'll let you know how I did when I get back. :grouphug:

[Southsideirish]

35. Wear earplugs!!!

[liontamer]

37. I do them all the time

close your eyes as you're being slid in, if you don't need to do anything keep them closed the whole time.

You'll feel much better.