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Posted 1/1/2009 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had an MRI? I have to go for my very first one in March.  I am claustorphobic (or however you spell it) but its not too bad, like I can go in elevators and stuff.  I have never been to an MRI and I get mixed messages. I have been told I will have to stay really still. I think that will not be to big of a problem as my appt is almost 2AM and I will be REALLY tired/ and may even fall asleep.  I think its an MRI of my whole spine and think that I will have to be fully entered into the machine. Was just wondering if anyone could tell me about your experiences so I will kinda know what to expect.  I find if I dont know about stuff it scares me more, than if I know what to expect.

Thanks for your help. :-)

Posted 1/2/2009 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have had multiple MRIs. Lumbar spine x2, pelvis x3, knees, and brain. I am somewhat claustraphobic and have only felt slight apprehension during the brain MRI. The others are a piece of cake. If they are doing your cervical spine, then you might have more of your head in the tube than during the thoracic and lumbar spine portions. There is several inches of clearance between your face and the overhead portion of the tube. They will have you wear headphones and play the radio or CDs to reduce the noise from the machine. The MRI machine is very loud during parts. They will have you lie very still but will have you supported so you are comfortable. They might strap or tape your feet together if doing a pelvis MRI because they want the hips at a certain angle.
Hope that helps.
Posted 1/2/2009 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Also, if you feel that you are going to need help - don't hesitate to ask your doc for a mild relaxer such as valium to help calm your nerves. Of course though you can't drive after taking one of them so you would need a ride home. I've had 2 MRI's myself - lower back, upper back/neck and brain. The one they do for the head left me a bit frazzled at first but after I found a focus point, down at the end of the tube where I could see the tech I felt much better. I took my mind off the proximity of the tube by listening to the thumps and bumps of the machine and created my own music. I didn't get music for mine but they did give me earplugs.
Posted 1/2/2009 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Ides and Red-34 for your responses. I hope my MRI goes as well as yours did. I am glad to hear that the top of the tube is not too close to your face. I can handle noisy, just didnt know how cramped and closed in it would feel.
Have a great day. and Thanx again.
Posted 1/2/2009 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
I've also had several MRI's - hips, shoulders, c-spine. There's no discomfort whatsoever, and I actually find the noise of the machine distracts me from my brain trying to freak out. I always premedicate with Xanax, though, as I'm very claustrophobic about anything close to my face.
Posted 1/2/2009 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Judilyn for your reply. I am just nervous. My mom has had one done but she is severely claustrophobic also. I think I am not as claustrophobic as her, well at least I hope not, lol.
Posted 1/3/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
One thing that's reassuring to me is that when I got too anxious once, I said "I need out" and the tech immediately rolled me out and let me regain my composure before continuing. So you can take a break if you really need one.
Posted 1/3/2009 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Now that is really good to know too! I was thinking of just going and seeing if I can do it without any meds to "keep me calm"....knowing that if I need out they will let me out for a minute is really reassuring. Thanks again!! :)
Posted 1/3/2009 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
I personally don't have a problem feeling claustrophic in there, but I can understand how some people do. It's a very tight space. And Yes, you do have stay very still! If you move, it blurs the images and they have to do it over again, which means even more time inside the machine. I cannot stand to have them done anymore. I've had several done, but each time I was in a lot of pain. Usually  my problem caused me not to be able to be straight, like I couldn't stand straight nor lay down flat. And of course, I had to be flat inside the MRI (except they put a little pillow under knees one time). That was the most horrendous thing for me. I was already in severe pain and laying in there made it even worse. I tried mind over matter, but it just wouldn't work. I usually ended up moving around b/c of the pain and having to do images over. Usually it would take me 1 1/2 to 2 hours, ughhhh. Then another time, I had severe sciatica and spasms, and I also developed bladder problems. I was going to the bathroom, though just a few dribbles, literally every 15-20 minutes. So that time, I had to stop the MRI and use the bathroom a few times. Needless to say, the MRI technician was quite mad at me and let me know it. What a jerk. I was never offered any kind of sedatives, though with any of my MRI's. I really, really never want another MRI again.

Posted 1/4/2009 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Oh wow, your experience with MRI's do not make it sound all that easy. Thanks for sharing your story,I hope mine goes a little better. I sleep on my back sometimes, and if I am not there tooo too long I shouldnt get too sore and stiff. I hope I get a better technician, as I am not too good at biting my tongue when I'm sore....
Take care and thanks again Baybreeze. I hope you get your wish of NO more MRIs.
Posted 1/9/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
wow some scary stories with having MRI's first off baybreeze i hope you reported that MRI tech. If you was not having health issue you would not have been there... and they had no right to treat you like that.
TayIsa i have had 2 MRI do you know if they are doing it in a open or close. You need to find out if they have an open one get it done that way they are not so claustrophobic and a lot less nosier. The first time i had one it was in a closed one i am claustrophobic they got me in as far as my nose and i could not breath they had to give me medication to relax me enough to get me in there this last one i had done back in Nov was great open and just had this big thing over my face but at least i could breath and look at the wall. I can say i fell asleep but i was able to listen to the music they had on and tune out everything else and went in to that day sleep stage. Hope your experience is much better then baybreeze good luck!

hla b27 pos
:-)
Posted 1/9/2009 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
hlab27pos thanks for the reply.  I do not really know if it is an open or closed MRI machine.  Guess I will find out when I get there. I am starting to get a little nervous....but also getting more knowledgeable about MRI's is helping .

 

Posted 1/9/2009 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, no, I didn't even think of reporting that MRI tech. At the time, I just wanted OUT of there.

Posted 2/6/2009 10:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hi!

Just want to say that I didn't even know that I had a problem with small spaces until my first MRI. I think it might have felt worse for me cause I'm a kinda big girl (5'8", 190lbs) so I probably felt even more closed in if you know what I mean.  I panicked BIG time and they had to get me out. But they rescheduled with a sedative and I asked for a wash cloth to cover my eyes.  I've had several since and as long as they let me put something over my eyes I'm o.k.   The thing with the first one was even though I kept telling myself not to open my eyes, they popped open anyway and the closeness of the machine to my face made me feel like I couldn't breathe.  Good luck with yours and I hope it all turns out well :-)

Posted 2/7/2009 12:38 AM (GMT 0)

HI,

You can ask to see if there is an open MRI in the area. I also suffer from fear of small places.  I found that they can give you a small does of valium and that will do the trick.

Posted 2/7/2009 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thank-you Fireandice93 and No-opana for your replies....

Actually a Big Thanks to all who have answered my post.  I think I should ( or at least I hope) I will be fine at the MRI.  But I will definitely remember all the great ideas you all have gave me.  I never thought of a cloth to keep my eyes closed...

It would definitely not be great if I panicked and needed to reschedule as here it is hard to get into an MRI appointment.  I have waited for 3 months to get in...and my appointment is 1:45 AM....yes after midnight! Isnt that crazy?..but Ill go at that time and deal with the wierd lateness of it... because I do not want to wait anylonger if I do not have to.  Maybe I will get lucky and fall asleep during the tests....and wont have to feel awkward about the enclosed space anyway>>>?? lol

You are all soo helpful and it is nice to have people who have had experiences tell theirs to help ease the anxiety of going myself.

Thanks again. :-)

Posted 2/7/2009 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hey if you fall asleep, just be careful you don't twitch and snore! smilewinkgrin
Posted 2/7/2009 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
LOL that would bee tooo funny if I started snoring! I would be sooo embarrased. tongue I dont know if I twitch.....hmmm good points though.
Posted 2/15/2009 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Bear, thankyou soo much for your post.  I was going to tell them I didnt want music anyway I think...especially if all they were going to offer was Classical.  People say that classical is supposed to be soothing, but it works oppositely on me. I get very tense and stressed listening to it.....So hopefully I dont mind the noises of the machine too.

Have a great weekend too. Happy Family Day. ( I live in Ontario Canada and Monday has been declared Family Day, a legal holiday.)

Posted 3/5/2009 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I just wanted to say that I went for my MRI.  It wasn't so bad.  I was glad that I asked you all what to expect though.  I was nervous, but because I had some knowledge as to what was going to happen it went smoother than it could have.  I put the headphones on and they just had a local radio station on.  The MRI machine sure is loud isnt it?  I just tried to focus on the music that was on faintly in the headphones....time seemed to stand still.  When I got into waiting room I had to ask my hubby how long I really was in there for...only ONE hour!

Now we are just waiting on results...my rhuematologist appointment isnt till the end of April so I guess I have a long wait. 

Thanks again for all your support. Hope all of you have a great weekend. ((gentle hugs)) TayIsa

Posted 3/5/2009 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
I've had 2 MRI & no problem.I don't like close spaces but I made it..........just shut your eyes & listen to the music......
Posted 3/6/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you had no troubles with your MRI. Yeah, it really isn't so bad. I found that after my MRI's that I was sort of stiff though from laying down flat for so long. Did you get stiff at all?
Posted 3/6/2009 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I sure did get stiff.  My fault though I think.  When they moved the machine so I was inside it, I tensed up...and instead of relaxing right away so I would be comfortable and be able to stay still....(stupid me) stayed in that wierd tensed up position for the entire scan as I didnt want to move and have to stay in there any longer than needed.  I didnt want them yelling at me saying they told me not to move and that they would have to start again. LOL....so...i stayed tensed upfor the hour...

A learning experience for next time (even though I hope there will NOT be a next time).

tongue  

Posted 3/6/2009 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
I know what you're talking about! When I had my second scan for my neck, I was sort of tensed up and half way thru I ended up letting my muscles go. Yep, it messed up the scan of my thoracic - but ah well!
Posted 3/25/2009 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Well I have not been called and told that I need to re-shedule for a "DO-OVER" MRI, so hopefully that means they will be able to tell me something at my appointment in April.
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