is there a way out for me???

I try to hide the fact I'm claustrofobic....but hide that in a MRI, nutuh. I had a mri friday...well attempted an MRI. I freaked and went straight in a claustrofobic attack, then an anxiety attack which unfortunally triggered my asthma. The worst part was I took 4 1mg Adavent pills! They want me to do the MRI cuz of my tumor. Help me please! What else can I do? How can I unfreak myself? Needless to say the MRI was useless. I told them to either kill me or hit me in the head with a frying pan to get it done....they wouldnt do either sigh... Any ideas for my re attempt of a 3rd shot?

Have you tried a "open MRI" machine. This has a picture of what it looks like.

http://www.health.com/health/library/mdp/0,,zm6244,00.html

p.s. This is my first post on this forum. Please give me a heads up if I don't follow proper forum protacol.

Edit:  I turned your web address into a link. :)
Kitt

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 3/22/2009 8:19:00 AM (GMT-6)

Welcome, Jay in Texas! Glad you finally posted something!

Smurfy, use biofeedback when in the MRI machine and the time leading up to it. Positive self talk will help tremendously. Remind yourself that the machine is not going to hurt you. That as soon as the test is over, you will be released. Also, a sedative sounds like a good idea! I would look into that...good luck!

Hi Smurfy,

I am extremely claustrophobic and have used open MRIs. It's so much more comfortable than the regular type. I have also had MRI technicians
hold my leg (** when there are more than two technicians) throughout the open MRI scan in order to reduce my fear. Also, I always wear earplugs during the scan because the knocking sound scares me. Good luck.

The pictures that are produced by an open MRI aren't as good as the ones they can get with a closed MRI. That's what they told me when I had to get one last year. Sedation sounds like a good idea and I bet it's more common then you'd think. I always tell the techs/nurses that I get really panicky when I am closed in and they are never suprised. I've been able to get through it without meds because they will help me to calm down and talk me through it. I'm assuming that you've already done that?

Yea when I tried my MRI they gave me adavent (sp). I took 4 of them, on the nurses recommendation. I swear it controlled all the areas, they had me in a wheelchair, cuz I was sleepy. I tried to get up to use the restroom well I was lucky the nurse had fast reflexes from across the room and caught me as I fell. Unfortunally, despite all the pills in me I still had an attack and was trying to get out of there, but I couldnt walk LOL. They decided to cancel the MRI and go ahead and do the radiation without the MRI. I start radiation today, keep me in prayer (Im scared!)

This sounds like a really necessary MRI. Do you have an easier time in closed spaces if you know you have an out? Like would it make a difference in your fear if you were in a locked closet versus an unlocked closet? If it does remember that you are in charge in the MRI and there is a button you can hit to get out of that machine if you need to. So knowing you have an out could you keep telling yourself, ok, I am going to sit here 3 more minutes, and then count.... then at the 3 minute mark go for another 3, etc. What if you wore a diaper too so that if you felt panicky like you had to go to the bathroom you could just go. Could you wear headphones and listen to music at all? It sounds miserable and I know they cancelled it but I worry that considering you have a tumor you will have to have one at some point.

Maybe you would also feel better w/ less sedation so you would feel more in control? Like you could physically get out if you needed to.