taking a closed MRI and needing to be calm

[bean54]

I am extremely claustrophobic and am scheduled for a closed MRI this Thursday.  I was told I would be in the MRI up to my waist.  I was thinking of taking 1 mg. of Ativan but that makes me sleep for 6 hours!  I have tried 1/2 mg of Ativan and at times that barely makes me relaxed.  I had radiation treatments and my head was bolted down to the table - with that I couldn't breath through my mouth because the mask they made me wear was extremely tight.  

I try to think that the MRI will be looser than my radiation treatments but right now I am getting anxiety really bad.

Any suggestions on how to take this MRI and still be able to go home awake?  

[bean54]

I am now not anxious about getting MRIs.  I don't even have to take Ativan because MRIs are so much more easier to do than taking radiation treatments where the head is strapped down to the table.  

I have to wait and have another MRI done on Feb. 15 because the one I just had was inconclusive.  So I am praying that I right now have swelling in my brain and no further tumor growths.  Please pray for me.  Thank you.

[nursegirl6572]

Hy there!!!  I'm a little late to the party, but I wanted to chime in, and wish you luck on your next MRI and the results.  Did the MRI go okay anxiety wise?  Did the Ativan help?

You and I are neighbors!  I'm right down the street from you, in Washington!  I actually know your area fairly well, my hubby is out that way a lot (one of his employees/friends lives right off the New Stanton exit of 70), and the contractor we work for is right in West Newton (I'm sure in that small town, we probably know a lot of the same people!!).  Such a small world, huh?!  My Mom and Dad live in Export, so we'll be passing you by tomorrow, as we're going to visit them...we go right up 70 to 66.

Hope all goes well for you and I hope you get some good news hon!  Write anytime you need something, okay??  Prayers coming your way!

[bean54]

Hi.  I did get my MRI on Thursday, Jan. 17.  Then the next day I went to see my oncologist and surgeon.  I have to get another MRI down at their hospital on Feb. 15th.  They told me that right after you get your radiation treatments (which I had 33 of them) - your brain always swells.  When they looked at my MRI they can't tell if a small piece of the tumor has grown or if my brain is swollen.  They told me the MRI I got from the other hospital is not as good as the one that Shadyside's hospital gets.  
So I have a little less than a month and have to have it done again.  And since I like the MRIs, I won't need any Ativan to calm me down.  I'm just praying that my brain did swell...the doctors said about 40% of the patients brains do swell - so we will see what happens.  If the tumor did grown a little, the doctor wants to do the surgery immediately.  He said I would have to be in the hospital for 3 days and then I would only have to take the chemo.  But I really think my brain is swollen because it seems that with each passing day my memory seems to be getting a little better.  And I've only been off of my radiation/chemo since Jan. 2nd.  Thanks.

[cj29]

Did you have your MRI?  How did it go?  

[bean54]

Thanks for your advice.  I do notice that if I eat a lot of sugar that really messes up my thinking ... so I'm trying to stay away from sugar.  It's been 2 weeks since my last chemo/radiation treatment and I hate the way I feel right now.  I am going to look into the probiotics you mentioned.  Thanks!

[Paxiled]

If you've completed your radiation and chemo, I'd suggest going to a good health food store and buying a good probiotic from the refrigerated section of the store.  These have likely been killed off, along with much else from the treatments, and now is the time to rebuild.  Another supplement you might consider is a traditional Chinese formula called Fu Zheng, which is very good for rebuilding the adrenals and strength after chemo and radiation.  Your anxiety is undoubtedly from this trauma, and as such therapy and relaxation techniques are better than medication to deal with it -- you know what caused it, while most of us on here don't.  You can work on it, and you will heal over time.  But the treatments are very destructive to the immune system and the liver, so while they may battle the cancer as it's currently manifested it's done nothing to address the immune system deficiency that made you susceptible to it in the first place; instead, it's weakened it.  That can also make you anxious.  Probiotics, for example, are responsible for producing some of our B vitamins, which are what produces the brain chemicals that relax us and deal with stress.  The adrenals, the same.  The liver has been put under stress, and it is responsible for digesting fat soluble nutrients that help us relax, balance our hormones, and protect our hearts.  So you have rebuilding to do, to de-stress from both the emotional stress and the physiological downsides of your treatment.  You might want to see a naturopath or holistic nutritionist to get a good regimen for rebuilding your system now that you're treatment is completed.  Good luck.

[bean54]

I am actually getting my MRI at the hospital - tomorrow!  They did tell me that I will be in the MRI machine up to my waist which means my legs will be hanging out.  
I did compare this to my radiation treatments and really I think the MRI is nicer.  With my radiation treatments, I had a mask on my face and then they hooked it down to the table - so that was very right and could not exhale through my mouth at all.
I do plan on taking at least 1/2 mg of Ativan for my 1st MRI - then when I get my next ones, I probably won't take any.  Thanks!

[bean54]

I do plan on closing my eyes IMMEDIATELY before they even send me into the MRI.  They said it will take about 25 minutes but will be talking to me throughout the MRI.  Also they said they will give me a little horn in case I need help.  Thanks for your advise.

[bean54]

Thank you for your comments.  I was allowed to take a look at the MRI machine and the only thing that kind of bothers me is that the face tool that goes over your head only gives you 4 inches.  So I think I am going to take at least 1/2 mg of Ativan just to calm me down (since this is my first MRI that I am awake for).
I had 2 MRIs in the hospital - one before my surgery and one after - and I was asleep for both of them.  Since I have finished with my chemo/radiation treatments, it seems like I have some anxiety.  I think because before I started these treatments I didn't have any anxiety.  But as my treatments advanced (had 33 all together) I started experiencing anxiety.  So I think as I heal from all these treatments, my anxiety is being felt.  
Can you advice as to how I can confront my anxiety problems?  And my sister is taking me tomorrow for my MRI.  Thanks!

[Paxiled]

I don't think most of us get to choose our machine, unfortunately -- and with insurance it's often a lot cheaper to get an MRI at a center, not at a hospital, which will often charge an extra and steep admission fee.  I certainly have never had a choice, but that's good to know for the next time.  As with cj, for me the problem was more the noise, but that's actually quieter inside than when you're outside the machine.  And the machine isn't really closed, it's open at both ends, like being in an open tube.  I think the anticipation is worse for us than the actual experience, which isn't really that bad.  If you need the Ativan, take it and have someone go with you to drive you home if you're that tired, but you might find yourself sleeping in the darned thing anyway, I did once, and so you might end up rested.

[caregiver222]

The first thing is to request what is called a "3T" MRI (3 is a Tesla unit). These are the latest MRI machines. You will probably be scheduled for a 1T machine. The difference is the time in a 3T machine may be as little as a tenth the time necessary in a 1T machine. It is far quicker. The hospitals keep this a big secret because everyone would want a 3T and they want to amortize the expense of the older machines. Secondly, close your eyes BEFORE the machine slides you into the tube and DON'T open them until the tray slides out again..

[cj29]

The good thing is they don't bolt you down for an MRI.  I have had a couple of them and the most annoying thing to me is the sound of the magnets, but what is great with an MRI is that there is ZERO pain involved.  For me, that was a big plus when I went to go get them. Also, remember, that MRIs can tell your doctors many things and the benefits of the test far outweigh any risks...the only thing the tech said was to ensure that I did not have any metal on our in my body.  So, for me, the fact that it is a painless diagnostic tool helped me tremendously when I had an MRI.

Have you had success in the past with confronting your anxiety with certain breathing techniques?  Also, there may be a sedative that they can give you that won't have lasting side effects after your test.  Are you going with someone?