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Fear of MRI
Hello - I am a 26-year-old female and I recently saw my primary physician because I've had spells of numbness and tingling in my left arm and left leg. She suggsted I have lab work done and go for an MRI because it sounded like it could be MS. My lab work came back fine. I went to have the MRI and was prescribed Valium 10 mg. because of being nervous and claustrophobic. Well, the Valium didn't work, and when I found out I had to be in the tube for at least 45 minutes and almost all of the way in, I panicked and couldn't do it. Plus the stuff that they strapped around my head and face bothered me. I don't know what to do. I have a neurology appointment at the end of the month, but I'm afraid he will say my only option is to have the MRI and I just can't do it unless they were to knock me out. Any other ways this can be dealt with?
I had an MRI yesterday. Thankfully I had not read any of this before the MRI or I would of cancelled. I am afraid of closed places. I didn't know for sure what to expect. When I got there and saw the tube I was very anxious. My first time in, I had my eyes open and freaked out...she pulled me out and started calming me down. She talked and described everything to me, she gave me a wash cloth for my eyes, she promised she would be close by and she would talk to me, letting me know how much longer each scan would take.
I suggest that you be really relaxed, think happy thoughts, do not open your eyes at all, tell your tech. to talk you through it...3 more minutes, 2 more minutes...for each scan. Well I did it, I made it through 45 minutes in the tube. I was so proud of myself when it was over...Good Luck everyone...remember trust God too. I actually counted seconds and pretended I was laying on a beach. Dont open your eyes not for a single second. Close them before they slide you in. Do not open again until you are out. Good Luck
I suggest that you be really relaxed, think happy thoughts, do not open your eyes at all, tell your tech. to talk you through it...3 more minutes, 2 more minutes...for each scan. Well I did it, I made it through 45 minutes in the tube. I was so proud of myself when it was over...Good Luck everyone...remember trust God too. I actually counted seconds and pretended I was laying on a beach. Dont open your eyes not for a single second. Close them before they slide you in. Do not open again until you are out. Good Luck
I had an MRI yesterday. Thankfully I had not read any of this before the MRI or I would of cancelled. I am afraid of closed places. I didn't know for sure what to expect. When I got there and saw the tube I was very anxious. My first time in, I had my eyes open and freaked out...she pulled me out and started calming me down. She talked and described everything to me, she gave me a wash cloth for my eyes, she promised she would be close by and she would talk to me, letting me know how much longer each scan would take.
I suggest that you be really relaxed, think happy thoughts, do not open your eyes at all, tell your tech. to talk you through it...3 more minutes, 2 more minutes...for each scan. Well I did it, I made it through 45 minutes in the tube. I was so proud of myself when it was over...Good Luck everyone...remember trust God too. I actually counted seconds and pretended I was laying on a beach. Dont open your eyes not for a single second. Close them before they slide you in. Do not open again until you are out. Good Luck
I suggest that you be really relaxed, think happy thoughts, do not open your eyes at all, tell your tech. to talk you through it...3 more minutes, 2 more minutes...for each scan. Well I did it, I made it through 45 minutes in the tube. I was so proud of myself when it was over...Good Luck everyone...remember trust God too. I actually counted seconds and pretended I was laying on a beach. Dont open your eyes not for a single second. Close them before they slide you in. Do not open again until you are out. Good Luck
i just got diagnosed with breast cancer, i recently went through an MRI and now they found more issues wrong in my breast. the first was enough, only because i thought that the doc would find the problem and surgery it, now that theres more i don't think i can handle another MRI. I too, my body got really hot and my heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my body, until i pysched myself out and meditated, i told my husband i would prefer them to cut onside off rather then going through that again.hopefully not but i don't think i can handle another one first impressions. true i guess i have a fear problem in tight places, i guess because the length of time i was in there which were about 40 min. thanks for the sharing, perhaps it will take a miracle.
I , too, struggle with MRI fear. I've had 3 so far. My most recent one was today. I had dreaded it for about three weeks ! I also have a fear of new medications/medication in general so my main panic was about the contrast they were going to give me (fear of allergic reaction or side effects). My procedure today was VERY lengthy, 1 hour and 30 minutes. Brain, neck, MRA, MRV. At first when they put me in I got really nauseous from fear and I was breathing really fast. I have a fear of being stuck or left alone and unable to get out,too.
Here is what helped me more than anything...
1. If you are religious, pray. Pray that God will go into the "lions den" with you and make that big lion purr like a little kitten. Remember He never leaves you! I tried imagining God looking down on me and watching over me. Kept saying "God is in the Lions den with me,and the Lions cannot hurt me!". (Daniel and the Lions den from the Bible).
2. Make sure the techs give you a mirror so that you can see out of the tube. I could see the countdown clock for each set of images they were doing. I HAVE to keep my eyes open. It's just me.
3. Ask the techs to maintain communication with you before each set of images, after, and tell you how long each set will take. This was VERY comforting and I could literally watch the timer count down each and every test.
4. Ask for a panic button. I had mine, and it never left the grip of my hand.
5. Take a loved one with you and make sure they can be in the room and holding your leg or hand.
6. Ask about the medications they will be giving you (dye,etc) ask what the procedure is in case of an allergic reaction. I did !!! I made SURE they would be able to treat me if I had a reaction.
7. Play mental games with yourself. What was the happiest day of my life............the funniest moment in my life........my favorite vacation.......the best movie I've ever seen........what are some great jokes .......count backwards from 100 to 1.........sing 99 bottles of beer on the wall.....how many nursery rhymes can I remember from my childhood.........where do I want to go eat when I get out of here.............etc.
8. Deep breathing techniques. In through nose , out through mouth.
9. Pillows under knees, blankets.
10. Sounds stupid, but make up stuff about the knocks, bangs, and buzzing sounds you hear. Hmmm that sounds like a hammer hitting a block of wood, oooo that one sounds like a bull frog, that one sounds like a jack hammer busting concrete, count the buzzes and knocks, make up a rhyme to them. At one point I was thinking/chanting "I hate this thing" over and over to the buzzes. Ha!
Here is what helped me more than anything...
1. If you are religious, pray. Pray that God will go into the "lions den" with you and make that big lion purr like a little kitten. Remember He never leaves you! I tried imagining God looking down on me and watching over me. Kept saying "God is in the Lions den with me,and the Lions cannot hurt me!". (Daniel and the Lions den from the Bible).
2. Make sure the techs give you a mirror so that you can see out of the tube. I could see the countdown clock for each set of images they were doing. I HAVE to keep my eyes open. It's just me.
3. Ask the techs to maintain communication with you before each set of images, after, and tell you how long each set will take. This was VERY comforting and I could literally watch the timer count down each and every test.
4. Ask for a panic button. I had mine, and it never left the grip of my hand.
5. Take a loved one with you and make sure they can be in the room and holding your leg or hand.
6. Ask about the medications they will be giving you (dye,etc) ask what the procedure is in case of an allergic reaction. I did !!! I made SURE they would be able to treat me if I had a reaction.
7. Play mental games with yourself. What was the happiest day of my life............the funniest moment in my life........my favorite vacation.......the best movie I've ever seen........what are some great jokes .......count backwards from 100 to 1.........sing 99 bottles of beer on the wall.....how many nursery rhymes can I remember from my childhood.........where do I want to go eat when I get out of here.............etc.
8. Deep breathing techniques. In through nose , out through mouth.
9. Pillows under knees, blankets.
10. Sounds stupid, but make up stuff about the knocks, bangs, and buzzing sounds you hear. Hmmm that sounds like a hammer hitting a block of wood, oooo that one sounds like a bull frog, that one sounds like a jack hammer busting concrete, count the buzzes and knocks, make up a rhyme to them. At one point I was thinking/chanting "I hate this thing" over and over to the buzzes. Ha!
I freaked out after going into the tube, before the test even started. We tried it again with a washcloth over my eyes, but I had another anxiety attack. I have never felt claustrophobic before. It was embarrassing, although they told me it happens to a lot of people.
So, they rescheduled me to get the test done with sedation. I had to bring my husband to drive me home. I was absolutely terrified the medicine wouldn't work (they gave me 2 mg of Xanax). But, I waited about 40 minutes after taking the pills and from then on it was so much better. Here are my suggestions:
1. Take the drugs! Bring someone to drive you home.
2. Do not under any circumstances open your eyes once you lie down. It is easy to keep them closed when you're drugged.
3. Ask if your spouse or friend can come into the room with you. I kept my arms above my head, which was one of the choices offered. My husband held my hand the whole time. I tapped out the rhythm of the noises as it went along, until finally, I just relaxed to the point of almost sleeping.
4. There is a slight breeze that blows over you the whole time. I just visualized myself laying on the beach at night looking up at the dark sky (eyes still closed) with the breeze on my face.
5. I had a pelvic MRI, so I was able to move my head, meaning when one ear had enough of the noise, I just rolled my head to the other side.
6. Ask if you can put a pillow behind your knees. It is very comfortable that way.
Seriously, with God's grace, some Xanax, and my hubby there to comfort me, it was so much better.
Take care...
So, they rescheduled me to get the test done with sedation. I had to bring my husband to drive me home. I was absolutely terrified the medicine wouldn't work (they gave me 2 mg of Xanax). But, I waited about 40 minutes after taking the pills and from then on it was so much better. Here are my suggestions:
1. Take the drugs! Bring someone to drive you home.
2. Do not under any circumstances open your eyes once you lie down. It is easy to keep them closed when you're drugged.
3. Ask if your spouse or friend can come into the room with you. I kept my arms above my head, which was one of the choices offered. My husband held my hand the whole time. I tapped out the rhythm of the noises as it went along, until finally, I just relaxed to the point of almost sleeping.
4. There is a slight breeze that blows over you the whole time. I just visualized myself laying on the beach at night looking up at the dark sky (eyes still closed) with the breeze on my face.
5. I had a pelvic MRI, so I was able to move my head, meaning when one ear had enough of the noise, I just rolled my head to the other side.
6. Ask if you can put a pillow behind your knees. It is very comfortable that way.
Seriously, with God's grace, some Xanax, and my hubby there to comfort me, it was so much better.
Take care...
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