Question about enduring an MRI.

[Flyingcursor]

In fact, there is some truth to the idea that mental health workers have somewhat higher incidences of psychological illnesses of various kinds. Really shouldn't be a surprise, but a lot of people take a kind of perverse, ironic pleasure in it.


Dale

I've done that but now there's no pleasure in it for me. I've been at the receiving end of that syndrome. It's all too true. Watch the French film "King of Hearts" sometime.

Never had an MRI but probably will some day and my best wishes to both of you.

[greenspiderweb]

Hi folks,
I had the tube MRI for a rotator cuff injury, a while back and never had a problem with claustrophobia. They asked me what kind of music I liked, and gave me a set of headphones, I closed my eyes, and I listened to classical music through it all. I was glad for the music though, and wished the banging would stop from the machine, because it was interfering with the music!
I can't say I wasn't sad when the test was over, but I was a little sleepy(I used to get up really early to deliver milk). So, go in sleepy and ask about the music, before you go-maybe you can bring your own now.

[Tony]

I've only been through one MRI session (2 images) and the 'machine' was in a trailer outside the medical center. It seems things on wheels are exempt from certain government regulations. Bored from the noisy jack-hammer like process they had to wake me when it was over.

[MarkB]

sbruyette said

I had laser surgery for Acute Closed Angle Glaucoma a couple of years ago. It was caught before I had any symptons at all. I was very lucky. But my Doctor did say that it could cause very serious head pain. She said if I did get one and went to the emergency room that they wouldn't know what to do or what the cause was. Anyway, something to check out

I had my two year checkup at the optomologist a month ago and he is aware of my headpain situation and gave me a very thorough examination including one for Acute Closed Angle Glaucoma.

Except for getting older, nothing else was found.

Thanks again Susan for your help.

MarkB

[raindog1970]

I had an enclosed MRI a couple of years ago, and could have went to sleep inside the tube if not for that clanging and banging!
I've never been claustrophobic, and used to frequently go spelunking with my friends... who've all 'grown up' now, and no longer have time for such things. :roll:
Sorry to hear that it bothered you, and I know just how you feel because I have had acrophobia all my life... though it's significantly lessened as I've grown older.
My dad used to tease me when I worked construction with him after I graduated high school... his nickname for me was 'ground squirrel'.
Coming through the enclosed MRI with no problem gave me the ammunition to pay him back for his teasing, because he couldn't stay inside long enough without being sedated... and even then he barely made it!
For me, it's a matter of reasoning with phobias... I'm afraid of heights because I know there's a very real possibility of falling, but enclosed spaces don't bother me as long as I know I'm not actually trapped.
It might be a different story if I really were trapped in an enclosed space, but fortunately I've never been in that situation to find out!
I don't know if that story or my reasoning will be helpful, because I know that phobias are often very unreasonable... but I wish you luck, and I hope you can get through it next time.

[anniemcu]

I've had to have them regularly for the last five years, and it's always been the tube ones... no room for twitching, and not allowed anyway... I just try to meditate through them, and they have been kind enough each time to probide me with headphones and music of my choice... some good stuff a couple of times...

The first one had me in there for an hour and some... the subsequent ones have diminished each time...

I'd done with them, finally, and am I glad...

I wish you the best!

[Chuck_Clark]

Thanks to everyone who helped by posting. This was really strange for several reasons. I don't JAVE claustrophobia. As the eldest in a very large family, I used to seek privacy by sitting with my radio in a small, dark closet. I've been through these before. I didn't like them, but never had a problem. And Idon't do panic attacks except maybe once years ago. My response to stress is to go cold and logical - it really irritates emotional people.

Does anyone know anything about the pharmacological side effects of Vicoden? They have me on Vicoden cough syrup to suppress the coughing to protect my ribs. Could that have triggered my episode?

They did play music, first classical then at my request light rock, but tge speakers were external and I couldn't hear them very well for all the banging.

All said, it sounds like the sedative approach is the best.

I'm STILL spooky about this twelve hours later.

[spittin_in_the_wind]

Chuck I had a similar experience at a sari market in India on a big sale day...that many women pressed around me in a closed room was enough to make me freak out like you describe! My brother-in-law, who I hardly knew at the time, had to escort me out and sit outside with me while everyone else stayed inside. Talk about embarassing, they must have thought I was a real weirdo!

Anyhow, I say go for the medication. By the way, I had a regular MRI and was perfectly fine. So, it must be just different stimuli for different people.

Robin

[sandpiper]

I think the drugs will help. What has helped me was, as Dale said, information!

My doctor was great about telling me that some people find MRI's difficult even when they aren't claustrophobic and that the technicians are very aware of that and will get you out as soon as they know you're having a problem.

The fact that it happens often, that they were aware of it and were looking to help me if I had trouble, really helped me not get upset, and also know that I wouldn't feel quite so foolish if it happened to me, because they deal with it all the time.

I do get clausty in tight places and when I'm in the tube I alternate closing my eyes with looking straight down ( i try to see my toes )where I can see the opening. While that worked pretty well, I think I'll ask for drugs next time, save myself the mental preparation.

Good Luck.
Sandpiper

[markv]

Here's what helped me. Why yes, yes I am a geek!

The Bene Gesserit Littainy against Fear
Pg 19 of Dune by Frank Herbert

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.



Seriously though it really did help when I had a bit of a heart scare a couple years ago and had to endure a very large barage of tests Everything turned out fine in the end. Although my wife insisted for some reason on getting a big life insurance policy for me this year...hmmmm? I did qualify for the "super preffered" rate after a very, VERY complete physical and medical history check. Odd that my insurance company made me feel the best about my health I have in years.

Mark V.

[chas]

I always thought the "open" MRI thing was a joke. Even for my knee, I was staring at about a 50-ton slab of niobium-tin and iron, about, what, 3 inches from my face? So what if there was a little daylight a few feet from my head. I don't believe I had music, either, although the booming of the thing kind of sounded like the middle of Dark Side of the Moon to me.

The only problem I had was with one for my shoulder -- it just got damned painful about 15 minutes into it, and the whole thing took 45 minutes. The tech complimented me afterward, saying that a lot of shoulder pictures have to be taken more than once because it gets so uncomfortable.

Best of luck!

[Chuck_Clark]

... Although my wife insisted for some reason on getting a big life insurance policy for me this year...

Has she shown any interest lately in large-ticket items you couldn't nomally afford (Mercedes or Porsches, large boats, European Spa vacations, pool boys, etc.?

[MarkB]

I had my MRI last night and it turned out to be a piece of cake, a little anxiety at the beginning but that settled down as I seemed to have wanted to drift off to sleep. Living in the city core the noise of everyday and every night, you get very use to the level of intensity so the jackhammering noise of the MRI was nothing.

Now all I have to do is wait for the results.

MarkB