MRI's and Claustrophobia

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Three weeks ago I went for an MRI. Even though I knew that I am terribly claustrophobic I was convinced that I could use willpower and the rationalization that it was a perfectly safe environment and that I would be perfectly secure during the procedure to get through the 25 minute ordeal. After one minute of being confined and the unbearable mounting anxiety in that small tube I said very firmly to the technition to take me out. She began to tell me that maybe if I could just relax that...blah blah....until I shouted: take me out of this mother****** or I will climb out.

If I would have let the anxiety build for another minute it would have been too late and I would have climbed out. I should have known better than to try to rationalize an irrational fear.

Has anyone else had a bad experience with an MRI?

 

I've never had to have one but I don't think I could have lasted as long as you did!

 

I had the opposite. I once needed an MRI in advance of sinus surgery and it was scheduled for 5:30 in the morning. They slid me deep into that tube and gave me the "panic button". They started the test and the next thing I know I'm being ejected from the tube and there are techs and nurses all around me calling my name and checking me over. I calmly asked "What is wrong" to which they said I didn't respond when they called my name and that I was unresponsive. I responded that I'm tired as it is really early so I fell asleep, and that they should put me back in and then wake me up when it is over. They looked at me like I was crazy and then continued. I think one of the techs wanted to do a study on me.

 

I am not claustrophobic, but I found the MRI experience to be... unsettling. I didn't like being in that damn tube. After a few minutes, I just closed my eyes, and tried not think about it. I didn't have any type of anxiety attack, and I made it through the whole thing... but I didn't like it.

 

Come on people, mind over matter!

 

I've been in quite a few different tubes; I'm not particularly uncomfortable in small spaces unless I'm completely surrounded. Crawling through small spaces where you can't fully expand your lungs. etc.

MRI's aren't too bad for me, it's actually pretty cozy at times. Not counting shots/needles or other medical penetration that might happen.

 

I had a terrible MRI.

The doctor played jazz music while I was inside. I had to press the panic button and ask them to turn the machine up.

 

People fall asleep in MRIs?.....I can't imagine such a thing.

My doctor wanted to give me 10mg of valium and send me back in. I told him very firmly that I was not going back into that tube. Anyway, 10mg of valium doesn't seem to have any effect on me. I've taken that much valium with eight beers and not been particularly sedated....I didn't tell him that, I've known him since I was 6 and know he would be very distressed with any misuse of pharmaceuticals.

Rahkir, the mere mention of not being able to expand your lungs due to a small space gives me an adrenaline rush.

I'm perfectly o.k. with needles, incisions, 'procedures', I.V.s, etc. I just cannot be physically/spatially restrained....I lose rational thought in such situations.

 

I've never had one, but given that I have fallen asleep during things like acupuncture, I'm pretty certain I would fall asleep during an MRI as well.

 

MRI -- never had one, never will! Ah Ah Ah!

In all seriousness. I don't think it would bother me. I'd be more freaked if there were a lot of people around to see me so vulnerable.

 

Never had any MRI check ups done on me yet. But given the fact that I've spent quite a number of nights cocooned in a tight sleeping bag and inside a small single person tent, I doubt the MRI will freak me out.

 

Had all kinds of scans,tests,xray's MRI's and whatnots back in 91.
Seems like yesterday...they tested for a day...controlled my diet for 2 weeks then did the surgery.

My cheekbone was shattered in three seperate places when I was mugged.I think I was in more pain from injuries than I was afraid of the MRI. Was in cook county hospital for everything.(Chicago's class one trauma center at the time)My two doctors couldnt belive that the x-rays and other results were mine.They called thier boss in.(I forget his name,but he was an older gentleman,held the title of Oral facial Chief of Staff)He looked over my x-rays and the rest,asked me if they were mine..Now...that was scary.He said I was the first person he knew of to survive an injury of that extent.He asked me for permision to use my x-rays and other results in the medical books.

The guys did a bang up job.Went in through the scalp line(well...I have one now anyway hehehe)And left very little facial scaring.All in all It was an experience I dont want to repeat.

 

MRI's

If it happens again, try keeping your eyes closed at all the time. Worked for me.

 

I've only had 1 MRI and it wasn't the claustrophobia that got me. It was the fact I had 2 ruptured disks and they wanted me to lay on a hard flat surface for 25 minutes. Ouch!!

 

I'm slightly claustrophobic, but an MRI sounds like the devil's work to me. I think I could do it, but I would not enjoy it at all.