MRI Panic

Namaste · 19-03-2011, 12:57 AM

I think this goes here, sort of, because it's sort of a medical question...

Anyway, today I went to have an MRI done, and I thought I could do it since I'd done it before no problems. But I'm a lot bigger now as I've gained meds with illness and medication, and so my arms hung off the table, touched the sides, and I felt VERY constricted... I couldn't keep from panicking, crying, hyperventilating, and shaking uncontrollably, there was no way they could have done it, so I'm going to have to try another day. We're going to call my doctor and see if they can give me something STRONG to sedate me for next time, but I don't have great luck, and asking for strong possibly abuseable/addictive medication doesn't always work (though I just want enough for this one thing), of course, especially because I'm 17, doctors NEVER want to trust me with anything like that. =/

So we're going to work on that, but I was wondering if there is ANY advice anyone has for dealing with claustrophobia like that? Anything over the counter I could take, any techniques to try. I really need this MRI done, but there is no way that it is ever gonna work if I can't handle it. And we spent a LONG time today trying to calm me down, and trying again and again and again, but it just wasn't going to happen. So I really need to know how I can handle this so I can get it done.

Any advice?

akita · 19-03-2011, 05:37 AM

There's no reason why they can't give you something to relax you or even put you to sleep until it's done.

~AngelofLove~ · 19-03-2011, 08:42 AM

They might be able to give u valium or something... just ask... I was nervous for one on my knee and they let me listen to music.

[Purple_Rain] · 19-03-2011, 10:53 AM

when I has one done, I foudn that either keeping y eyes closed or concetrating at beign able to see the light at the end of the tunnel (lolz) helps. also if you have some way of keeping a track of the time it may help. so you can set yourself targets like 'ok, another minute and if i really dont like it i can stop' . As above have said, if all else fails sedation may help. However, they dont just 'put people to sleep' for things like this as anesthesia always carries risks so they don't do it if they can help it.

Emmabob. · 19-03-2011, 11:01 AM

ive had an MRI done, laid with music on, eyes closed & focused on the music instead of the space.

Animad · 19-03-2011, 11:51 PM

If they sedate you they will either only give you enough for that 1 trip or give you whatever they decide you need when you're there and if they feel you need it at that time as you may feel better then. Really, there's a selection of sedatives the can use so I can't really say more than that. Some of the sedatives they do use however do make you feel really, really tired and then once they've worn off you may forget what has happened during that time. But, your doctor will advise you on the plan and what will happen. Other than that, in terms of medical advice and stuff there is no further advice I can give.

MANY people are scare of having MRIs and often, depending what part of the body it is on you can see out; it's not the case if it's on your head or neck though and those can be a bit worse in terms of claustrophobia. If that is the case, some places can set up something using mirrors so you can see outside it. Also remember that someone is watching you on the other side of the glass all the time and nothing bad will happen whilst you're there. I won't lie, they are noisy, I've had 6 myself on several different parts of my body and some of these were of such a large area I had to get up and move around whilst they altered the scanner for them to do the next bit and get the positioning right. I've also had them done at 3 different hospitals. One great thing to remember is to take a CD with you and they will play that through the headphones (I've had one where I couldn't wear headphones but at that 1 it was purely because they'd only had that scanner a couple of weeks and hadn't used the bit I needed around my head and only found out at that time that it was incompatible with the headphones so the chances of that happening are slim to none existent as I've had the same scan elsewhere and they've been fine with the headphones and that one will have got compatible headphones now too!) Listen to your fave music that helps you relax. You will always have a button by your side that you can press and they will stop the scan straight away too but they will also if they notice something isn't right with you and they will be watching you in the scanner the whole time. You will have to lay really still though, close your eyes and try to forget about it. It is noisy each time they take a scan and each scan can take around 3mins depending on the machine (newer machines can take a lot less time) and they need to do multiple scans to get the images they need. You do get used to the sound though too and remember that it is just the machine making the sound it's supposed to make, nothing else and also that the process isn't painful at all.

As this isn't really a medical question and the only medical aspect of it has been answered I'm going to move this to General support and advise. If you wanting it moving elsewhere then feel free to contact the forum mods.