MRI Anxiety and Questions

[light rain]

I am scheduled to have an MRI on a closed but short bore machine in about a week. I am very claustrophobic and I hate taking medication (Dr prescribed Valium which I haven't had before). To my mind it seems if there is a feeling of "danger" I don't want to be sedated. I have had OCD since I was a child do I am nervous this is going to be strange sensory-wise and trigger anxiety even afterwards. I am also concerned obviously about it aggravating the T and H.

Testing has already shown the nerve on one side is weak so the Dr really wants it done. I honestly practically RAN out of the office when he first mentioned everything. I told him no thanks and he looked shocked and I left (lol). So we have discussed it further and the appt is now looming.

What should I do practically to protect my hearing. How did any other scaredy cats do this non-medicated? Any tidbits of info would help but please don't scare me.

Also this may sound odd but online some people say they felt hot during the scan. So I'm concerned there too because the heat really bothers me.

Thanks

Lynn

 

[glynis]

Hi Lynn,
The valium will just relax you in a calm state 2.5 is enough or 5mg .

You can ask them set the MENU on a child setting so more quiet and use plugs and headphones.
You will be fine and it's over so quickly.
They put something under your knees to make you comfortable and takes pressure off your back.
Love glynis

 

[light rain]

Hi Lynn,
The valium will just relax you in a calm state 2.5 is enough or 5mg .

You can ask them set the MENU on a child setting so more quiet and use plugs and headphones.
You will be fine and it's over so quickly.
They put something under your knees to make you comfortable and takes pressure off your back.
Love glynis

Thanks! I'm embarrassed really to be so afraid. I have been to more medical related visits the past two months because of this and I really dont like it much. And of course the added anxiety about feeling like a failure if I panic.

Lynn

 

[GregCA]

The technician told me to keep my eyes closed, which - I learned after the procedure - is to prevent claustrophobic reaction. For some people they cover the eyes, which I would have preferred, as it's very difficult to keep your eyes closed when someone asks you to do so. You feel very compelled to open them for some reason.

 

[GregCA]

The other thing you could ask is to have someone you trust be in contact with you at all times, even if it just means squeezing a hand or feeling a squeeze on your foot.
MRI doesn't generate ionizing radiation: I'm not aware of any issue in terms of exposure, whether for you or someone else next to you.

 

[light rain]

[QUOTE="GregCA, post: 248431, member: 15807"it's very difficult to keep your eyes closed when someone asks you to do so. You feel very compelled to open them for some reason.[/QUOTE]

Yes that is where my thinking would go to. Sort of like don't blink at the eye doctor. Its an automatic reaction.

Thanks

Lynn

 

[Rubenslash]

I had an MRI recently and used double hearing protection:

- Custom molded ear plugs
- Metal free ear muffs. I used the following as these are not too thick: http://www.earplugstore.com/bilsom-thunder-t1-1.html

With ear protection, it was not too loud. I think maybe 85 db peak volume.

 

[light rain]

The other thing you could ask is to have someone you trust be in contact with you at all times, even if it just means squeezing a hand or feeling a squeeze on your foot.
MRI doesn't generate ionizing radiation: I'm not aware of any issue in terms of exposure, whether for you or someone else next to you.

I don't really have anyone except my kids who are older but thanks for the suggestion. I'm even concerned about having someone drive me if I do decide to take the Valium.

Lynn

 

[glynis]

@light rain,
I'm going make you laugh now so just remember this when your in the scanner!
I was having a scan done on my head and neck and my gown got caught in the scanner coming out and made my gown rise up really fast and everyone got a view of my boobs!!! hope your laughing....
Love glynis

 

[light rain]

I had an MRI recently and used double hearing protection:

- Custom molded ear plugs
- Metal free ear muffs. I used the following as these are not too thick: http://www.earplugstore.com/bilsom-thunder-t1-1.html

With ear protection, it was not too loud. I think maybe 85 db peak volume.

Thanks. Some places supposedly provide ear plugs but I don't know if that would be good enough so I was wondering about what would be good to use.

Lynn

 

[Rubenslash]

Yes I prefer to use my own stuff, I don't trust the ear protection given by the hospital.

 

[light rain]

Glynis - I'm really nearsighted and I know I can't wear my glasses so I don't even want to think about bumbling around with one of those gowns on. I had one on today for an appt and I'm like what goes where and wrap this around how.

(I did laugh though).

Lynn

 

[HalloweenScreamQueen]

TAKE THE VALIUM! I too am very claustrophobic (even in the open MRIs). Wear the earplugs or headphones, maybe take a sleep mask if you can tolerate that, and, if possible, make a playlist of your favorite songs and ask that the technician play it for you. Or listen to your favorite movie with your eyes closed and picture it in your mind. My Mom closes her eyes and rearranges the furniture in her mind during the test and gets through it fine (yes, really! The whole living room...).

My first MRI was in an open MRI machine, no Valium, no earplugs, and I was in a LOT of pain. But, the technician was very supportive and kept chattering away throughout the whole 55 minutes. When she finally pulled me out, soaked head to skivies in sweat and snot from crying, she congratulated me and said that I'd done great and was very brave. She also told me that one of the Washington Redskins football players was in the machine right before my appointment and she had to stop the test and pull him out. Once she did, she said he jumped up off the table and ran down the hallway with his gown flapping open in the back. He just couldn't do it.

You can hang tough for the seemingly endless time in the proverbial hot dog bun machine. You might need some chemical help and a book of bad knock-knock jokes read by a great technician, but you're tougher than a Washington Redskin! We have to be to live with the noise.

 

[light rain]

TAKE THE VALIUM! I too am very claustrophobic (even in the open MRIs). Wear the earplugs or headphones, maybe take a sleep mask if you can tolerate that, and, if possible, make a playlist of your favorite songs and ask that the technician play it for you. Or listen to your favorite movie with your eyes closed and picture it in your mind. My Mom closes her eyes and rearranges the furniture in her mind during the test and gets through it fine (yes, really! The whole living room...).

My first MRI was in an open MRI machine, no Valium, no earplugs, and I was in a LOT of pain. But, the technician was very supportive and kept chattering away throughout the whole 55 minutes. When she finally pulled me out, soaked head to skivies in sweat and snot from crying, she congratulated me and said that I'd done great and was very brave. She also told me that one of the Washington Redskins football players was in the machine right before my appointment and she had to stop the test and pull him out. Once she did, she said he jumped up off the table and ran down the hallway with his gown flapping open in the back. He just couldn't do it.

You can hang tough for the seemingly endless time in the proverbial hot dog bun machine. You might need some chemical help and a book of bad knock-knock jokes read by a great technician, but you're tougher than a Washington Redskin! We have to be to live with the noise.

Thanks! I'm trying to remember I've been strong before but there are SO many opportunities to make myself look silly with this.

I did have an MRI scheduled before and I showed up for it but they cancelled on.me because of paperwork. It was supposed to be in an open machine. The doctor it turns out doesn't want me to use an open machine so I agreed to try this new machine which is wider. Of course if I can't then it is back to the open or a CT scan.

When I had talked to the tech before with the open he said if I ran I wouldn't be the first or the last. He also said even with the open that they have to put something around your head. Needless to say I had to refrain from doing a happy dance when it needed to be rescheduled. I also realized how stressed out I had been because I was so exhausted. So I hate having to do this.

Hope everything turned out well for you. And everyone else too.

Lynn

 

[GregCA]

Of course if I can't then it is back to the open or a CT scan.

MRI and CT aren't interchangeable. They each show specific parts of the body. Sometimes you need an MRI, sometimes a CT scan. But you can't go get a CT if an MRI is needed (and vice versa).

 

[light rain]

MRI and CT aren't interchangeable. They each show specific parts of the body. Sometimes you need an MRI, sometimes a CT scan. But you can't go get a CT if an MRI is needed (and vice versa).

I know but thanks for pointing it out just in case. When I initially balked at having an MRI the Dr said it wouldn't be as good but I'd have to do the CT scan. So I guess I should do the more accurate test and skip all the radiation. Even though they have been using them for years I still consider MRIs "new". So the whole thing makes me nervous. If it was a 'we can do this test if you want' I would skip it altogether.

Lynn

 

[HalloweenScreamQueen]

Thanks! I'm trying to remember I've been strong before but there are SO many opportunities to make myself look silly with this.

Lynn

In regard to looking silly, who cares? We sure don't!

Oh, and just a thought, my last MRI was in the newer open where you sit up between the sections of the machine. I saw the films - they looked like abstract art. The older open MRI or the closed MRI take better pictures.

 

[light rain]

In regard to looking silly, who cares? We sure don't!

Oh, and just a thought, my last MRI was in the newer open where you sit up between the sections of the machine. I saw the films - they looked like abstract art. The older open MRI or the closed MRI take better pictures.

Honestly I don't know how they decipher those things. It must take a lot of experience and training (hopefully).

As for looking silly - I moved to a much more rural area and still adjusting. On the one side its nice seeing people you know but not quite sure how well HIPPA works here (lol).

Lynn