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Anyone manage to have an MRI despite panicking?

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Frankie

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Aug 30, 2006
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I was supposed to have an MRI this past Tuesday. I did go to the appointment, but I had a meltdown as they were moving me into that little MRI tube - hyperventilating, shaking, panicking, crying. I couldn't do it, so I have to reschedule (and probably get billed for both appointments). My God is it cramped in those things! I don't know if all MRI machines are made like the one I was briefly in, but at first all I noticed was the larger opening at the front end, and I thought I would be fine. I didn't realize or wasn't paying attention to the fact that after maybe 18 inches, the opening becomes significantly smaller. The "ceiling" of the tube was maybe two or three inches away from my nose, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Seriously, there's probably more room inside of a coffin. My entire body had to go into the smaller tube because they need to align my abdomen (the area being imaged) with the "camera" in the middle of the tube. If only my head didn't have to go in, then it wouldn't be a problem. I'm not sure how they fit larger folks in these machines - I'm about 200 lbs and it didn't feel like there was much room to spare.

I cannot spend 20-25 minutes in this contraption! I can't even imagine what it would be like once they turn on the magnets with the loud noises and banging (they give you earplugs, but still). They attempted to put an eye mask on me, which kind of helped (I couldn't open my eyes and see the top of the tube two inches in front of my face) and didn't help (I felt "smothered" and helpless) all at the same time. I'm going to have to ask my psychiatrist for a sedative. I hear they give some folks Valium, but Valium does next to nothing for me. Maybe Ativan or Xanax would be better? I've never had Xanax and I don't remember what the Ativan was like when I had it. They said I could have someone in the room with me because there's no radiation or anything like a CT scan. I wonder if they'd let my boyfriend hold my hands while I'm in the machine - I have to keep my arms outstretched over my head anyway, so he'd be able to reach them. I really need to have this dreaded MRI. A CT scan would be better than nothing, but an MRI would be superior considering what needs to be looked at in my abdomen. I know open MRIs exist, but I was told the images aren't as clear. I guess I should call my doctor.

So, anyone have any stories of having overcome an MRI panic attack? (I was told the techs have folks who climb out of the machine in the middle of the imaging process! I know I'm not alone.)
 

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