I hate MRIs. Matter of fact, the word hate really doesn’t describe the absolute loathing I have for them.
I’ve had two MRIs in the past for migraines.
The first one, no one warned me. Sure, they asked if I was claustrophobic. I thought I wasn’t. I had never had an MRI … I had NO idea. They put me in to the tube, and that sensation. My stomach flutters just thinking about it. It was the walls pressing in on my arms – it was horrible. So bad I started kicking my legs to let the tech know how serious I was about her getting me out. FAST. I ended up deep breathing and powering through, but it was miserable.
The second MRI they gave me Valium. Two pills, one to take an hour before, one to take thirty minutes before. I was three margarita drunk feeling. I barely remember that MRI. It clearly was not as traumatic.
Earlier this week I went in to see my ears, nose & throat doctor to confirm that my third ear infection of the winter had cleared up. The glands on the left side of my neck are still swollen, with no reason why. My ears were clear. We did a head CT in the office, and for the first time in 20+ years my sinuses were all clear (grateful again to be gluten free, as that cleared it)I also had to visit the office national site because we had so may papers and documents at the office that we needed a new cabinet. As she examined me, she told me she suspected that I have a stone in my submandibular salivary duct.
The best way to test to make sure? That damn MRI machine. Crap.
So it was off to Walgreens to pick up my Valium prescription, coordinating with Mike’s work schedule so he could drive me, and today we went in for the test.
My doctor only gave me one Valium to take this time. It was like 1 margarita drunk. Enough to take off a little edge, but not enough to conquer that machine. The tech zoomed me in the first time, and I thought that with my earplugs in, my eyes closed, the panic button in my hand, and the head brace on to keep me from moving I would be ok.
WRONG.
As my breathing started to rapidly increase, I made him pull me back out. Second round, eyes open. Oh HELL NO. Back out again. This time so I could sit up because I thought I was going to be sick. Blood was rushing to all the wrong places.
I hate the MRI machine.
He told me that a patient yesterday had to be given drugs via IV to get through it. I suggested that that was a brilliant idea. Maybe that twilight sleep stuff they use? He said no. Damn it, actually it is a very serious thing and he told me that there are many that come up yo him to ask how to do an intervention when it comes to drugs because some don’t realize they are addicted.
I finally realized the ear plugs had to go – it was cutting off another sense. They offered music in the room. Absolutely.
Third time was the charm. I powered through the first five minutes. Making sure I didn’t hold my breath, deep breathing. I kept my eyes open – the light coming in from the other end helped. I focused on how the Velcro on the “ceiling” wasn’t symmetrical and it really was annoying. 20 minutes passed, then they added the contrast to my IV and I went back in for another 10 minutes. This time it wasn’t as bad, I had survived the first 20.
I made it. I won’t know the results for another week and a half. Hopefully it is minor and an easy fix, and not neck cancer. (I don’t really think I have neck cancer, but if I expect the worst I can be happy when it is better than that.)
I still hate the MRI. Next time, I’m asking for the twilight sleep drugs, or st least two Valium. Hopefully, there won’t be a next time though! Hoping, hoping, hoping…
13 replies on “I Hate MRIs…”
Yeah, they suck. Big time. 🙁
@christinebpc Good luck today! I hope all goes well. It was great meeting you and the knife! *wink* Go with spork! lol #HoustonBloggers
I’ve had a bunch to track my epilepsy, they never bothered me but I can see where they would bother a bunch of people.
i had a terrifying experience
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Sorry! 🙁 I’m claustrophobic as well and have to talk myself down every time I get one. The last place I went to in Orlando had a bunch of CDs you could pick from and they’d pipe it in the headpiece thingy you had to wear. They had the Weezer green album and that’s the easiest MRI I’ve ever had. Closed my eyes and pretended I was anywhere but…
Robyn O’Rourke Pollman, he offered me headphones – but since the earplugs were freaking me out, I was afraid the headphones would be just as bad. I really hope I never, EVER have to do another MRI. Ugh.
The ones that they had in ORL were like headphones with earplugs – it was all one piece. They had these disposable hygiene gauze-type paper covers for the ear part. And then the top of the earphone piece snapped into a cage that closed over my head. I had a dye-IV injection. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.
OMG same thing happened to me! I had no idea I was claustrophobic for the first one, and once they got me in there I was sure I was going to suffocate. I managed to keep it together for the mercifully short scan by keeping my eyes closed and trying to pretend I was somewhere else. Got drugs for the second one (xanax). That got me “drunk” enough I nearly slept through the scan! MRI machines are eeeeeevil. Some hospitals have standing MRI machines. I wonder if those are any better?
My one MRI was incredible. The enclosed space and the strange throbbing cacophony somehow combined to create a surreal experience where it seemed that my mind was floating in space, independent of my corporal existence. It was a beautiful thing, for me.
Mark, somehow I can see you completely enjoying that experience. I might have found it to be like that if I hadn’t been hyperventilating through most of it.
I had to pretend I was on an island, somewhere warm and distant away… it didn’t work but as you said, I powered through it. You would think they would come up with something much better then this to accomplish what they need.
I’ve had several MRIs and I am extremely claustrophobic. The only way I can get through an MRI without totally freaking out is if I have a washcloth or a towel over my face. As strange as it sounds, it totally works. At least for me, anyway.