Have you ever panicked before an MRI?

This is an excellent post, and I have rated you the + for it. Yes, I have panicked too. It is awful inside. But they have newer ones now, that do not close you in. It's the open one you are waiting for, and a great improvement. I do hope you feel better while you wait. I am sorry that you are in such pain. Bless you.

I've never had one done, but my mom has had quite a few, and she always tells the docs to give her the -- and i quote -- "hard stuff". She's usually incapable of driving or even holding a conversation afterwards because she's so out of it. She just hates them so much that even thinking about how it's going to happen, when she's at the MDs, gives her a panic attack. So my advice to you is tell them you'd like the best and strongest of what they have. After they give you that, you won't even care anymore.

Hi there. Sorry to hear about what you are going through. I had a similar experience some time ago. I had to have an MRI done because of serious migraines. I had never had one before and didn't know what to expect. Well, they showed me the video when I got to the hospital and I thought "how in the world am I going to do this?". I am very claustrophobic and I knew for sure that I was going to lose it in there. Needless to say I didn't let myself down! They put me on that table and put the collar on around my head and I was honestly trying to stay calm. I asked the tech how long it was going to take and he said that it wouldn't take that long, so I thought maybe I could handle it. He put the headphones on me and then left the room. Then he told me that I was going in and the table started going into that tube and I literally freaked. I started kicking my feet (because they were the only things not strapped down) and the tech came over the headphones and asked if there was a problem. I said "you better get me out of here right now!". I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't let me out because by the time he got there, I was in serious panic mode. Anyway, I got home and called my Doctor and she prescribed me something to help calm me down and rescheduled the MRI for two weeks. I spent the next two weeks dreading that appointment. My husband picked up the prescription that the Doctor had called in the day before my MRI appointment. I don't know what they were, but they did the trick. There were three little white pills. I had to take two of them thirty minutes before I left to go to the hospital and the last one right before I got on the table. I didn't think that I could do it again, but by the time I climbed up on that table and the tech put the head collar on me, I didn't care about anything. They ran the MRI and then had to take me out, start an I.V. and put some dye in so they could take a better look in my head. The tech said "I need to put this dye in here and then we'll take some more pictures". I said, "I don't care, do what you need to." I was vaguely aware of what was going on, but it seriously didn't bother me. They also piped in some music through the headphones, which helped out a lot as it cut down on the noise of the machine. Anyway, don't feel bad about how it's affecting you now. Your Doctor can prescribe something to help keep you calm and you should be able to listen to some music while the test is going on. They know that not everybody can handle having an MRI done and you should tell them how you are feeling about it. Don't worry, whatever they give you to calm you down, should do the trick. :)

I've had an MRI before but it wasn't bad I was pretty nervous but they played music AC/DC:) and it wasn't too bad thats weird if you've had 3 and you flipped on this one hmmm... I don't know, but if you're having the open one then it should be better well good luck and I hope you back pain goes away

omg!!!! one word ativan its the only way I can get inside one...i get an mri in 2 weeks time i have the bleed jan 2 so this is my next then one in 3 months then one in 6 months ...i swear i'm going to have a break down...i love the people that say listen to music how the heck can you hear it when i'm sure its some huge monster knocking on the side of the blessed thing.....okay this is not helping is it??? how about misery loves company and you write me in 2 weeks lmao cheryl

Hi, I am a hypnotherapist in the U.K. and have helped many people with these sort of phobias. My approach is to "feel the fear and do it anyway" but I also teach them a form of meditation (based on Zen-meditation) which consists of focusing on the lower abdomen and visualising the inhalations going into the lower abdomen and the exhalations returning out from the lower abdomen and trying to exclude all other thoughts. They do this for about 10 minutes to begin with, they then visualise themselves in the situation that's causing the anxiety (in your case the MRI scan) for a few moments. Then, when ready make the commitment to attend an appointment and begin to focus on the breathing in this way. Some people need the interaction with a therapist to accomplish this, but I have "spoken" to many people on line that I've never met in person and they have been successful with this method. Hope this helps... Derek

oh yess! I also have bad back problems..i have degenerative disc disease now,,,but it started with 3 herniated discs,,I have had so many MRI's its rediculous! but i tell you the last few tims.for soem reason..it has started to get to me..and the last time..between my back killing me and i couldnt hold still cause of the pain..and then i started to have an attack..they pulled me out and they gave me some meds to relax me..and for the darnest thing i cant rmemeber what it was...but it was strong enough to relax me to finish it..but trust me use the medication..it helps!!

I've had two or three myself and while I never officially panicked, the first few minutes in the first session scared the bejeezus out of me. At first I felt claustrophobic to some degree but when all of that knocking and buzzing started I had something else to focus on. Even with the earplugs it's quite deafening huh?! I have degenerative disc disease so I have to get a new MRI every few years (I'm only 30 too). Now they are no big deal and as a musician I can appreciate the different rhythms and patterns and they sort of mesmerize me lol.

I know how you feel I had several MRIs too. You can do it thats the only way they can help you, they have to see where the pain is coming from. So be brave. Keep us updated.

Yes. I get claustophobic when I get put into enclosed spaces so when I went to get my first one and they decsribed the procedure I panicked so bad they gave me a whopping dose of valium (which I had never had before) well.. I was told that after that I smiled through the whole thing and continued smiling for an hour of so after.

I have to be totally doped up to have a closed mri.I do not consider myself a clausphbic person but those things make me die inside.I guess it is the situation you are in.

I had an MRI for my lower back pain too - I was a little nervous because it was my first one. The lady who coached me through it was actually really good and calmed my nerves down a whole lot. It wasn't that bad after all and believe it or not, I almost fell asleep with all the humming noises around me. I actually had a herniated disc, so I was happy that the MRI did show why I was having these back problems. I am 98% better after doing physio for about a month and opted out of having any surgery on my back. As long as I don't over do it, then my back is ok. I hope you are able to get over it :)

I have never had an MRI, but imagine I would panic. I had a difficult time just getting in the capsule for a pulmonary function test. I did not know they had open MRI's, I hope it works for you and the results are not terribly troublesome.

Ive never had one, but I used to work for a Chiropractor, and quit a few of the patients told my about scary MRI experiences. They said that is was noisy, and you have to hold still the whole time. I'm not usually claustrophobic, but if I had to get an MRI I might opt for the open one, just based on what I've heard.

i havent Done MRI of mine .why should i do i havent faced any serious problem in life in terms of health

Ive got a mri 1nc , when i had a big knee injury .. i just relaxed and listened to the music .. the only part that i was worieing about was that i could fell in sleep and move my leg that you don't my do

The MRI doesn't bother me a bit. I just close my eyes and try to forget about it. My problem is worrying for days ahead of time about the reason for the MRI and wondering what the results will show. You are probably wise to wait until there is an opening for an open MRI. Some people just can't stand to be in closed spaces. Good luck. I hope they figure out how to get you some relief for your back pain.

i hve had an mri 3 times..the first 2 times wer bad fr me....i ws trembling like nething...did nt know hw to go abt the whole process bt the doctors managed nd made me feel normal....tht ws done ok.... the third time ws ok coz i had been use to it...nd ws feeling normal abt tht coz i knew wats gonna happn...nthing to worry in the third time...