Had an MRI lately?

[wdfifteen]

I had another one yesterday and it was a challenge. I've had 4 or 5 MRIs in the past couple of years and never had a problem with claustrophobia, but this time - ACK!

I was scheduled for a 9:30 MRI at a place I'd not been to before. Woke up at 6 AM with GI issues, but by time to leave for the appt I thought I had it under control. This was the smallest MRI machine I have ever been in. My arms were pretty much immobilized by my sides and if I'd weight another 20 pounds I don't think I could have fitted in it. By the time they rolled me into the machine the GI symptoms were coming back, and I started getting more and more symptoms of claustrophobia. I started thinking, what if I crap my pants in here? What if I puke? What if this damn escape hatch button thing doesn't work? It was embarrassing, but I had to push the button and get the hell out of there.
I was sick the rest of the day and still freaked out and kinda pissed off about the whole MRI experience. I do have problems with claustrophobia and a fear of drowning. (I have a recurring dream about getting caught in a culvert under a road during a rain storm.) To make things worse, the book I was reading ended in a guy getting locked in a trunk and being thrown over the side of a ship! I guess it just wasn't my day.

[Crowbob]

I used to dream of getting my fingers stuck in the drain at the bottom of a pool.

[GH85Carrera]

I had one recently. It was no big deal. If it were quieter and had no motion I would have taken a nap. .

I worked for several decades in 100% total darkness in photographic processing rooms running film processors. There is nothing to see, everything is done by feel. We had a few employees quit after doing it for a while as they felt trapped and freaked out.

[herr_oberst]

That's a bad experience, Patrick, and I assume you had to reschedule and now get to go through the whole experience again!

Maybe oatmeal for lunch and dinner the day before, ha ha!

My biggest problem with the MRI was just the length of time in the tube, but the tech was good at keeping me posted on where I was in the procedure so I wasn't left wondering.

Here's wishing you good luck in your next encounter with the magnet.

[wdfifteen]

Glen,
They didn't give you headphones and music? Every time I've had an MRI they give me headphones and ask me what kind of music I want. I usually fall asleep in the machine, but I fall asleep easily (during the day).

Thanks Mike. I may not get another one, at least any time soon. I went back to the surgeon because the same symptoms I had on my left side were beginning to appear on my right side. I wanted to get ahead of it this time instead of going through two years of pain meds, etc. The same day I saw the surgeon the symptoms went away! I had the MRI scheduled, so I went ahead with it. But now I'm feeling better and I'm sick and tired of doctors. I'm going to put off doing anything until/unless the leg pain and loss of control come back.

[stevej37]

I had a couple of then two years back. Both were the larger type and they gave me headphones and asked what type of music I like....then they cranked them.
Both went good.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I had one recently. It was no big deal. If it were quieter and had no motion I would have taken a nap. .

I worked for several decades in 100% total darkness in photographic processing rooms running film processors. There is nothing to see, everything is done by feel. We had a few employees quit after doing it for a while as they felt trapped and freaked out.

First one I had for me knee injury I fell asleep even with all the noise. Second one just recently they kept talking to me too much so I couldn't sleep. I would give up the headphones if that would keep them form talking to me.

[mgatepi]

I had 2 last year. Very uncomfortable. I try to book them as early as possible and drink NO coffee or caffein of any kind.....then close my eyes and try to sleep.

[cabmandone]

Ohio Health VW North has an "Open MRI" but I don't mind either the tube or the "open". But then again, I spent time in crawlspaces where I couldn't roll over and the floor joists were pretty much rubbing my nose. That's fun.

[Tobra]

Y'all need to learn about benzodiazipenes

[masraum]

For all you folks that sleep, how long are they? I've never had/needed one. Are they an hour long or something?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

Ohio Health VW North has an "Open MRI" but I don't mind either the tube or the "open". But then again, I spent time in crawlspaces where I couldn't roll over and the floor joists were pretty much rubbing my nose. That's fun.

crawl spaces, whether under a house or in an attic suck. I have to imagine that by comparison an MRI would be like a lovely spring day.

I haven't ever felt claustrophobic. But I've seen some folks that were doing spelunking and cave diving where I thought "oh hell no". Where the hole that they are crawling into is a tight squeeze, especially swimming under water. Phhlllbtttt! Nope, not gonna do it.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by masraum

For all you folks that sleep, how long are they? I've never had/needed one. Are they an hour long or something?

In my experience it's about 20 minutes.

[mgatepi]

Originally Posted by masraum

For all you folks that sleep, how long are they? I've never had/needed one. Are they an hour long or something?

My longest was 45 mins

[Racerbvd]

I’ve had my share of them, and have a cat scan for my lungs next month

[img]http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/10000420181741112
I’ve never had a problem with a MRI, but, the “Tilt” test, that was a entirely different experience.

[masraum]

I guess I can see how if you've managed to tune out all of the noise, you might fall asleep in that amount of time. You guys must be zen masters that have gained enlightenment to zone out so completely that you pass out in a clanking tube like that.

[Mahler9th]

I worked for the GE and Siemens medical imaging businesses early in my career. Many of the inventors/developers of CT and MRI are or have been have been in my professional NW.

I remember all of the issues we had with MRI and claustrophobia, et cetera. I also remember the development and commercialization of "open" MRI systems, and some of those inventors/developers are still in my NW.

With all of that as backdrop, I had my fist MRI patient experience about 27 years ago. I remember thinking that I would not have any issues in the bore. But I did!

So I asked the RT (tech) about what I could/should do, and she made some simple recommendations. I got back on the table, followed her recommendations, and was moved back into the bore.

No problems.

So I learned that one approach that can be helpful is to ask the tech/operator for tips if one feels they might be claustrophobic.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've had more MRI's than I can remember. I don't fit inside most of the tubes very well. I'm rather large... But that's my fault, as I've explained in other threads - I just spent too much time in the gym, and found I packed it on rather easily. So, in the smaller MRI tubes, I really have to scrunch up my shoulders and arms just to get in. I swear at times I thought they were going to have to grease me up. Anyway, even the most generous of them are very tight for me. There is no way I could get myself out if something failed, just not enough wiggle room.

That said, I usually fall asleep. That, in spite of the fact that my very worst way to die would be to be nailed inside a coffin and buried alive. One so confining that I couldn't move. Like an MRI tube.

I attribute this to all the time I used to spend inside the wings in the fuel tanks of various commercial aircraft. Or up inside of the vertical stabilizer (you can climb all the way to the top inside on a 747, looking out the marker light cavity on the top forward tip). Or behind the aft pressure bulkhead, of up above the nose gear well under the cockpit, or under the passenger compartment where the wings meet, or other such confined spaces. I would sometimes spend entire shifts inside those places, only coming out for lunch and to relieve myself. I guess I just got used to it.

[rwest]

I get them every few years as a follow up to a pituitary adenoma that was removed in 2018.

Because it’s my head, I don’t go in far, but I’m not really claustrophobic (cave diving videos freak me out though!) I could easily fall asleep, but they say to try not to as my head could twitch around making the images less clear or something.

“Worst” one I had was a very pretty nurse who loaded me in and when I got rolled out I was anticipating see her pretty face and when I looked up, it was a dude. Dang bait and switch!

Tracer fluid injections feel a bit odd though.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

I have installed probably 15 or more Optimas. The tilt is to create helical images.

Originally Posted by Mahler9th

I worked for the GE and Siemens medical imaging businesses early in my career. snip...

Hey Mike! It's been a few since we talked on here.
I retired from GE a couple months ago after doing 30 years of Diagnostic Imaging Service. I might do some part time work eventually, but for now I'm just enjoying the downtime and freedom.

WRT scans, I have had too many MRI scans to count. Only had one occasion that was uncomfortable but it was due to a reaction with the contrast. Completed the scan ok, but I wanted out and to stand up asafp.

Other than that 1 time, I would usually fall asleep. The Techs would sometimes tell me "stop moving!" and I'd say "I was asleep" and they said "we know, you're twitching when you sleep".

I said "...oh, got it"