MRI accomplished: did not freak out!

[Avalux]

My earlier thread; this claustrophobic was stressing out big time over getting an MRI:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3410990&mesg_id=3410990&page=

Well, it's done. The staff was really great (that helps). They gave me valium and covered me with blankets cause it was so cold in there. After a few minutes I was give headphones so I could listen to the radio and they "slid" me into the compartment.
Made up my mind to close my eyes before going in and kept them closed the whole time. I could hear the radio even though the pinging and knocking sounds were really loud so I focused on the music and for the most part stayed relaxed. Took about 45 minutes and only once did I come close to pushing the "panic button".

Thanks to all who told me what to expect. :grouphug:

[deadparrot]

1. Good to hear.

Hope everything works out okay, diagnosis-wise. :)

[Avalux]

3. Car accident injury -

trying to find out why I have numbness in my left arm. It's not debilitating but it's really annoying - can't sleep on my back. :hi:

[Aristus]

2. Hope everything comes out well.

I've never had an MRI, but I can't imagine having a problem with it. Anyone who can remain cooped up in a tank for thirty days at a time doesn't have a problem with claustrophobia, that's for sure!

[Avalux]

4. What kind of tank?

Sounds awful (to me) - I could never do that! :hi:

[Aristus]

6. M1A1 Abrams. A great piece of machinery.

But my days of wanting to blow things up are *snaps fingers* OVER! I enlisted as a hot-headed 17 year-old. If I enlisted today (fat chance!), I'd definitely be a medic.

I love the look that right-wingers get on their faces when I tell them I'm a Gulf War vet AND a liberal Democrat! They just can't seem to get that through their thick skulls.

[Avalux]

8. "Does not compute"

LOL - it's a wonder their heads don't explode. Thanks for serving - even though I hate this war, I still respect and support those who wear a uniform. In fact, it makes me cry that this administration is abusing their loyalty to this country.

[Aristus]

9. They don't have any loyalty to abuse.

They're only loyal to the Almighty $$$.

[KoKo]

5. Good for You! I'm so claustrophobic that just the thought gives

me near panic attack. A friend of mine said the noise of the MRI is the worst and she wasn't given the headphones.

I almost needed an "intervention" with a CAT Scan I had...but thankfully a really neat nurse defied the radiation standards and held my hand through the worst of it.

You must have been in a really good hospital who understood and gave you headphones and support. If only all our health care could be that patient friendly.

The cold bothered me through my CAT scan too and they didn't cover me with a blanket but it was a much shorter time than the 45 minutes you went through.

Thanks for sharing this for those of us who have this in our future. :eyes: Info really helps and so does "support" from our internet ghost friends.

:-)'s that you got through it all. A TROOPER!

[Avalux]

7. If you ever have to do it - make sure they give you something

No way I could have done it without the valium. No way. I liked having the "panic button" too - just in case I needed to get out. I had myself sick in the stomach beforehand but it wasn't as bad as I thought. And yes, the staff can make all the difference in the world - "yea" to the nurse who held your hand. :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Good job! *hugs*

[Wickerman]

11. ok, ya made it, so here's my story

My youngest sister had to have an MRI some years ago. I don't recall why. Anyways, she was in about 5 minutes - she'd no drugs or anything to help her relax. She made about 5 minutes and she was crawling and screaming and totally freaking out to get out. Someway or another she got on her hands and knees and stuck in the chamber. Keep in mind that this gal follows in the Wickerman family tradition and is not small!

Of course, it ranks as one of her most embarrassing moments of her life and she had to go back and do it all over again anyway as they needed the results.

We laugh about it now, but it was pretty traumatic at the time. Thought I would wait until you finished to relate the story.

:hi: Congrats!

[Avalux]

12. LOL!

How horrible, but it is really funny! Thanks for telling me that story AFTER. I can see how that would happen - once you get to the point-of-no-return it's hard to control the panic.
I was thankful they gave me a 'button' I could press if I needed to get out. The valium worked like a charm though and it was best I didn't open my eyes at all. Very glad it's over. Whew! :hi: