Good morning ladies~


I was told that I should have an MRI done of my spine (been having back pain). Well, I wasn't nervous one bit until I just received a call from the person that's scheduling it. She asked me if I was clostraphobic (sp?), and other questions. She said I would be in a tub for a half hour as they take the images. She said some people freak-up and they have to give them Valium. Has anyone had this done? If so, what was it like?

Thank you for any feedback

Hugs,
Karen

Karen,

MRI's are not painful...but, if you are claustrophobic then it might be wise to get sedated as you are in a long tube that is about 6 -12 inches (give or take) away from you body. This is the closed MRI. They do have open MRI's that are less claustrophobic and that's the one I usually go in for my own comfortability.

http://www.mritoday.net/MRI2.JPG Closed
http://www.mrispecialists.net/images/Magnet.jpg Open

The Open one I've been in is a smaller version of the closed. There is a lot of noise too and they give you ear plugs.

Hugs,
Karen

Had one this past fall (arthritis in my neck). Yes, you are slid into this short tube-type space, but I had no problem with it at all. The time went by quickly, as the place I went to gives you headphones to listen to the music of your choice. I'd say the worst part was that all of their music was pretty lame.

Unless you have been diagnosed as claustrophobic I really see no need for the valium, unless you just like valium. All in all, I found it to be no big deal. I'm sure it will be just fine for you too. Good luck and try not to stress about it too much.

Thank you Kar and Chocolate

Well, as far as I know I'm not claustrophobic, however; I'm learning new things about myself every day !

I won't worry about it then, and I'll bring my own headphones so I'm sure to have some good tunes

Thanks again!

Hugs,
Karen

Actually I'm not sure if you can use your own music. Pretty sure you have to be hooked up to whatever system they have (if they have one) because of issues with electronics and stuff. Give them a call and see if they offer music or other distractions. Good luck!

Hi Karen;

I had a MRI done in December............ No it isn't painful. I thought I wasn't claustrophobic but had a hard time with it. I didn't know they could give you anything to sedate you All, I read was a bunch of noise, they gave me earplugs but no music.

I never opened my eyes & focused on my breathing............if I had to do it again.........NOT........if it was a must I would be sedated. I'm with you Karen, everyday I'm not sure how I'm going to react to things

I'm just not sure if I could do it again!! (without some help)

Good Luck........

Loganbil

I would DEFINITELY get sedated if you are going to be in the closed MRI. It is actually pretty rare for people to be "okay with it" and not claustrophobic. It's just a natural reaction. You might not think you will get freaked out being enclosed in the tube, but usually people find that they cannot stand it and have to be sedated. On the other hand, if you have absolutely never had issues or problems with being in small closed spaces, maybe you are one of the lucky few!

I for SURE would need some sedation, maybe even in the open one!

Thank you Logan and Missy, I better find out a bit more about this. I don't know if it's open or closed, I 'll go make that call now. I greatly appreciate having a better idea of what I'll be in for.

Thanks again!

Hugs,
Karen
P.S. Logan, they did mention the earplugs, I will definitely make use of those.

OK Karen, you ask and you know I'm honest with you>>>I had a kidney MRI last year that freak me out. Now this after many mri's without any problems. Open & closed.
It was some kind of new machine, state of the art I was told. A very long tube, look like some kind of tube you would see in the movie's where they put people to sleep in suspended animation in outer space for long space travel.

I panic as soon as I was put in. I had even taken ativan before arriving.
They had to pull me right back out (I scream), after some deep breathing I decided to go back in and tough it out. The Tech took the pillow away and show me my head was right at the other end, it help to know I could look back and see the wall.

But I was so short of breathe the whole time the pictures where not clear, major panic attack.
TG the pictures where ok enough for the doctor to check my kidney but I don't think I would ever have one like that again.
I know now why they ask my weight, a larger person could not fit into that machine!
I could barely move!
Hated to tell you and since your not claustrophobia you shall be ok.
Check it out through since my sil panic with the same machine and she has no anxiety problems what so ever!

i have had many myself. with and without contrast. only had one episode, the last one, where i was disoriented, but i think because it was a dual mri and i was in far too long.

Karen........... I'm with Snowmoon on this one!!!! It freaked me out; they give us this thing to squeeze if you have trouble. All I could think of was if I squeeze this darn thing........I'm not going back in.

I thought I could handle it, and I did............ how.........I don't know?? If you can get something to help you......go for it. Don't be a hero <as no one cares> I thought I could be tough........blah to that.

Loganbil

I've had several done..some open MRI's and some closed...I have to have one done again this friday..the worst thing about them is the noise they make..and as someone said in an above post..the music they can let you listen to..if they will ask if you can bring your own music

I have had three MRIs of the spine and skull over the years. I thought they were no deal at all - but I am not claustrophobic. I felt really relaxed in there, actually kind of liked it in the tube. Honestly.

Now the noise IS unpleasant, loud hammering sounds that change is frequency and pitch from one stage of the imaging to the next.. But like others have said, you can listen to music. The technician also communicates with you via your headset. If you get upset and ask them to, they will slide you out.

Although the whole process takes up to 30 min, you do get short breaks during that time span where you can move a bit. During the acutally imaging, you are supposed to lie as still as possible.

I realize there are two minds here on this topic. My own feeling is that there is abolutely nothing to be scared or worried about. I find X-rays far more scary due to the radiation received.


tt

Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate your replies and suggestions.

I have to agree with Toodles, I found it so relaxing. For me, it was like being in a tanning bed, however; I didn't find it to be scarey (like I do, the tanning bed). The noise was quite loud, though it didn't bother me that much because I fell asleep. I didn't even hear the technician checking in on me. It was one of those closed tubes which I had me wondering, if someone is quite obese I don't see how they would fit in their. They must allow for that and have other alternative means of doing an MRI.

So what I found out today, is that I'm not claustraphobic.

Hugs,
Karen

WOW, my writing is terrible!!! I do know the difference between there, their and they're !

There has been a lot written lately about the fact that CT scans and MRIs have many times more radiation than an xray. Since doctors so readily send patients for these procedures these days, even when a simple xray would do, there is discussion on what the long term effects will be. The effects of radiation exposure is not seen for 10, 20, 30 years.

I have not been to P-S in over a week so just saw the last post on this thread about radiation from MRIs

There is no radiation involved with MRI. You are subjected to magnetic fields. MRI is acronym for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Can you share a source about dangers of MRI. I have never come across anything myself. CT scans are a whole other story. Very high doses of radiation. I would not get one, unless there was an extremely serious reason for doing so. I agree that CT scan are done far too often. MRIs are so expensive that they are still not ordered that frequently.

tt