Had my 3-month brain MRI this morning and am still shaking from the anxiety. I don't know what it is about this test, but my reaction has been the same the last 3 times -- shaking, throat seeming to close up, feel like I'm about to faint, heart palps, really hot then really cold. I had my mom drive me this time, which didn't help my anxiety, except for the fact that I really shouldn't drive when I've got such high anxiety. I'm so glad that she was there for me.

Go with my hubby next Tuesday to get the results from the neurosurgeon. Hopefully my little brain lesion has not changed, and I don't have to have another MRI for a long time! (I would vote fore "never".) It didn't help that the tech said, "so, when was you brain surgery?" (Another tech asked me the same thing earlier this year.) After calmly stating that they're just watching this unknown lesion on my brain, my brain went into overdrive. (What are they not telling me! Holy Moly, I'm freaking out!)

It's been about 3 hours since the MRI, and I'm still buzzing with anxiety. Anyone have anxiety last this long?

Sorry, for the empty post.

I have had quite a few MRI's over the course of the last 10 years. And I freak out every time. So don't feel bad. If I have it in the morning, I am usually calm by late afternoon. I blame it on the contrast dye they stick in you. And I have some claustrophic tendencies. But, eventually the anxiety subsides until the day I get the verdict.

Hang in there, breath deep and relax - it's over.

Dear MWP,

Call your Doc today, and ask that they he call you with the results before NEXT week. Way too long to wait and worry unnecessarily. YOu are in my thoughts and prayers,
Love, Jonesy

I just had my first brain MRI this past month and I was shaking like a leaf. I felt so strange during the test. I had bad tremors and twitches all over and it became worse when they added the contrast. I dont' know how anyone can nap through an MRI, I felt like every muscle in my body was contracting. I hated it. I wasn't expecting to feel claustrophobic, I had to fight the panis when they slid me in that tube. Thank goodness she covered my eyes so that I would't feel so confined. I am right there with you as far as the anxiety!

I've had my share of brain MRIs and I think they will give you sedation (something like valium) if you request it. I think it's the claustrophobic feeling plus the noise that unnerves one. Deep breathing helps, and don't open your eyes, no matter what. The good news is they're so much quicker now than they used to be. Years ago it'd take hours for a brain and spinal MRI, and the segments of time you had to lay still were much longer (20 minutes segments.)

I'm to the point now that I can actually sleep through them, but it did take a few years before I got there. Now the noise seems to sedate me, rather than unnerve me, and I get really sleepy.

The bad part about falling asleep is my MRIs are usually with contrast, so when they wake you and pull you out of the tube for the contrast, it comes as a start to me. I'm the most ill at ease after the contrast for some reason.

It is one of those things that does get easier because the more you face the fear and endure it, the more desensitized you become to the experience.

I have to have a brain MRI once a year plus my spinals and I hate it. The brain is the worst for me because even though I am in a open machine, they put that cage over my face and that is all she wrote. I fight the panic so I can get through it but I feel anxious for hours after the fact and have been known to cry all the way home from it.

Waiting for the results is even worse.

Take heart you are not alone.
Hugs to you,
Jeaninne

Dear'midwestpiglet'

No wonder you were feeling anxious after being asked about brain surgery that you never had.Lovely that your Mum was with you.

Yes Anxiety can last a long time as mind and body are in shock.Try to relax as much as possible,deep breathing,walks etc.I had two lumps removed from off my spine many years ago and confess had to use Xanax to help me calm down.That damn machine I though I was choking to death.

Here is hoping all will be well with you

Do keep us postes
God Bless
Elizabeth

I'm MUCH better today -- thanks for your encouragement -- it helped a LOT!

I had a tight thoat all day yesterday, but the rest of the major symptoms went away after lunchtime. I think my body just couldn't keep up the high anxiety for that long.

My doctor ordered the MRI with contrast, even though he knew I had problems with it before, and he said I could have it without. I ended up in the ER after that MRI last summer with an elevated heart rate & panic. It lasted for a good 24 hours. Blech. The tech yesterday did a "bonus" 6-minute scan to make up for the contrast image I didn't get. If it's crucial (and I mean really crucial to have contast), I'll do it, but we'll see.

Ended up stopping on my way home from work last night to pick up some Miller and baked beans, and grilled beer brats outside. It was about 30 degrees & blizzard conditions and my daughter & I had a ball. Yum, a classic winter dinner in Wisconsin. Then I took a hot bath with Walgreens Soothing Comfort bath stuff -- it smells like menthol and is very soothing.

I don't think my dr would ever give results over the phone -- I can hardly even get his assistant to call back. He's a respected nuerosurgeon specializing in brain disorders, and I've heard very good things about him from other docs & patients. I guess he's so good that he doesn't have time to coddle his patients. I think I'll just have to wait until next Tuesday to get the results. I might be eating a lot of brats & taking a lot of hot baths in the meantime!

Hi glad you feeling better i had my first mri last week it was on my knee but lucky me myhead was out and thanks to new machines it only lasted 20 minutes. I also took a some xanax before this so i was as calm as i could be even though my nose was itching an he said dont move lol. As for how long anxiety last i had it last for hours until i broke down and took xanax. And as for the techincician asking you questions i was asked all kind of questions on my knee which made it sound like i had something wrong. But lucky me it came out good just maybe some inflamation.Calm down, breathe, get plenty of outside and exercise that usually helps me. I wish you the best on mri results hugs Terry

ACK! THE "CLOSED" MRI!!!! I had my first MRI in 1998. No warning.....no nothing. Keep in mind, this was BEFORE peri....I am normally a calm person and was never in my life claustrophobic. I went in and saw the machine....no biggie...I've had CAT scans before, how bad can this be? I had no idea why they gave me earplugs but I put them in and proceeded to lie on the table.

I had to lie on my back and then they put a basket like thing over my head to hold me still for the test, I guess. At that point...I was still okay....sorta thinking to myself...."huh?" but okay.

When they rolled me into the tube I was still okay, but wondering how I was going to tell them anything if I needed help, etc.,.....until I heard the tech's voice thru a speaker. He told me we were doing the first test and it would last ....3 minutes (something like that). OMG, I have very delicate hearing and it sounded like someone was bashing hammers around my head and outside of the tube!
I had no idea when this procedure would be over and NOW I WAS FREAKIN'!!!! I decided the best way to get thru this was to count off time .........I'm a musician so when the next LOUD test started, I counted off the time and tried to make some sort of varying beats to go with the mindless pounding!
It worked well enough to get me through and then I was out. THANK GOODNESS!

NOT!!!!

I got dye injected into my arm and proceeded to get rolled back in!!

I had to concentrate REALLY hard or I was gonna lose it..........I held on. Wow, looking back on it I can't believe they put people thru that test without any warning...........I mean, what if I had anxiety problems? What if I was claustrophobic? What if I .................. who knows??? I just think it should be mandatory to at least inform a patient of the mechanics of a procedure FIRST.

Since that day I have now become claustrophic. Never was before that test, but now......forget it. That test is to blame.

I've had numerous other MRI's......and dreaded each one. I've asked for OPEN MRI's which dont' really feel like OPEN MRI"s because you have the damn top part of the wall about 3 inches from your face and are still in the "cage"..... at least your head is in the cage. BUT, it felt better in that I DID have to signal the technician to stop once. I couldn't take it. He said "WOW, you're lucky you didn't have your first MRI CLOSED!!! I told him I DID and that is why I am having trouble with even this OPEN MRI. Some techs are really rude.

Anyway, all my tests were basically normal.......but if any of you has to have a BRAIN MRI, and you have any fear of closed spaces, you are claustrophobic or you are uncertain or have questions: ASK!!!! I wish I had asked...I had no idea!!!

To this day even a CAT scan or having my head held in one place for a medical procedure makes me VERY anxious.

Thanks for bearing with me on this long rant...lol I still can't believe I had to go thru that without any instruction beforehand.

(sorry for my above MRI rant....)
Please call and ask for the results of your test or when you can expect to get results. I find that the medical profession really needs to treat us like people....and not like numbers. You have a right to know those results asap.
Keep bugging them until you get an answer, after all YOU are paying them for their services.
My best to you and my best to you.
Take good care,
Sue

I wrote: "my best to you and my best to you"

Well, I DO wish you all the best, but I also think that MRI did more damage to me than I thought! Sorry for repeating myself!!!!

Note to self: PROOFREAD!!!!


*I'm leaving now...........footsteps fading into the night*. ...... lol

My dear Sue
You are a scream!
All the Best to You and Me

I have also suffered severe brain damage according to my family!but it feels o.k.
Stay Well
Elizabeth

guitarplayer: Well, the best to you too! Or, is the best to me? Oh, heck, the best to all of us!!

The neurosurgeon said that there was no change to my MRI from previous scans -- yay! He wants me to have another one in a year just to be cautious. (And probably more in the future to keep an eye on it, but I'll save those thoughts for another day.!)