Luna, there is another thing you can try, it's a tip I picked up from Sylvia Browne, the psychic. It works for every health or stress issue, anyone who reads this should try it.

Create yourself a room in your mind. She suggests something like a dining room or den, with paneling and huge windows, maybe a pond or lake out the window. Put a big heavy table in the center. Give it huge sturdy legs. That's for strength to hold you in your weaknesses.

Now decorate and color it! I mean go all out, make it the room of your dreams, your perfect place to escape from the world. Green is the color for health, and add blue, yellow and purple too. They each signify other aids such as peace, but I forget which is what. I just know it helps me a lot.

Now, lie down on the table in the center of the room and relax. Use your mind to look around the room, don't get up or look around. Take a peek out the window and feel the cool breeze coming across the lake. Hear the birds, smell the trees and freshly cut grass. Relax and breathe. Ask God or Mother Nature or Allah, whoever you believe in to take away your problems. Be specific, such as "the fear I feel being in this machine" or " the pain I am feeling in my legs". You can ask for more than one thing, but it's better to focus on something, deal with it completely, and then move on.

I know this sounds goofy, lol. I have tried all sorts of other relaxation methods, including yoga and meditation, tapes, all of it. This "room of health and peace" is the only that works for me. If it works for even one more person, then "I done good"

Where are you in Australia?

There are quite a few open MRI's in the country. I live in Wagga Wagga and there is one there.

Luna,

When is your test? Let us know how you did. I know you will get through this...WE ARE WITH YOU.

Thanks!

Someone else suggested I should try a visulisation, the one mentioned here sounds great, thanks for going to the trouble to write it out.

That's fantastic humour worked to calm you down! I'm not sure it would work for me though, I'd probably freak out even more!

My MRI is next Friday the 13th of July. Yup, Friday the 13th! I'm choosing not to interpret that as a bad sign!

I also have my first EEG the day before, at 9am. Most of my seizure activity happens when I'm falling asleep, so I'm not sure if it's the best time to do it. Hopefully something will be picked up.

Thanks again everyone, it means alot to hear your stories and what worked for you.

I'm sure I'm still scared a/b the mri but I'm choosing not to think about it too much yet, and trying to slowly get used to the idea.

When you are sleepy is the BEST time to have your test done. My lab had me wake up at 11:00 p.m., because my test was at 9:00.

Luna, you'll do just fine. Especially now that you've talked it all out, and know that most people do very well. Have you spoken to anyone at the lab/hospital where it's being done about your claustrophobia and a possible sedative? They won't give you anything to knock you out, but a mild tranquilizer might be appropriate. Call your dr. too, it might be up to him to order the sedative.

Best of luck, and post when it's over!

Thanks.
I told the neuro my concerns and she right away put me down for an MRI with sedation, so that was great.
Good to hear about the EEG, I definately will still be sleepy!

Will let u all know how it goes.

Luna, sedation made all the difference for me.Kept counting and kept my
eyes closed.BEST OF LUCK TO YOU TOMORROW.YOU WILL DO FINE.Let us know tomorrow when it is over.....Make sure you tell the techs about your problem. YOU WILL DO FINE