The idea of an eye mask freaks me out! I ask for them to put a mirror up so I can see the control room. I also hate that head contraption. During the last two MRI's I have lost all feeling in my hands. I usually do not experience numbness in my hands. That really scared me the first time it happened. I have done the last two without any meds as I also drove myself.

barb02 - the first head thing had NO mirror, I think that was some of the problem. The other head thing that gave me more room and was less confining did have a mirror luckily. After I read your post I realized that!!

I am so with you on this one. You are definitely not alone in this. Many people have trouble with MRI's, especially with the cage on around the head. The great news is . . .you did it and didn't have to go back another day!

They had to pull me out more than once. They finally put a Xanax under my tongue and I was fine within 10 minutes. I now make sure I have a driver before I go and take Lorazepam. Although, one time I was so nervous I took 3 Lorazepams, fell asleep in the tube and thanks to MS started jerking in my sleep. That was the last time I will ever do that as they told me they thought they were going to have to do it all over on another day. Phew! Glad they got the shots they needed.

You know, that's never happened to me (not YET) but when I'm in that thing, I know I'm only about 3 seconds away from a panic attack if - for some reason - my mind decided to 'go there'. It's a totally unnatural experience. It's completely possible it was a one time thing for you.

I am so sorry you had all that trouble. You were wise to dig deep down and find some strength to finish it. My secret is to go prepared to be warm. I take along sweat pants or athletic pants I would wear to the gym. I also wear socks and ask for a blanket. I have always taken along my own CD discs but the last time I went said that CD players are a thing of the past!

After reading all of your stories about the experiences in the MRI, now I know why, when I walk the through the 'check-points' of getting ready for a scan...

the clerks, the nurses, the techs... at each point I get the questions:

have you had an MRI before
are you okay in small spaces
are you okay with the loud noises

and a few other questions I don't recall...

I'm okay with the MRI.

I match the varying beats and tones of the scans to songs/bands that I can think of at that moment.

I do wish that the "open" MRIs were more accurate for the MSers needs.
That would make life much easier!

Niko

I truly understand. I once had an "open" mri for a lumbar mri. Open my
you know what. I started freaking out. I was trying to raise my head, it
was terrible. Now I do closed mris and I am way out of it from all the
drugs but it is so worth it. I just have to plan ahead. Sorry you had
to go thru this, it stinks.