I have to get another MRI. The centralized scheduling office called me yesterday to schedule the appointment. We talked about which side of town I wanted to get it done at. I told her west. Then she asked me a question that kind of stumped me. She asked me if I wanted a big machine. HUH? I sat there and had to think about what she was asking me. Being claustrophobic, I started visualized the optical illusion of the outer area of the MRI machine being bigger and how it would make the hole seem so much smaller. I immediately told her, "No, a regular machine is fine." I know logically, the hole would be the same, but it appearing smaller would cause me to panic and take another Ativan. Of course, after I hung up with her, I realized what she meant, or may have meant - open MRI or maybe they have machines that are bigger for larger people.

So, I'm all scheduled to shoot the tube tomorrow morning with Ativan in hand and a driver.

Anyhow, I got a chuckle out of it all and thought I would share it with you guys.

Maybe she was asking if you wanted the open "big" machine?

ANN

I think if you weigh over 200, you have to go to the bigger machine?

Have a good time, will be thinking about you.

Just close your eyes, plug your ears, and hum...let us know how it went

Sally & Ann - I'm sure that's what she was asking me. They do have larger/open machines for larger people up to a certain weight. I don't know what they do with someone over the 500 lb weight limit of the larger machines.

Debbie- I'll be fine. I always am. I just had a brain, cervical, thoracic done in March. You would think that after 6 years of regular MRI's I'd just get used to it but I can't get over the claustrophobic feeling when I am in there. I've been this way most of my life. I finally can get in an elevator without panicking. However, if the elevator starts getting too crowded, I will get off at the next floor, whether it's the one I want or not. When I worked at the hospital and had legs that could get me up and down stairs, I had a rule. If it was above the 3rd or 4th floor, I would take the elevator. Anything below that, I would take the stairs. It was great exercise as I was up and down those stairs a lot.

I'll let you all know how it goes. I won't know the results until I meet with the neuro next week.

I was terrified with first MRI many years ago. Then learned to put a washcloth over my eyes, or whatever they had handy. They always had something handy, as lots of patients do this. I find it is very important in my calmness if I have one of the less noisy machines. I think the more modern ones are less noisy. Last MRI, no sweat.
However, my real fear is a Catscan, and for an odd reason. When I have a catscan of my head, I always see an exploding light in my head, which makes me nauseous. It's happened twice now. I had a catscan first because I'd hit my head when I fell down the stairs a couple of years ago. Then I had another one for some reason I can't recall, but an MRI was not suggested at that time. Same result.
This is one of those cases where they say 'it can't happen." With me, it did and it was FAR more unpleasant than an MRI. Both catscans were normal. The second one was given at Mayo Rochester when I was there for my Polycythemia Vera workup .

..Yes i Agree with what everyone has said... and for sure the Valium..!!

I made it through just fine. I had no problems and the brain and cervical spine were done in less than an hour. My mom took me out to breakfast afterward and it was so, so nice to spend that time alone with my mom. I truly enjoyed that.

Mariel - A washcloth over my face/eyes would freak me out. All I need is the mirror. The noise of the machine doesn't bother me too much. I sometimes find it relaxing as well as it is somewhat rhythmic. What bothers me is the closed in feeling of the tube. I pray to God before being slid in that none of my body parts touch the sides of the machine but Ativan or not, that would freak me out so bad. Also, I'm sorry you have such bad experiences with the CT scan.

I just went in for my annual MRI. This was the first time I was ever bothered by it. In fact, many times I doze off in the machine. This was at a new facility with the latest MRI machines with stronger magnets. They always do a full scan head, C and T spine, with and without contrast.

Nothing turned up in this MRI that we didn't already know. Yet my disease seems to be progressing without flares.

So, spring cleaning, going through cupboards and stuff, saw the big pile of films I have accumulated during the last eleven years. Between CT scans for my brain aneurysm, and MRI's for MS, I now have 31 sets of films in storage!

All these pics, and I'm not even famous!