During my MRI's I visualize lying on a beautiful beach with a nice cool breeze blowing over me and that wonderful wedgie pillow under my knees!

I also count the clicks/bangs and have actually fallen asleep doing this!!

My last MRI of C-spine, not brain was at the local AF base and it was the MRI from hell! I will NEVER have one done there again. The machine locked up during the scan and the tech was on the phone with India or China, fiji or Katmandu or some other god forsaken place trying to get help......all while I was lying on the hard uncomfortable table.
My only saving grace is that it was without contrast.
I went into the trailer at 8am and emerged at 11:45 am. Never again!

Luckily I have not had any anxiety problems, as long as I have a cool breeze blowing on my face I seem to be OK and like others, once I lie down, the eyes close and do no open, until the entire thing is over.

take the meds and sleep this way you will stay still and not mess up the pics, your doc can give you results that quick?? you can always ask for a copy of the report, I am also pretty sure they are just gonna give you enough meds for the duration of the mri, you just might be about as sharp as a spoon the first few minutes afterwards, good luck on thurs

i let them sedate me however it backfired on me the last time because i acually fell asleep and there were not able to get an accurate reading. was a long ride for me though (250 miles) so it didnt take much to knock me out.

i would take what they offer myself to ensure your not too groggy to talk to your neuro afterwards.

Like everything else . . . avoidance.

I've only ever done one, and was fine once I got past that blowing air when you first go in. I had to take Ativan to get past it though.

Cherie

Yep....don't have 'em, unless it's absolutely necessary.

Other than that, Valium works, somewhat, but take someone with you to drive.

My MRIs usually take 45mins-1 hour. Brain and neck. With and without contrast.

I match the beats of the machine with a sound from a band. The tunes vary. Some Pink Floyd, Megadeth, AC/DC, Metallica ...

But, you could match the sounds to other sounds out there...

I just have to be careful not to tap my toes or fingers to the beat. That would just make the scan even longer in the tube

Take a deep breath, in and out.

Close your eyes and enjoy the ride. Doesn't last long. You'll be fine.

Niko

Thank you for all of the wonderful suggestions.

I will have an IV placed, because I am a horrid stick, and they cannot get a site once I am in the chilly room. It must be placed before hand, so they wont pull me out for the gad. I have a miracle man who works there on standby. Anytime I go there and need any IV/blood work, he will come.

I have drugs. Xanax, and so forth. I WANT to be half awake for my appointment an hour after the scan. They are going to show me the films, and show me my glioma, and ms lesions. They are going to tell me IF the copaxone is working for me or not. Many questions I want answers to.

IF I get so panicked that I cant take it, a nurse is on standby with a syringe full of drugs. She is happy to zonk me if need be. The MD said he would rather sedate me, and place me in a CLOSED machine, than have me up and in an open one. Since I have the glioma, I MUST do more frequent scans for now. I dont plan on doing this every six months. I will be mental.

I have a pair of black out goggles. They are soft, foam, and will make it completely BLACK! no light at all gets in. I can and will rip that machine apart if I open my eyes and see just how trapped I am.

I have paid a prior visit to the center, while NOT scheduled for any tests, so that I could actually SEE, touch, and examine that machine. its not the scary monster I once thought it to be, but I am still not happy about laying in it.

I have a prior back injury, and muscle spasms that make it hard to lay still for that long. The xanax will help.

it does help me to hear the tech tell me ...1 min test....3 min test...or We are half way done! great job. I need the cheerleader. I LOVE the leg block they place under your knees. I must get me one of them.

My MS center has satillite radio, and you get to chose your music preference. Swing, rock, jazz or country...they wont let you bring in your own music, or I would hear a book on tape. I love being told a story.

One trick I use, is to pretend that I am doing this for my child/kitty/friend. and that I must hold still, and do this for them. Funny how I can do this for my kitty, but struggle so hard to do it for me. I can do this for my child anytime, anyday, anywhere. I just trick myself into thinking its for him/her.

So, I will leave at the crack of dawn Thursday, and be in the scanner at 10:30am EST. out of the scanner by noon.

Thank for all of the support and great tips.

It is so hard to imagine sleeping through even a minute in that thing much less not having ear drums blown out!! I have to be a freak if I am the only one that it actually hurts my ears...like you see a dog cry when something high pitched is played!!! I am happy for the rest of you but this freak is never having another!!

I sleep thru it. Just doesn't bother me. Now tell me I'm getting a catheter put in and see me freak out. I hate needles!

The day is here! I am on my way to the MS center. Had a hard time falling asleep, so took an extra xanax last night. I will take one in an hour, and they will have more for me once I get there.

Thanks for all of the support.

I have my eye goggles, my questions, and my chauffer. I ate breakfast, but dont tell them that. I would surely vomit with no food in my tummy. Since I am taking pills, it wont matter anyway.

I am just gonna have to be a big girl, and get my fanny in the tube.