MRI tomorrow. Why does it scare me so?
 

I have had dozens of these things, and yet each one freaks me out more than the last. I was stuck in one once when the power went out. :eek: They got to me very quickly and were very supportive. The rational side of me knows they simply want me to lay down. just lay down. Close my eyes and listen to the beat of the machine. The irrational side of my HATES having my head pinned into that cage, not being able to wiggle and its scary!

I have stomach issues. When I lay flat, my tummy backwashes into my throat. I have bad back issues. I have old fractures in L4/L5 and laying like that causes bad spasms. No matter how much they prop up my legs, my back is in on a rutted table that is rock hard. My neck is screaming because they cant prop my head correctly and that brings on the migraine. The Gad dye always brings on a migraine but its at the very end of the scan. Im happy when they announce GAD dye because I know any minute now its over.

I scare the nurses because they cant seem to knock me down. No amount of meds makes me relax or sleepy. The nurses were upset with me last time and said if I need to do another MRI to get an anesthesia guy. I tried to use it as leverage to not get another MRI thinking why would he grant such a large request to do an MRI. Wont he just send me locally to an open MRI? Nope, he said he wants his Telsa 3 machine and wants me in a CLOSED system. Even if that means anesthesia. Dear God, enough! I have stopped doing them every 6 months like they wanted. (3months in the early days) and am now down to once a year. If this MRI is non changed I swear I am going to not get back in that machine for 2 years. ENOUGH!

Anyone else bug out in there? I hear stories about folks falling asleep, or snoring, or meditating. How do you do that??!

The pain sucks. I feel ya. And the cage thing scares the carp out of me. I think I have had so many of them that I have become immune to them by now. I have to force my muscles to relax one by one about every minute. What really stinks is the arthritis in the neck. I feel an overwhelming pressure that can only be managed with popping my neck...which i cannot do in the machine.

For me, I bring music...very loud music. I then daydream. Try to anyway. I used to bring a sleep mask thinking it would keep me from freaking out with the cage but the fact is the cage is still there. Mask or no mask I still know it's there.

Good luck sweetie. Just keep breathing. You can do it!:hug:

I feel for ya, Dej. :hug: I cannot imagine feeling like you do. I hope it's over with quickly for you. Seems like it's more than just not liking the procedure or the equipment.....it's painful for you and physically draining.

Can I ask why you're having the MRI? Is it because of the MS? I haven't had an MRI in four years. And the only reason I kept having them at my Neuro's request was because insurance covered it 100%. If it hadn't I wouldn't have had them.

Kel, I think Dej has a tumor, the Doc keeps checking on?

:hug::hug:Dej:hug::hug: Hang in there and do your best to try and relax today and tomorrow before the MRI. Know that you will be knocked out during it so there is nothing to worry about. And, they do tons of MRIs a day, all over the world, without any problems. So there is nothing to worry about there.

Your job is to get yourself comfortable before hand. Take the meds they tell you to take to help with the pain, drink lots of fluids to keep hydrated tomorrow (both for the meds and injection of the dye), and try to do what ever you can to keep your attitude positive. :hug: Saying some prayers for you!:hug::hug:

sorry you have troubles with this! my last one was good, i took my painkillers and a xanax beforehand and it made it very comfortable. :hug:

I remember now......sorry Dej. :o I hope things go smoothly for you. :hug:

I just heard from the hospital, they have an anesthesia girl just for me. She was very sweet. Told me about 10% of folks dont behave normally to medications normally used to knock folks down for procedures like colonoscopies, and other light procedures. She was very reassuring and kind. She had read the notes of the nurses from the last two scans and told me it was actually less dangerous to let her knock me down, than it was to allow them to keep pumping with me the amount of drugs they have been using. I like her already. She assures me that she will keep me comfy and if not, she will knock me completely out. no struggle, no worry, she will not allow me to cry thru yet another MRI.

I have them so often because I have a brain tumor that hasnt done a thing in years, and because of the MS. They normally want one every 6 months where I go, but I have complained and switched to once a year. They keep telling me about the need to watch this brain tumor, but its so stressful. If this new girl does a great job I wont mind going again, but if I have to stress, and cry all the way thru it while they pump me full of stuff that is only adding to my nausea, its not worth it.

So, I do feel some better that the anesthesia girl called me and was so kind. She told me she is in that 10% of folks that dont behave normally to drugs, so she really did understand, its not about trying to get high off the stuff, its about truly not feeling what they are giving me. Either way she promises to catch me. I was impressed that she saw I had phlebitis 2x after, and she assures me that SHE will push the GAD dye by hand. The machine is quick and rough and it can upset delicate veins. That made me happy.

So, say a little prayer for me. Im gonna need to borrow some courage. My arrival time is 1pm because I have horrible veins and they need an ultrasound to stick me, and then my scan is 2:30. so, keep good thoughts. :o

What a kind person that lady was to call and reassure you. Gestures like that really do make all the difference....especially when you've already had a bad experience with the procedure. I really hope this time is easy for you and you get through it with ease. Keeping you in my prayers. :hug:

Sounds like the girl is right on top of things for you Dej. You will be in our thoughts! :hug:

dej,

i'm so sorry i'm late on your post. i hope the test went well and the anesthetist helped you tolerate it all.

how are you doing?

you are not late, its not till Wednesday. so, you just made it. I do feel so much calmer now that I know someone gets it.

Aaahhh...:cool:

Today is the day. I dont feel as scared as I did after talking to anesthesia. I am still spooked about the machine, and the whole event, but my confidence about it has risen. I didnt sleep the greatest, but being tired will help me not fight as hard I guess.

So, say a little prayer, and send me some good thoughts. Hopefully I will be mellow and cruising.

Whooo What a ride! I got there and the anesthesia team took me right back. Very skilled woman snapped an IV in my arm first try. (thats rare) and then the big boy anesthesia guy came in to tell me with my tummy condition (gastroparesis) no one should be allowing me into that MRI machine without being intubated. :confused: He said folks with my condition tend to vomit when heavily medicated and in that MRI slide no one could reach me in time to get me safe or save me from aspiration. He said he was upset that they used the amount of drugs they used in the past without fear of this. He said he was going to try to let me be just medicated till he saw the gastroparesis and that means I am to be intubated. :eek:

Very very nice folk there. I declined anxiety meds to just travel down the hall, but when they wheeled me up to the MRI machine and had me scoot over to the new table and started putting my head in that special head rest I had a few tears start to fall. They petted on me and told me stories about how each one of them has had an MRI and how they hated it and fully understand how hard it must be under normal circumstances, let alone with a back washing tummy. They asked me to pick my happy place, and he emptied a full syringe of meds into me. I looked at him like "lets get started!" and he said "oh a tough guy!, dont worry, I have tons of good drugs and I am not afraid to use them." he got to the end of the 2nd syringe and I started to feel it. It wasnt long past that that I went to sleep.

Didnt remember a thing, but I did wake up wretching and sputtering and then...yep, peed myself! I was told it was the anesthesia that had not left my system that I didnt have control of bodily functions fully yet, and it happens to alot of folks. :o I spent the next 2 hours being pumped full of anti nausea meds, and wretching. I finally got stable enough to say "let me go home" They said normally you cant go till you can drink something and keep it down, but with my tummy they knew it wasnt going to happen. an hour and a half ride home and I crawled in the shower, then in bed. I slept for 12 hours.

Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers. I feel like I swallowed a pineapple whole today, but its over. Now we can see if stopping Copaxone did a single thing or not. I was assured that this hospital wouldnt again let me in the MRI without anesthesia standing there, so ...im not sure if I should be relieved or afraid. Either way its done for now.
:cool:

OH no. I'm so sorry Deb. That had to be scary. I am glad you are home. Hope you feel better today.:hug:

Wow....what an ordeal. I'm glad it's over and I hope you're on the mend today. You deserve a day to relax....hope you get it! ;)

I'm so glad you got the help you needed, sweetie...hope you're feeling more like normal by noon!!:hug::hug:

I feel like I swallowed a pineapple whole! my throat is so sore. We are expecting a foot of snow tonight, so my back is angry and I am off to the chiropractor to see if she can loosen me up. The hospital called and wanted to check on me. They were quite thorough with the questions. Wanted to know what I was doing for my sore throat, and was I eating, drinking, any temp...so I was pleased with that. No word on the scan. it will be a few days. Normally I go sit with the MS center right after and they read it then and there, but this time I had no after appointment, so I will have to wait for the radiologists to read it.

I have napped on and off all day. Rich neighbors are back this afternoon and are demanding to go out for pizza. I am sending DH out without me. Im still on liquids today. ick! pizza is the last thing I want.

Glad you got it overwith Dej! Rest and Relax today! Tomarrow will be better!!

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

Glad it all worked out for you Dej!:hug: I hope the experience was good for you and that the next time you have to get an MRI done, the reminder of this good experience will help you out in keeping relaxed before hand.:hug:

Glad you survived the crazy scarry mri machne Dej :) Hey how bout getting it on cd & checking your brain out? 3D images are fun to play with.

I will end up with it on CD. I have a whole collection here.

Todays sore throat is soooo much better than yesterday, and I hope by tomorrow it will be gone. The nurse on the phone said it normally lasts 24 hours or so, but im special. I get to keep mine longer. Thank goodness for chloroseptic spray! Makes my tea taste nasty, but it works!

I will hear next week about the results, and no matter what I am NOT doing that again for at least one year. if all is the same as the last MRI i I lobbying for 2 years. Too much like work!

Glad you made it through Dej! :hug: