Tuesday I had an MRI on my neck (“cervical spine” which means “neck”). I had originally scheduled it for Sunday, then I had to reschedule.
So when I schedule it for Sunday, they ask “Are you claustrophic?” I say “no.” When I call back to schedule it for Tuesday, they ask “Are you claustrophic?” I say “no.” When I arrive and start filling out forms, the forms ask “Are you claustrophic?” I say “no.”
Oh, sure, I’ve had a Lincoln Tunnel moment, like everyone else who’s read The Stand (twice), but mostly I like small spaces. I am not nervous in elevators. I like to mummify myself when I’m in bed. (Drove my ex-husband crazy, that did.)
So I lay down on the MRI table, and first they restrain the sides of your neck. Then they lock a device over your face so that your head can’t move. The tech keeps asking me if I’m all right. I keep saying yes. She gives me a beeper—a panic button, really—in case I need to call her. She gives me earplugs. She rolls me in.
Within twenty seconds I am pushing the panic button.
I don’t know what happened. I was embarrassed by it, truth be told. The space was much smaller than I thought it would be, but I still don’t know why that would bother me.
I took some deep breaths, the tech sat with me. She said we could try one picture for one minute and then see. I agreed. I went back into the device and was fine. Then the loud noises started and for some reason they struck me funny. It’s like the world’s worst techno band. So I ended up amused and smiling for fifteen minutes worth of tests.
But I wonder what it is that I could just go off like that.
yikes.
I was in the lincoln tunnel this morning
thinking of the stand.
I am in the lincoln tunnel many, many mornings
NOT thinking of the stand.
but yikes; sorry.
oh actually and I had this thought:
couldn’t they have taken a boat?
just saying.
Boat across the Hudson could be pretty treacherous. The walk uptown to the GWB would have been way easier.
sooooooooooo…next time you need to get an MRI or something they have to stuff you in a tube for, you will say “I *think* I better have the valium”, right?
I thought I would be okay in an Open MRI…but still freaked. Damn thing wasn’t open enough. John came in & held my hand. I *just* managed to avoid totally freaking & jumping off the table. A bone scan last year was tough too, this big flat thing justthisclose to your nose. They LIE! (oh, it’s OPEN they say…) grrrrrrrrr.
The open MRI (such as it is) was booked, I’d have had to come back. So I tried again and poof, the claustrophobia was completely gone. They’ll sedate you if you ask them to (AND if you bring someone to drive you home).
Never thought of myself as having claustrophia. About 15 years ago, I was supposed to have an MRI for my back. It was the tunnel-type machine.
First problem was I was too big for the machine, as I am 6’8″ and 295.
My shoulders were too wide, so that had me cross my arms and sent me in.
My hands were touching the top of the machine and my face was about 4 inches away. And I was panicking.
Had to tell them to take me out, forget the whole matter and have never had once since.
Heard of these open MRI but hope I never need one. Maybe by the time I do, they will have developed one that is a drive-thru.
But every since that day, I somtimes get a little claustrophobic in ceratin places. Not that it is paralyzing but sometimes I just have to get out of where I am. And cannot sleep in a hotel room where the windows don’t open.
Fran, that’s intense.
I think if you really needed one, they could sedate you. I’d go for that. If I ever need one again, I’d take a Xanax first.
Open MRI is only ‘open’ if you’re not going in head-first! I had an MRI of my neck and lower back scheduled for last Thursday. I did fine with the lower back portion of it.. because you can turn your head to the side and look out and be fine.. no problems. The neck portion was another story. I never thought I was claustrophobic either but, yeah when they put your head in that thing to keep it still and staring straight up and then slide you in head-first it doesn’t feel very open at all! No turning your head to the side in that case!
I panicked and made them pull me back out. I’m going back tomorrow, but with Valium. Hopefully I can get through it. *crosses fingers*.
Wow, I feel for you! The Valium should do it. Like I said, I was able to calm right down. Partly, it’s if you don’t think you’re going to panic, when it actually happens, it’s like you have no resources to deal with it.
Wish I wasn’t claustrophic. I didn’t know I was until last summer – I needed an MRI of my lumbar spine – I am just too big around for the machine. First they put me in to show me where I would be – and then I panicked – my arms were down by my sides and they stuck to the wall when they pulled me back out. I actually felt like they were ripping my arms off for a few seconds. They managed to get me out but I felt like I needed to be sedated. I said to myself, I can do this – and asked if I could put my arms over my head – they said I could and I managed to get it done THAT time. By the time it was done I was a crying mess. I could not believe how freaked out I was! Well, today I went in for a Cervical MRI, and I couldn’t do it. I tried, but it ws not going to happen. They had a neck brace to hold me in place, and lying flat I felt like I could not breathe. My arms had to be at my side – and I don’t fit. They slowly put me in the machine to show me where I will be this time, and I have a massive panic attack. My blood pressure went up and I felt like my chest and face were on fire – I couldn’t breathe! I sat there for a minute and finally told them I just couldn’t do it. The space is way too small and my arms had to be at my side…. I came out of there and cried for an hour. My chest was still on fire for an hour. My husband was so wonderful and tried to calm me, but I was just sick….. I felt like I would have to be unconscious to do that again. Why do those machines have to be so small inside?? (SIGH)
Barbara, I am so sorry this happened to you.