So, I guess I'm more claustrophobic than I realized

[Deleted]

Doc wanted me to have an MRI because of ear ringing. ( I wasn't convinced  ) anyway, I know I don't like being contained/ restricted, but thought I'd just yoga breathe and keep my eyes closed... They barely got me in and I Freaked out...  I've never had a reaction like that? Anyone else? 

[Tennesseer]

I have a friend like you. I have to drive her to her MRI scans because she has to take a Xanax an hour or so before the scan to relax her and avoid the felling of confinement.

[zibazinski]

I've gotten that way as I've gotten older. 

[Tennesseer]

I plan on being cremated. I have no desire to be stuck in a box underground for whoever knows how long.

[Sam_2.0]

Yep. I have to get something to help me relax if I have to get a scan. I won't go in water slide tunnels that I can not see the end from the beginning. No way in hell would I ever go cave diving!!! I don't like to be stuck in something without a clear escape route. Planes really get to me but it is better than being trapped in a car for even longer so I can usually talk myself into being ok and sit by a window. I refuse to park in the lower levels of our parking garage at work. I drive up to the top where I can see daylight out the windows, or even park on the roof. I really wish I could get up to my floor everyday without the elevator (well, I guess I could hike the 30 floors, but maybe I am more lazy than I am claustrophobic). I even get pankicked if I get tangled up in the covers on my bed, so usually one arm and one leg are completely uncovered so I don't feel trapped.

[Deleted]

Tenn, that is exactly what I was thinking on the drive home! After I calmed down. No casket for me...

If she still wants an MRI it's going to be open, and she'll probably still have to medicate me  

[Sam_2.0]

btw, oped, referencing the other medical thread, is the MRI really medically necessary?

[Tennesseer]

Oped-ask for a prescription for a mild form of Xanax. You have to take it ahead of time tough. Therefore, some one will have to drive you to the scan to be safe.

[kent]

Mar 13, 2013 11:07:15 GMT -5 oped said:

Doc wanted me to have an MRI because of ear ringing. ( I wasn't convinced  ) anyway, I know I don't like being contained/ restricted, but thought I'd just yoga breathe and keep my eyes closed... They barely got me in and I Freaked out...  I've never had a reaction like that? Anyone else? 

I've never had that problem but certainly sympathise with those that do - ask if you can get an "open" MRI.

[cael]

I had an MRI when I was 19 or 20. It didn't freak me out back then, but... thinking about it, if I had one now, I think I'd be pretty uncomfortable. I think I'm developing mild anxiety the older I get I dislike being in crowds more, small spaces freak me out more than they used to. Not serious freaking out, I just want to GTFO reasonably soon.

[constanz22]

I had to have one of my head about 12 years ago.  I didn't have TOO hard of a time with it then.  But, about a year and a half ago, I had to have one for my back.  I requested the open MRI, but I swear, it still encased me with about 4 inches around my face.  I almost couldn't finish it.  I was just getting ready to push the button to get them to take me out when it was over.  Now, this was also about 4 weeks after I'd had a hysterectomy and I still felt like total shit, so, that may have made it worse.  My doctor recently wanted me to get another one on my head for chronic migraines and I was so worked up, I almost couldn't do it, but, I had it done at a different hospital/facility and it was a million times better.  Their machine was definitely newer and more open and they gave you headphones and let you pick music to listen to.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd anticipated.  If I ever need another one, I will definitely go back to this facility vs. the other one.  But, yes, I do feel a lot more anxiety about stuff the older I get!

[mollyanna58]

I'm not generally claustrophobic, but I had an MRI a couple of years ago and I did find it uncomfortably confining.  And it turned out to be an open MRI!

[Tennesseer]

What ever you do, don't read Barbara Jane Mackle's first person account 83 Hours ‘Til Dawn. What she went through still makes me thrash around my arms and legs.

[Tiny]

When they show the MRI machines on TV it just looks like a 7 foot long (or so) by 3 foot wide 'tunnel' that's open on both ends.   Is that what it is or something else?    I don't think I'd have a problem with it.  My feelings of 'claustraphobia' are when there are lots of people in a small space - I'm fine with elevators as long as it's not a full car (full meaning if I move at all I'll bump someone!)

I always imagined the MRI machine like one of those 'sleeping pods' in Hong Kong's airport (and other airports) or maybe like an old time sleeping "berth" on an old time train.    Is it like that?

Does the MRI machines make alot of noise?  That could be the problem - confined space combined with unfamiliar noise could trigger one's 'fight/flight' response.

 

[Deleted]

Sam, I'm going to ask her to send me to the ENT first, then MRI, if they both feel it is necessary.

tiny. I looked at it and thought, not so bad, but you can't SEE the openings on both ends when you are in there. Plus your head is covered by a guard thing, not solid, but more confining. And I guess my arm touched one of the side? The tech said as soon as that happened is when I started. I k ow the felling of 'closing in' made me open my eyes, and at that point it was all over...  we didn't even get to the noise part. 

I felt like a moron, but honestly an hour after I still felt like bawling, was edgy, just crazy, unexpected reaction, even though I know I don't like close spaces, I can talk myself thru airplanes, small staircases, etc... I just didn't expect it to hit me like that. 

[Queen of Interesting Nuts]

I always panic and feel like I am going to scream get me out of here. I do manage to relax myslef and get through it. I make sure to keep my eyes closed so I don't see how close my nose is to the top.


 I will never ever have a spinal again I can say that for sure, not too keen on any more steroid shots in my hip either. Used to be gung ho about stuff like that but have major anxiety now.

[Queen of Interesting Nuts]

Oh and I am so sorry Oped I do think as we get older we get more anxiety about stuff like this. After a few  nurses messed up putting an IV I now actually cry with anxiety whenever I need one.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

When I had an MRI, it wasn't so much the confinement that bothered me (although that did to some extent) ... it was the noise I had to endure while trapped in there and told not to move.

[Virgil Showlion]

I'm skinny as a rail because I can't eat fat. I'm scared to death of it.

The doctors say it's cholesterophobia.

[Jaguar]

I just meditate through it all. I get more medical procedures done than you can shack a stick at, try this month alone 7 procedures or scans.

[motherto2]

I totally feel your phobia Oped.  I finally realized in my thirties that I have claustrophobia.  I don't like anyone in my personal space at all.  I don't like it when someone hangs on me, don't like spooning , etc.  It took me a while to figure it out (my lightbulb usually burns low, trying to conserve energy ).  I finally realized that I look for exits when I go into a large room (like conf. rooms or theaters), have to sit on the end of an aisle or table.  I can ride elevators ok, until it's standing room only.  I just pray that it won't get stuck with all those people in it.  I would definitely lose it if that happened.  I had a panic/anxiety attack a couple of times.  Once was at a concert.  I ended up watching it from a monitor out in the hallway.  I work on things like breathing and praying prior to having to be in a large meeting, and get there early so I can get a spot near the back of the room and preferably on the end of the table.  I've not had an MRI to date, but I know your feelings.

[Deleted]

I have some medical issues; undergone multiple neck and back surgeries... 'endure' MRI's more times than I care to think about.. I do everything I can think of to calm myself from losing it...yoga, counting, imagery exercises, drugs! .... a 5mg. valium helps.. I have to have a pillow placed at my lower spine....but it's the prone position you have to remain in that nearly does me in, because of my conditions...ugh. If I could lay on my side it'd be a piece of cake!

Dh lasted about 3 minutes in one and promptly vomited upon getting out.....yep right there next to the table. Nice...

[Deleted]

I had my hands crossed on my diaphragm and elbows out. I think my elbow brushed the side. I could try keeping my arms at sides, but now that I know what it looks like in there, I don't think I could get that image out of my head, even with eyes closed. Will talk to doc today about recommendations.

thanks all for understanding and sharing. Helps me feel less crazy.

I guess what I had could be classified almost like a panic attack? I was off completely all day afterwards, couldn't settle, wanted to cry at the drop of a hat... Had a drink in the evening and slept, much better today. I guess that kind of emotional aftermath would be normal?

i am very much a control freak, don't like when my body is not responding logically, lol... 

[Tennesseer]

Mar 14, 2013 9:19:41 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

I'm sorry that happened to you.   Let me know if you want me to Fedex you a xanax. 

That would be illegal.

[Tennesseer]

Mar 14, 2013 9:32:53 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

Mar 14, 2013 9:29:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

That would be illegal.

I like to live dangerously. I could sneak it in a piece of a candy.

I'm kidding, of course.

I know you are.

[Deleted]

DH is like that- he may have had an MRI but it was something that required lying quietly in a confined space and he didn't take it well (although, thank God, airplanes don't bother him).

Can you listen to music?  That, or podcasts, would get me through it.

[Baby Fawkes]

I don't consider myself claustrophobic at all, but I definitely had to take a second to calm myself when I had my first MRI. I wasn't expecting it to be so tight in there and add to the fact that you are often strapped down to stop you moving.

I normally have my arms straight so I don't feel the sides, but the one thing that unnerved my at first was feeling your breath bounce back at you from the top of the tube. That's the point when I have to take a second. After about 5 seconds of closing my eyes I was fine and didn't have a problem with any of the others. But it made me realize that if I felt like that when I've never been even remotely claustrophobic, I have no idea how anyone who has problems with tight spaces could manage to do it.

You have sympathy from my end on that one!

[midjd]

I normally have my arms straight so I don't feel the sides, but the one thing that unnerved my at first was feeling your breath bounce back at you from the top of the tube. That's the point when I have to take a second.

I got the heebie-jeebies just thinking about that!

I came very close to freaking out when I had some thyroid work (I forget the name of the procedure - you drink the radioactive stuff and then they take pictures of your neck). My forearms and legs were free, but I was strapped down from the shoulders up for about 45 minutes. Normally I'm not claustrophobic, but that experience was something I wouldn't want to repeat.

[Tiny]

WOW!  Thanks for all the descriptions.  Not at all what I was invisioning.  I can now easily see why it's difficult to get thru.  I'm pretty sure I'd have the heebie jeebies during the procedure as well- and I'm not that uncomfortable in small (people-less) areas.

Wow....

[Chocolate Lover]

Thanks for the hebbie-jeebies people!!!  I've never had an MRI and now I am absolutely positive there's no way I'd tolerate a closed one.    I can stand small rooms and being closed up in small rooms but only if there's a clear path to the exit, I don't like being blocked from it. And the idea of cave diving gives me nightmares. <<shudder>>

It's too early in the day to start drinking! I never should have read this thread.......  <<wanders off muttering>>


Oped, you sound like you had a perfectly rational reaction to me.