YES...smile...i cannot stand small places...i take ativain before MRI's..scripted by the family dr. or by the neuro..either will do...grin....but i will not go into the mri machine without it...lol...absoutly refuse....if you are at all worried about it..speak to your dr. or your neuro...they can best suggest how to go about it hon...smile...good luck

luv
heather

I have had 5 MRI's in the last year, stayed calm until the last one. I lost it! They had to take me back out. I was embarrassed, but they acted like it was no big deal and the tech really helped me get back through it. He talked to me during, made sure I was okay, let me know when things were going to happen, how many times I had left, etc. It distracted me and helped.

I wish you the best. Breathe slowly, daydream, etc.

YES!

This just happened to me last week! I've had 3 MRI's before this one, and no big deal. All the sudden, they stuck my head in there and I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown! My neuro had given me some Xanax, but I had no one to drive me. Therefore, no Xanax. Sweaty palms, uncontrollable shaking, the incurable urge to climb out of the machine...I thought I might come completely unhinged!

Next time I WILL find a driver. I'll bribe somebody if I have to...

Oh, and the table shakes and has a tendency to make me a little motion sick. Yay.

i havent though I would like to sahre with you what my coping technique which is going to sleep. Ive had 3 MRI and is scheduled for one next week with contrast, in which I hate needles and got poked 5 times the last time with no success BUT back to the point. Try to relax and take a nap is every helpful because you wouldnt even know what's going on until it is over. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

LOL I have only had 2 so far, but I fell asleep in both!!! You gotta love that MS fatigue!!!

I tried the nap the the 1st time but it did not work the 2nd time, she put a towel over my eyes and it feel down to the top of my noise which resulted in me not being able to feel the cold air blowing in the machine, i was past panic at that point.

Absolutely!!!!
I have anxiety from hell when mine come up. They out the things on my head and chin to keep still and everytime I have had to have sedation, music through the ear phones and a sleeping eye mask on also.

I still find it difficult.

Last time I took two valium and coped alot better than this time.

Anyone who says they enjoy it must be bonkers LOL

The cheese stands alone! I like having MRIs. I know its weird, but as I've said before, I view them as a mini vacation. That's an hour all to myself and they give you music headphones to drown out the loud machines. I get to pick my own music and I lie there chilling out to old school r and b. Last time it was Al Green....I had to remember I couldn't bop my head and sing. Just close my eyes and relax! ....aaaah!

How does anyone sleep in an MRI?

Even with the headphones, the machine is so loud, I can't hear the music. They put a mirror on me so I could see out, but it was totally worthless. I still freaked out.

Contemplating drugs...

Like Heather said you can have your doctor give you something to help you relax. I have been lucky so far and have not had any problems with mine.

Tell your doctor about the level of anxiety and be sure to have a designated driver, then your doc can prescribe Valium or something more generously knowing that you are not going to drive, and it will be comforting to have a friend with you.

The machine is noisy but it does not use Xrays.

I have 2 words: Open MRI. Find a place that has one and then someone can sit on the side and at least look at you and communicate with written messages, etc. You don't feel totally closed in and like that train noise is going to barrel through to you. I have only had 1 in my 7 years diagnosed with this crap but it was a doozy. The guy they had in the machine right before me, died in it!!!! I had to sit out there waiting for them to get him out and clean it up. So much for anxiety free experience. No one ever apologized or even said a word. Worst experience. I have tremors just thinking of having another one. I am about to change Neuro's so know that I will definately have to have another and am going to the open one where I can see my husband sitting there!!!!! Good luck. Oh yea, God Bless Xanax, best thing they ever made. Without it I don't think I could survive.

here in Indiana, they have more open, type of mri machines, my last one was so easy, it was open on both ends, it wasn't bad at all, the machines are called open sided mri

I agree with rhonda1064...I am always on vacation during the MRI's (my way of staying calm in the darn circle) and I am always on the beach in the Carribean and of course my weight and shape are perfect and all the guys chasing me down the beach ****huge grin**** with my bikini on and the waves coming up to my feet...*hehehe* THEN I WAKE UP TO THE REALITY OF POOPY DIAPERS, HUSBAND, AND STILL MORE WEIGHT TO LOSE...Xaviermom74...trust me visualize and it goes by so quick except don't fall asleep if you drool *eew and of course TMI* that's another story. rotflmao

Get some Valium that really helped me the last 2 times I had a MRI. Make sure someone drives you. I had a bad anxiety attack in the tube and ever since then I have to be medicated.

I really don't see how anyone can sleep in there it's so damn noisy.