Yes I too have experienced the MRI. I do have claustrophobia and although it was one of the "open" MRI machines it does not feel very open when you have a super heavy giant disc within a whisker of your nose. I just closed my eyes and went to a happy place. I hope you survive more than just the MRI. Good luck! :3
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Yeah, the open didn't feel too open to me either. I kept my eyes closed as well, I heard some places they offer eye masks.
Thanks so much for the kind wishes!
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Congrats on getting over your fear or phobia. Its very hard to do but because you know you can do it now, you can relax much more over it. :-)
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I wouldn't say I'm over it, but definitely more aware that I can manage it, which is no small thing :) The second will definitely be easier. Thanks!
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I've gotten so many MRIs I've even lost the count. I have scoliosis, chronic muscle contractions that won't go away no matter what (believe me, I've tried everything from exercising to medical treatments and alternative therapies of all kinds) and chronic pain because of them. Luckily I don't have issues with MRIs, but I have a lot of anxiety on a daily basis for no apparent reason whatsoever (of course, it's caused indirectly by the chronic pain, among other things) and know the feeling. Some people get used to it, some people don't, it's not easy in any case. I hope you get better and don't need any more MRIs in the future. :)
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The pain and distress definitely makes any mental illness you have so much worse. Certain illnesses can contribute or worsen it, but of course you're gonna be more anxious and stressed and depressed when in pain on a daily basis and being unable to do the things you want.
Thanks so much for your kind wishes, it really sucks that you have so many health issues and it totally isn't fair (but life isn't, something you quickly learn when you get sick). Sending big hugs your way and hoping you can heal a little or find something to ease the pain soon.
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I didn't have any issue with MRIs except the damn noise the last one made, it was like being stuck in a giant fax machine that kept changing the type of noise it made. And the thing they put on my ears to stop the noise put a ton of pressure on my ears and it was still loud as hek, that too. No claustrophobia though.
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I'm not terribly claustrophobic and a CT scan for kidney stones was enough to make me uneasy. I can't imagine the feeling of going into the MRI, especially if you've got anxiety issues to begin with.
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It's really tough, I'd advise definitely getting a lot of information and maybe a sedative if you ever have to do one, because it is a really, really tight space.
Never done a CT scan, personally. Though there's always time for that to happen in the future :P
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Mirroring a bit of what JaffaCaffa mentioned above, if you can meditate, I find that it changes the experience dramatically. (She amazes me, by the way, and is an awesome role model for finding inner strength that you didn't know you had.) Prior to an MRI that I had a few years back for a shoulder injury, friends and family were apprehensive on my behalf because it was a "closed" MRI and told me how awful and claustrophobic it would be, but that wasn't the case for me at all. I chose some classical music on the headphones, closed my eyes, focused on my breathing, and sort of 'stepped outside of myself' and got lost in the moment and the sensations of air traveling over my skin and the almost trance-like clicks and whirring of the machine. This might sound completely alien compared to the experience that you just had, but for me it was rather peaceful and relaxing, and I lost all sense of time.
I don't know when your next scan will be, but I highly recommend looking into meditation, since I think it could make it much easier for you. :)
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Being prepared for how small it was probably helped a great deal as well, everyone kept telling me it wasn't that small, so you can imagine the shock ^_^;
Sadly, no music on the headphones here, they are just for blocking sound, I'll still give it a try to meditate. The most trouble for me is I struggle to breathe well on my back, which makes it difficult to feel relaxed, but I imagine it'll be easier the second time. I've meditated outwith of MRI chambers, so perhaps I will practice that lying on my back...
Great advice, thanks!
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KAP HOW ARE YOU SO NICE ;_; thank u friend
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Aww, I wasn't expecting you to see that. I meant it, though; you're an inspiration, and I love that you even surprise yourself and find more fortitude than you thought you were capable of. In my dictionary, when I look up total badass, I find you. <3
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Thank you for sharing, I didn't know that topics like this one existed in here, it's a really nice find!
I'm delaying for some much time to actually go to a doctor and see what I have, the social anxiety and dismay (discouragement? I don't really know the right word for it) just keeps me from going outside, and now I'm stuck on this loop where I have things to do in the house but I don't have the stamina or will for it, everyday is really gloom and uncomfortable, I don't feel well with myself, can't never really do anything, lately this is even stopping me from playing and going out with friends. I can't stand still for more then a couple minutes and if I try to play something by force it just seems that the anxiety is gonna kill me. I don't really know how to call it, but I hope I can figure it out soon enough.
Bump and thank you for the encouragement!
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Well, I'm trying to make some more varied topics, because I did hear some people mention they wish they had some new topics to talk about and I thought it'd be a good chance for a discussion and giveaway!
big hugs Honestly, that situation sounds very similar to my own over the years. It sounds like it might be a classic anxiety, depression combo (though I'm not a doc) and that anxiety can easily translate into agoraphobia when going outside fills you with dread. I know it's really, really tough, but I'd advice going to a doctor (and hopefully you can get a good doctor to see you as I know it depends on situation and country) sooner rather than later as these problems can take a long, long time to address and find the right treatment, so the sooner you start, the sooner hope is!
Please feel free to talk to me about any questions you have or just if you need a hug, I've been dealing with mental illness for a long time and while I don't have all the answers, I can share a caring ear.
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That's really sweet, thank you, I'm sure we'll be able to get through our problems!
I'm alreayd planning on going to a doctor to see it asap, no more delaying for me D:
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I know you can do it. Don't forget, if you mess up or get too anxious, there is nothing to stop you from trying again and again until you succeed. Failure is learning and it's rarely permanent. <3
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Glad that you survived that experience, never had to do it myself, and idk how i would react tbh
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Hopefully better than I did! ^_- With luck, you'll never have to find out.
What a cute pizza! Nom.
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Only had a few of those and I had to get some acupuncture afterwards to calm me down. My back was as hard as that damn table, I was so stressed. And it took forever cause I kept twitching. Duh.
I'm only mildly claustrophobic (tight elevators and overcrowded low subway cars can trigger me) but damn those tubes...
I feel your pain
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I thought the back thing was just me, guess not! Yes that table is very, very hard and you have to lie there for so long. Thanks for sharing your experience. I've never actually tried acupuncture either, or even massage, other than a head massage. I find the scalp massage very relaxing though.
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I wasn't sure about the needles honestly but you can't feel them at all and it works wonders for muscle relaxation and clearing the head space. And speaking of head, yup, scalp massages are amazing. My lady gets anxiety attacks sometimes and that helps a lot. Not that I need a reason ;)
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I'll have to try it someday! Awww, it's sweet that you give her scalp massages. ^_^ My partner is super supportive and loving, but absolutely awful at massage. C'est la vie, non?
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Hah you can't have it all. I'm great at massages (knowing anatomy helps) but I'm a lousy dancer so she goes dancing with her friends.
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usually hospital staff are aware of how uncomfortable some of their machines and tests are, but they use them everyday and with time probably forget. I was warned how uncomfortable the MRI would be, and got through it. But one time after being taken to the hospital tied to a plastic stretcher and with a neck brace on (completely unnecessarily I might add, it was just protocol or something) they forgot me on that thing for between 2 to 3 hours; I couldn't move, was extremely uncomfortable and was shivering because of how cold I was getting without being able to do anything about it - they didn't mean to make me feel much worse that my emergency warranted but because they just forget about that stuff as it's every hour of everyday for them... well...
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Oh nooooo, that sounds so traumatic. D:
Yeah, I think it's easy for them to forget as to them it's their daily routine of the job. What is it they say in Firefly? Mal says that every doctor should be shot so they have to experience what their patients go through. Haha, I wouldn't go that far, but I did read an interesting article once by an Oncologist who later got cancer himself, who was writing it to remind his fellow doctors to be more empathetic. He said he always was nice and assumed he understood what the patient was going through, because he had the clinical knowledge, but after getting sick himself, he realised it was so much worse than he could imagine and that he could have been even more gentle and kind.
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This is a great thread. I'm glad you were able to get through your fear! I've never had an MRI so I have no idea what makes it scary. I know a lot of people who hate/fear it though so congrats on making it through!
As far as your question goes, I have pretty bad social anxiety and a couple other non diagnosed problems I'm facing. Everyone is always going through something so it's nice to have a thread where people can talk about it.
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Hopefully, you never have to worry about it! It's weird, because in theory it's not scary, but something about having your nose almost touch the tube just awakens this like...primal fear, it really does feel like being in a coffin.
Hang in there and do your best to get treatment and keep slugging on towards a diagnosis. It can take a long time to get a treatment that works, so it's a bit disheartening, but do your best not to give up, you might be a lucky person who gets a good treatment very quickly!
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Sorry to hear you had a really rough time. I'm not sure if you are aware or not but there's open stand up MRIs as well as sit down ones. You should check and see if there's any available in your area.
Here's what they look like if you haven't seen one before.
http://www.washingtonopenmri.com/stand_up.htm
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Sadly, there aren't any of the sitting MRI's near me. It's one of the downsides of having a free healthcare, in the US the fancier technology gets there first. But still, I'm happy I have the option for a free MRI if I needed it! Those sitting down ones look very easy to do in comparison.
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Hope it goes better the next time. I didn't know I was claustrophobic until I had to get under the dash of a car I was working on... and I started panicking... I tried a couple more times and finally just asked someone else to finish the job.
I used to love playing Battle Chess! The battle animations were awesome :)
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Thanks. Learning you have a problem with something when trying to achieve something is probably the worst situation, I think MRI's are probably the most common example of that since people don't get to experience such a thing until they need it. I'm glad you had somebody to help you out with the car!
Yes, they really were, I played it so much as a kid!
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I know exactly how you feel. I had to go in and have an MRI for my epilepsy and couldn't go through with it the first time. So, before I rescheduled I told my doctor that I needed something for my nerves before I even tried another time, and he prescribed me Valium. That made it tolerable enough to go through with it the second time. What made the MRI even worse for me is, since they were scanning my brain they had to put this headgear thing around my head, so I couldn't even move my neck... Really hope I won't need another one for awhile. :D
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I had the brain too, so the headgear was there for me as well. Have to admit that in my case, I didn't really mind the headgear, but just the closeness of the tube roof. But I can see how the head-cage could definitely make it worse for some people, apparently, a lot of people struggle with that.
Hope you can avoid needing another!
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Yay for pulling through and overcoming it!
I think the key thing to keep in mind is that while it may be bad, it's never as bad as you make it out to be in your head, and you will survive. The MRI may have been bad, and breaking down in front of strange doctors mortifying, but you survived! And hopefully you won't have to have another MRI, but if you do, you know that you'll make it!
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Thank yoooou.
Well, sometimes it's worse than it is in your head, but mostly anything you can survive, except obviously deadly stuff :P But as humans I think it's definitely a design flaw that things only get easier as we do them, like why can't everything be easy immediately ^_-
I can definitely make it through the next one!
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two things my friend next time use an open type MRI its far far better and second Happy Happy thoughts to keep your brain occupied.
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This was actually one of the bigger MRI's, the one I succeeded in, I think it's the best they have available in my area, but the regular one...yeah, way too small.
Thank you for the happy thoughts!
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So, yesterday I went for my very first MRI. Well, that's not strictly true. This is something I've shared with very few people, but my first MRI...well it didn't go so well. Truth is, I freaked out. Big time. Like hyperventilating, couldn't go through with it big time. I don't consider myself claustrophobic (used to hang out in small cupboards as a kid), but I had no idea it would be like 2 inches away from my nose.
So I booked another MRI at a private place with a bigger machine. It was still taxing and I was only able to get one of the MRI's due to the pain of lying on the hard machine for half an hour, so I have to rebook the next, after a little rest.
But here's the thing. It was hard. So difficult. I didn't think I could, the whole time I was whimpering and barely able to keep it together, but I SURVIVED. I did it, I completed it. And that's...well that's not nothing.
Frankly, it's embarrassing, part of the reason I have anxiety (as well as a brief stint of agoraphobia) is that I was so afraid of anyone seeing me vulnerable, that I started to stay indoors all the time. So to break down in front of a bunch of doctors in a public setting...that's a special kind of hell for me.
I know there are others out there, struggling with mental illness, physical and chronic illness and many who were simply born with a disability they never signed up for. So please, feel free to share your embarrassing stories, real life struggles, or just a word of support and love in this thread. I'm about to pop to bed, but will respond tomorrow as my energy allows!
For getting all the way through this, here's a giveaway that I feel is aptly themed (first invite-only so please tell me if I did it wrong or missed something):
Battle Chess
And never forget, you made it. Even if it's just one more hour, or day, or second at a time; you got through it and you're still here. I'm so happy we're all still here.
Oh and feel free to bump or make your own survival/illness themed giveaway links!
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