Dear friends, I can be positive about most things but today (Sun 12 .20) I have to have an MRI scan on my head because of some unresolved dizzyness on left lateral gaze. I have had one before and as I am very claustrophobic it caused a panic attack. I managed to get into the machine finally and complete it which was about 4 years ago.
Then I took diazepan which relaxed my body but not really my buzy brain! I am fine one min and then the next my body just say 'exit - get out of there' and I cant stop it. I am anxious on Pred anyway (40mg) and nervous this might cause a flare. I took 2 diazepan last night but woke feeling shocking with ear and jaw pain. Any advice would be gratefully received. I am also having a CT scan at 10.20 but thats not inside 'the machine' so I should be fine with that. thank you so much.
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Fieldofdreams
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Hideous I know. I wear a blindfold, put on as soon as I lie down, so I can’t see the proximity of the tube walls. It’s not a magic bullet but it does help me keep my mind on some distraction thinking if I can’t see it. Practice breathing this morning and perhaps rehearse something you can say over and over. Trying to come up with something to think about when in situ is useless I find. I don’t like sedation because I can’t order my thoughts and hate the worse case scenario when I panic anyway but haven’t the wherewithal to get some order into my brain.
thanks snazzyD. I am practising some yoga now and trying to get my focus to look forward. Once its done i may have answers so thats a good thing. All in a days GCA isnt it... eeek
Sorry to hear how difficult you find the MRI. I certainly don’t like it when I am in the machine. I found that listening to the magnets and trying to find a rhythm to them helped as does concentrating on your breathing. Any distraction, really . But that might not be possible for you? It’s probably too late to learn self- hypnosis, but the way you get into a trance like state for hypnosis is quite simple- focus on relaxing every muscle in turn and keep focusing on your breathing each time you breathe put, relax a part of your body.
thank you Suzy. I am practicing my yoga breathing this morning and trying to focus on getting results for answers. I will also do the self-hypnosis which i have done a little bit of.
Morning
When l had mine, l took 5mg diazepam an hour before my appointment, tell the Radiographer your fears, lots of people are the same, so as long as they know they will help as much as possible.
As Snazzy D says wear an eye mask if possible or close your eyes before you go inside & keep them closed!
Think about about somewhere you love, where you’ve been on holiday for example, the sea or walking on the beach, that’s what l did & I’m extremely claustrophobic!
thank you MrsNails. Trying to take myself back to my island holiday on Paros... if I could take my cat to sit on my legs I would be okay..... lol lol not sure the would allow that. x
Dear Field of dreams, Poor you. Sounds as though you are going through the mill. Cannot give any suggestions but thinking of you and hope that your results are good and reassuring. Then it will have been worth it. Jenny
I did it and it was all with the help of people on this forum! by Reaching out you dont feel on your own. I felt I had the whole PMRGCa forum behind me. thanks PMRpro.
I can so sympathise with how you feel. I was anxious in the same way, before my MRI scan. I was prescribed Diazepam which I took about 20 minutes before the test. I decided to keep my eyes closed and take my mind to another place. I was so still and quiet that the technician kept jolting me out of the zone, asking if I was o.k.
It was so successful that I think I could use meditation or mindfulness techniques without the drug another time. I was fine, not looking at how close the wall was to my face and of course I had an alarm button in my hand. They are used to people feeling like this. I wish you all the best. It’s a bit noisy, but that is fine too.
I don't like them either, but once inside I shut my eyes for whole time inside and do calm breathing, think of a lovely place...and lie very still....so still the operator said, well done, wish everyone was that still....to which I replied, there is no way I intend to do that again unless necessary!......so that's why......
I did it Oldman. Sleeping mask, yoga breathing, diazepan the works!!! And holding hands with a nurse Paul, rather cute The first time I havent had 3 attempts after pressing the panic button. healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
I am very very very clostrophobic. I have had many MRI's. I take 10mg of Valium 2 hours before the MRI and 10mg 1 hour before the MRI. Before I enter the tube I close my eyes, I sing songs to myself, I recite poems to myself, I never think of being in the MRI tube. Keep your mind busy 100% of the time you are in the tube. It works, trust me. Also, it takes Valium 1 hour to take effect so that is the reason I take it 2 hours before the MRI so it is in my blood before I take the 2nd 10mg.
You will have had it done by now, how did it go? I am exactly like you and have had to learn to get on with it as have them annually now. I have never opened my eyes, that would freak me out and I concentrate hard on my breathing. I tell the staff I'm claustrophobic of the face and they do things in stages, just putting my head in the 'vice' kills me, then they put the headphones on, another killer, and last of all the dreaded mask!!! they let me have a trial breathe with it on, usually takes twice and once I've got the rhythm with my breathing I'm okay. You've got the buzzer and if at any time you need to come out of the machine it doesn't stop the scan, they can just carry on when you're ready again. I've seen very elderly people come out shell shocked and I just tell myself if they can do it I can..... Let us know how you got on.
I did it!!!! I put a post on to say thank you to everyone. I created a recipe of breathing, yoga and diazepan! For the first time I didnt press the panic button! Joy!
I'm doing good then! - never pressed the panic button, I seem to be okay once it's started - my problem is the getting started.... the noise doesn't bother me. Once again well done you! Hubby used to say to me 'don't you think you can get to like it?' I thought he was having a laugh at the time - he meant as I have to have them annually try to get used to the idea - think 'like' was a poor choice of words!
Well done you, once it's done you think did I make too much fuss? I didn't get on the computer this weekend, so catching up a little, things going on here....
Congrats to you for conquering the MRI! Thanks for the tips everyone. What a timely post! I had an MRI scheduled this morning to see if my jaw problem was TMJ and I didn’t make it through, I had to come out after a couple of passed of the scanner. I’m somewhat claustrophobic, (seems to depend on how much stress is going on) I somehow thought they could give you valium when you got there, no, the doctor has to prescribe. The ear plugs kept coming out and the noise was just unbearable. I’ve gotten very sensitive to loud noises. Rescheduled for next week with Valium in hand. She told me to buy some waxy type ear plugs which work better than the foam ones. Also the tech was very hurried and nervous herself which I think I picked up.
I am so sorry you had a rough time. Sounds exactly like me the first 3 times I did it. If you can it helps if you can be calm or have an hour to yourself to relax before you go. Make sure you take the diazepan in plenty of time - it took 2 with me as it didnt calm my busy brain. Make sure you tell the receptionist when you check in and I used an eye mask that I took with me this time and that really helped. I was listening to my calming sounds on my phone with earplugs in right until I went into the room. Take your time and ask someone to sit next to you. It helps to know someone is there in the room and even get them to hold our hand. If its for your head you dont need to be all the way into the machine. Some will give you a large set of head phones for music if you ask. Sending you all my love and good vibes. We are all here for you. Love and peace
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Paul, rather cute 
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