I done got claustrophobic.

[12poundbass]

I’ve had around 15 and they were full body MRIs and took over an hour each time. The first one I was nervous as hell, but after that I would just fall asleep.

[Joe Genovese]

I am extremely closterphobic (spelling). I've had 2 back surgeries and I have to get an open MRI and get doped up and put a towel over my face. I've had a few of them and cant stand it. Been this way forever, I'm like someone else who posted that when an actor on tv is in a tight spot I panic and almost puke! I raced motocross and hare scrambles for years, and I would put my helmet on and rip it back off, then repeat and repeat however many times it took until I relaxed. Then repeated the whole process with my goggles. Working on trucks....same thing, I jack that sucker up and put my jack stands all the way up. Cousin had his truck in my garage for me to track down exhaust leak for him. He was laughing his ass off pokin fun at me about it. He crossed the line and called me a pussy....he lost a tooth that day. After a few minutes I asked if he still thought I was a pussy....he changed his mind. In all seriousness, this is serious stuff. It doesn't make someone weak or a pussy, it isn't a persons fault at all!

[MYRX]

I can't do an MRI either. My only one was for a possible knee injury that happened while surf fishing. I just could not mentally go into the tube. They ended up only putting me in up to my chest and a technician sat next to me a talked to me. Fantastic service. While I realize it is mental, I have not been able to over-come it. Funny getting a stent placed in my heart was no problem. I watched the whole procedure with wonder.

[Swerve-n-Protect]

Yep.... I got the same issue!!! I've taken happy pills and they help, but I still get crazy anxiety..... some guys sayin they will knock ya out?? That's the only way to go and I hate goin under too!!!

[Dtronic]

Nope. Served some time on submarines. Never bothered me.

Any phobia is all in your head. Same thing with hunger, pain, addiction, ocd, etc.

You can try to control or eliminate it with mental training. That worked for me. I had vertigo and fear of heights, also smoked for 6 years. Not anymore.

[250bassFL]

Called at 8 and sit on hold, till I was able to talk to someone and get rescheduled. July 12th was earliest. So took it. Now I just have to get a family member to get me there. We will see?

[yanknbass]

I am not claustrophobic and had many MRI's because of a heart study I joined several years back. I will admit that those were spacious compared to one that another hospital squeezed me into one time. It took me a long time to get that overwith, just spazzed out at the damn thing, was way smaller than the others I had been in. I will not put myself thru that again. Completely understand how you felt.

[Jeff La]

I knew I had been having anxiety thinking about getting MRIs.
Had 5 in my past. But I couldn't do it. Start to go in the small tube. Man, I just peed, but got to go. Girl says, OK. Backs me back, and lowers me.
Let's me go hit restroom.
Then we try again. Get in there for maybe 2 minutes. Legs start tightening up and shaking, kept pushing the alarm ball.
Girls like, breath, breath. Don't you go having a heart attack on me! I just can't do it anymore. Going to have to work out getting a ride, and reschedule. Ask for the big boar MRI machine, and to be drugged. Home now, and still trying to relax. Sucks! I was hoping Tuesday when I went to my primary doctor's appointment, he would have the MRI readings, to get me to a Orthopedic Surgeon.
Don't know why I got claustrophobic.

Anyone else claustrophobic?

Your not by yourself. Had a few in the past with no issues, but now I dread them and have to be knocked out to get through it.

[BR400]

I’ve had 15 MRI’s. They never bothered me until last year when I had a hot flash. I was sweating so bad the pad I was on was soaking wet. I panic now doing a CT scan. I’ve got so bad that I can’t stand to be in corner booth when the family goes out to eat. When I worked construction I would be the one they would send into a 3’ pier hole to clean any spoils that might have fallen into the bottom. These holes were 30-35’ and 3’ across. I would go down the hole on an extension ladder. When on the bottom they would pull out the ladder and send down a 5 gallon bucket and a cut off square point shovel. I did 30 of these on one job. No more for me. Last mri they put in an IV port and shot something in. This was at 8:30 in the morning. I finally realized I was home at about 3 pm. It’s all between your ears and I was always proud of being able to stay calm and in control. Take the shot.

I have never had an MRI but I know I could not even think about going 35' down a 3' hole. I won't do water slide tubes either. I was at the beach recently and we rented a house with a small elevator. No problems using it but I could see where it could be an issue with certain people.

[NAMVET1968]

Called at 8 and sit on hold, till I was able to talk to someone and get rescheduled. July 12th was earliest. So took it. Now I just have to get a family member to get me there. We will see?

[Bandwagon]

Have a Adaven, talk to your doctor about this. I take one before public speaking and it slows my heart rate down and makes you feel comfortable, lasts about 6 hours.

[rjvana]

I was in there about 10 minutes, they kept telling me to hold still I told them to get me the hell out of here. I ask the nurse after I was out how many people really go thru with the time in there, she said about 1 in 5. I was never claustrophobic before but the older I get the worse it is. Cremation for me also. Years ago, I worked with a bartender and didn't know he was claustrophobic, we had a big walk-in cooler that we kept our beer kegs and liquor stored in. he was inside with the door open, I walk by and shut it, he almost tore the walls down getting out of there.

[ilbass22]

An MRI doesn't bother me. I was supposed to have one this Thursday. The Dr. is now going to be out of the office. So now I wait again. The one thing that does bother me is getting my feet bound up in the bottom of a sleeping bag.

[high 2]

I have never had an MRI but I know I could not even think about going 35' down a 3' hole. I won't do water slide tubes either. I was at the beach recently and we rented a house with a small elevator. No problems using it but I could see where it could be an issue with certain people.

The change of my mental toughness really is a disappointment for me. I talk to the mri tech about it. He told me they get training to understand people’s mental state. He made me feel better explaining how your brain works in these situations. He said it was as real as it could get to me. My wife is petrified of spiders and I used to give her hell anytime I could. They don’t bother me so I felt they shouldn’t bother her. I felt terrible about it after the tech explained it all to me. I don’t tease anyone anymore.

[starman971]

Wow!!!! Can't believe you fellows can fall asleep inside one of those noise chambers. Even with ear plugs and music, it still sounds like a jackhammer in there with me. just had one 3 weeks ago and was praying for 20 min. for it to end.

[250bassFL]

Wow!!!! Can't believe you fellows can fall asleep inside one of those noise chambers. Even with ear plugs and music, it still sounds like a jackhammer in there with me. just had one 3 weeks ago and was praying for 20 min. for it to end.

Exactly what I think it sounds like, and have used a big jackhammer numbers of times. Mine is supposed to be a hour if I stay still. 20 minutes each location I have a blown out disc's and other damage. Have blown out disc's in neck. Upper back. And 2 in lower back I believe is what old MRI show. With bulging and other herniated disc's in areas. Hours long time in little tube. And I have never slept in one before either. But I use to be able to control breathing and do them. With issues of stuff in those locations given me spasms. Which is seen in MRIs and noted in MRI readings. So can't stay perfectly still even if trying anyway. But if I get a ride, I will be drugged and put in the big bore this time. Hope it all works out and I can get to a Orthopedic Surgeon and them fix me. I didn't want to in 2015 because I have had infections after each surgery, and never got back to normal after surgeries. But quality of life has been bad, so ready to take the chance, so I can hopefully get back to normal.

[happykamper]

My last MRI was my last one, I had a brain MRI, they put a helmet on me and then stuffed me inside a tube for an hour, they were running jack hammers, saws, impact wrenches, it was torture, thank goodness I did not have a stroke like they thought, it was that BPPV or vertigo crap. I went into the emergency room around 10 am, it was 1 am before they did the MRI, they had already done an EKG and a heart sonogram before the torture chamber, never again.

[dontr20x]

Have had several MRI's. Secret for me is to close my eyes as I start in and don't open them until back out.

[mastergun]

I was a tanker in the Army and always in tight places inside the Abrams turret and hull. That never bothered me, but could not handle an MRI. I think part of it was I don't feel in control or could get out on my own if I wanted to.

[Gusman2424]

Hi All,

I'm an MRI Technologist at a major teaching hospital in New England (yeah.. I'm the mean bastard that is sending people into those tubes!).

First of all... NEVER feel bad about claustrophobia. We deal with it everyday. It's pretty much beyond your control but there are things you can mitigate the feeling.

Second, keep an open mind. Unless you KNOW you're claustrophobic or you're quite large (think 250lbs + and not too tall) you might be pleasantly relieved to find it not so bad.

Third, if you think you are claustrophobic (or know it) find out what sizes of scanners your center has. The standard MRI scanner has a bore width of 60cm (just under 24 inches). A wide bore scanner has a bore width of 70cm (just under 28 inches). It doesn't sound like much but it can make a big difference. Also, wide bore scanner is often shorter in length which can help with claustrophobia.

Fourth, never trust anyone but an MRI Tech as to whether you will be "in" the machine. I cannot tell how much disinformation is given by doctors, nurses and others. Unless you're doing feet, tibia/fibula (shins) or knees.. your head will be in the scanner. Depending what other body part is getting scanned, you head may be fairly close to the edge of the scanner especially if you're really tall!

Fifth, Drugs are your friend. If you know (or strongly believe) you are claustrophobic talk to your doctor. Either your PCP or the specialist ordering the MRI. Ask about Ativan or Valium to help you relax during the exam. If you think this would help, you must get a prescription from your doctor and bring it with you. We cannot provide it. Please do not plan to drive if you require such drugs.

Finally, there are so called "open" MRI systems (my first MRI job was working on them!). They are typically older, less powerful machines with significantly poorer image quality. And honestly, I think the wider bore modern scanners are not only more "open".. but definitely provide far better imaging.

So... doing my part as a part time MRI Psychologist.. good luck! MRI might be one of the best diagnostic modalities out there for many types imaging procedures... if you can learn to tolerate it, it is probably worth the effort.

Good Luck! I'll monitor this thread... if anyone has questions or concerns.. please ask! (not sure I do PMs.. but I'll try!

Cheers!

Gusman