MRIs & meds?

[FastHands]

Has anyone who doesn't otherwise take regular medication requested something prior to an MRI? I have to do a followup, and while I'm not generally claustrophobic for short periods, it's a 90 minute series, and I was getting really anxious by the end of it. I actually thought about just having a beer before, lol, but I remembered I can't eat or drink anything but water for 6h, so that's out. Would I be a crazy obnoxious person if I requested something?

[pegasuskat]

I had one recently and the lady checking in beside me asked for something. They brought it to her, so its probably a pretty common request.

[Deleted]

You can definitely request something. I would talk to them ahead of time to see what meds will be made available to you.

[bcv513]

I had an MRI a few months ago and asked for something. They didn't bat an eye.

This is going to sound weird, but what really helped me was they had a ceiling fan in the room and I could feel the breeze on my hands (my hands were up over my head). For some reason, I felt so much better feeling that breeze. Maybe they can do something like that for you?

[MixedBerryJam]

Will you have someone with you? I don't know what they give you in this circumstance, but I am unable to drive after I take a xanax.

[stinkyfeet]

No biggie at all, they have that request all the time. I din't have to ask, they offered when I had a 90 minute series. I think i got it from my Dr who ordered the test, not from the MRI place itself.... so check with your DR before the appt.

[Deleted]

Ask.

I am absolutely asking for anti-anxiety meds if I ever have to have another MRI.

I had one of my foot a few months ago. My whole body wasn't even in, but I freaked the fuck out. I held it together enough to get the scan, but when they came in to get me out, I couldn't move and then started sobbing. I had to have my H come pick me up because I didn't think I could make the 10-minute walk home.

There is no shame in asking for what you need.

[caddywompus]

Check with your doctor. You should be able to get an Ativan or something. It is not an uncommon request.

[FastHands]

Sept 27, 2016 11:44:35 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Will you have someone with you? I don't know what they give you in this circumstance, but I am unable to drive after I take a xanax.

Ohh yeah, I meant to add that -- no one will be with me; H will have to go get DS from daycare, so I definitely need to be able to drive. I'll suck it up and deal if there's not something for that.

[nikki25]

Are you able to find an open MRI and reschedule with them? I had brain mri's in a closed one and man, I know how horrible it is and you have a long appointment:(

If open MRI's aren't available then ask for something, there is nothing wrong with that.

[FastHands]

Sept 27, 2016 11:47:54 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

Ask.

I am absolutely asking for anti-anxiety meds if I ever have to have another MRI.

I had one of my foot a few months ago. My whole body wasn't even in, but I freaked the fuck out. I held it together enough to get the scan, but when they came in to get me out, I couldn't move and then started sobbing. I had to have my H come pick me up because I didn't think I could make the 10-minute walk home.

There is no shame in asking for what you need.

I'm so sorry! That sounds awful! I've had them of my leg and my head before and was fine, but these are abdominal with my hands pinned to my sides and I'm in the tube up to my knees and have to push out all my air and hold it for like 10sec at a time, for 90min.  No bueno.

[tillie]

I'm not sure they will give you anything if you will be driving.

When I've had MRIs, I've kept my eyes closed (so I don't have to really see how enclosed it is), took deep breaths and made sure there was cool air circulating. I know it won't work for everyone but I actually dosed off a bit through it even with all of the clanging.

[FastHands]

Sept 27, 2016 12:18:18 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

Are you able to find an open MRI and reschedule with them? I had brain mri's in a closed one and man, I know how horrible it is and you have a long appointment:(

If open MRI's aren't available then ask for something, there is nothing wrong with that.

They do have one open machine, so I may ask them what the wait is on that. (It's a huge med facility, and I know she mentioned that option last time and I was all NAAAHHH NOT ME I'M GOOD. lol. That option is probably safer than taking a med when I won't know how it'll effect me wrt driving home. 

[nikki25]

Sept 27, 2016 12:23:39 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Sept 27, 2016 12:18:18 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

Are you able to find an open MRI and reschedule with them? I had brain mri's in a closed one and man, I know how horrible it is and you have a long appointment:(

If open MRI's aren't available then ask for something, there is nothing wrong with that.

They do have one open machine, so I may ask them what the wait is on that. (It's a huge med facility, and I know she mentioned that option last time and I was all NAAAHHH NOT ME I'M GOOD. lol. That option is probably safer than taking a med when I won't know how it'll effect me wrt driving home. 

OMG, definitely ask!

I am like you. I was never claustrophobic but sitting in that tunnel where you can't see an out except for the mirror they provide was horrible. Horrible. The open MRI is blissful! And it is much, much quieter so you can take a nap

[scorpio72]

Are all MRI's closed unless you ask for an open one?  I'm taking DD in for one on her knee in an hour and it hadn't even occurred to me that she may be fully in.  She's 13 and I have no idea if she's claustrophobic.  

[bonquiqui]

Yes, and it's normal. When you have to get routine one's, it's a necessity. I also always request a washcloth to cover my eyes. Also completely normal

[insominac]

I just listened to the Hamilton soundtrack for the two hours. If I couldn't listen to music, I would have definitely taken something.

[kayl84]

Sept 27, 2016 12:23:39 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Sept 27, 2016 12:18:18 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

Are you able to find an open MRI and reschedule with them? I had brain mri's in a closed one and man, I know how horrible it is and you have a long appointment:(

If open MRI's aren't available then ask for something, there is nothing wrong with that.

They do have one open machine, so I may ask them what the wait is on that. (It's a huge med facility, and I know she mentioned that option last time and I was all NAAAHHH NOT ME I'M GOOD. lol. That option is probably safer than taking a med when I won't know how it'll effect me wrt driving home. 

I know when I had my most recent head MRI and was already on edge, they had headphones and put on a YouTube mix of J-Timberlake that I'd requested. Realllllly hard to stay still though, so don't do anything you'd jam out in your car without a care in the world to. I will admit that much.

[FastHands]

Sept 27, 2016 19:14:55 GMT -5 kayl84 said:

Sept 27, 2016 12:23:39 GMT -5 FastHands said:

They do have one open machine, so I may ask them what the wait is on that. (It's a huge med facility, and I know she mentioned that option last time and I was all NAAAHHH NOT ME I'M GOOD. lol. That option is probably safer than taking a med when I won't know how it'll effect me wrt driving home. 

I know when I had my most recent head MRI and was already on edge, they had headphones and put on a YouTube mix of J-Timberlake that I'd requested. Realllllly hard to stay still though, so don't do anything you'd jam out in your car without a care in the world to. I will admit that much.

How does that work? They have headphones/player with no metal? I do have to be able to hear the technician's prompts, but if I could have music going even softly in one ear, that would be huge.

[kayl84]

Sept 27, 2016 19:37:28 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Sept 27, 2016 19:14:55 GMT -5 kayl84 said:

I know when I had my most recent head MRI and was already on edge, they had headphones and put on a YouTube mix of J-Timberlake that I'd requested. Realllllly hard to stay still though, so don't do anything you'd jam out in your car without a care in the world to. I will admit that much.

How does that work? They have headphones/player with no metal? I do have to be able to hear the technician's prompts, but if I could have music going even softly in one ear, that would be huge.

Yeah their prompts came through my headset. it was this giant rubber well they looked like old-ass headphones you'd use if you needed ear protection flying a plane in military in the 80s or what Michael Phelps kid had on for ear protection at the Olympics.

[insominac]

Sept 27, 2016 19:37:28 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Sept 27, 2016 19:14:55 GMT -5 kayl84 said:

I know when I had my most recent head MRI and was already on edge, they had headphones and put on a YouTube mix of J-Timberlake that I'd requested. Realllllly hard to stay still though, so don't do anything you'd jam out in your car without a care in the world to. I will admit that much.

How does that work? They have headphones/player with no metal? I do have to be able to hear the technician's prompts, but if I could have music going even softly in one ear, that would be huge.

It's weird - the music in mind came through a plastic tube or something. The quality is piss poor and it can be hard at times to hear over the damn machine. For my first MRI I had them play a Radiohead concert. The second time I had them play something classical, but that made the machine noise even more jarring and so I switched to the Hamilton cast recording. I had to do a head, neck, spine, and pelvis with and without contrast so I was in that tube for a while.