I was badly behaved at the drs

[valarltd]

I went in today to see a neurologist, about my butt and about the fibromyalgia thing.

He ordered an MRI.
Ok, I'm just flat on my back in the nice big tube. I'm good.

Uh, yes, I'll take the blindfold please, I have a little claustrophobia *glance at Tube, it's big* I should be okay. Headphones, yes please. 80's rock if you have it (I shoulda asked for classic country) Squeezebulb if I need out? ok. I shouldn't need a safeword.

I'm on the bed and it raises to 3" from the top of the tube and then squashes me in like toothpaste! OK. I can do this. Lie quietly. Listen to Flock of Seagulls. peek out from under slipped blindfold and realize ceiling is NOT far from nose. Try not to think about how your wrists are absolutely confined against your hips.

Breathe breathe breathe. Twisted Sister? WTF? I need some Cyndi or some Eurythmics plzkthnx!
OKay one set done. You're okay. You're not breathing, Angel, breathe!

I made it through three images and safeworded.
My heart was racing, my hands were shaking, I was white as a sheet and I wanted to throw up.
They're arranging an open MRI to get the other three.

I feel like such a wimp.

Comments

[hockeyiris.livejournal.com]

My mom gets Xanax when she has to go in for them... she's not allowed to have open ones, because her MRIs are for her MS.

One place she had one, they let her bring her own music. You might ask someone if that's a possibility, then you know you'll be fine with the music choices.

I can do MRIs fine. It's the drawing blood that I can't handle. I react worse than you did for your MRIs. funny how phobias work, ain't it?

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I got to pick my music from the XM radio. I just made the wrong station choice. Duran Duran and Flock of Seagulls were fine, but Twisted Sister tensed me right up.

I'd do the Xanax if I didn't have to drive myself.

I do blood draws poorly. My veins can never be found when there's a needle involved. But I don't faint like my sister does.

[hockeyiris.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Twisted Sister can do that.
XM has some decent eclectic stations of 80s to current stuff. My DirecTV does XM stations and I listen to them far too much when nothing's on TV.

My veins are right on the surface. Big old monsters, super easy to get to. But I see the needle and I get light-headed. Mom gets shots and Dad and I both get cold sweats just watching her prep the shot.

But with blood, I tense up, I get light-headed, I sweat, I cry, I'm a total mess. I can't even watch blood be drawn on TV or movies. But I can totally be doing a craft project, send a razor blade skidding off cardboard and into my hand and not have a problem (except for the bleeding everywhere part)

Hope everything's alright with you though. My grandfather has fibromyalgia and we're afraid my Dad's getting it.

[green-key.livejournal.com]

MRIs are tough, and I'm not even claustrophobic. You did excellent. I've never heard of an open MRI but I hope it's worlds better for you.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

It's done in a U shaped tube. It should be better.

I'm not a small woman and I was actually very squashed in the tube.

[sidewinder.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I can't imagine being squashed.

I was lucky when I had my MRI a couple weeks ago that my head was mostly out of the tube...I was able to keep my clausterphobia in check as a result (and the fact that my tech had a very sexy voice), but still. If there'd been actual squashing involved I don't think I would have managed.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I had red lines on my forearms from the edge of the tube. Serious squashing.

[elisabeth.livejournal.com]

My 6'3" 350+ frame won't fit in the standard MRI machines, so I was spared that. They had to cover various bits of me in lead, but the open worked well otherwise.

I wish I'd had music. That would've made it much more tolerable. *hugs*

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I'm 6' and 300, so I totally sympathize.

[sydmcginley.livejournal.com]

I was crying by the time mine was done.
No squeezebulb.
No blindfold.
LiteFM station
50 minutes of hell.
And the tech just said, oh were you uncomfortable?
I nearly killed the b.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Oh hon!

I'd have been making as many distress signals with hands and feet as I could and screaming "GET ME OUT OF HERE!"

[sydmcginley.livejournal.com]

that Brit stiff upper lip doesn't serve me well sometimes.
It was the LiteFM that about finished me.
I'll be arranging some valium before I have that done again and I HATE valium.

So, you're so not the wimp. I'm impressed.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

If I'm in any position to, I'll take something similar. But since I may have to drive... well, that may not be an option

[oxbastetxo.livejournal.com]

(((Huggles)))

Don't feel bad, my brother has full blown panic attacks and has to be setated for MRIs and in our family, we have a LOT of MRIs. He's had a partial hip replacement, so LOTS. I have massive joint issues they keep monitering so LOTS...but I'm not one to judge by. One thing that is nice about chronic fatigue, I fall asleep in an MRI...I KID YOU NOT. Even with all the noise, I fall asleep. ;-)

Yay about music choices. My last 3 I didn't have anything other than the drumming of the MRI. :-) Though I did suddenly have an urge to watch Battlestar Galactic...the inside reminded me of the Viper bay. Yes, I'm warped, but after this many, you get warped. ;-) hee!

(((huggles)))

[twinkelbelpeach.livejournal.com]

I could swim the atlantic ocean easier than I could have a closed MRI. You did very good to make the attempt. There's just something about being closed in and unable to move, gives me chills to think about it.