Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire MRI Claustrophobia

Several years ago I needed one due to back issues and the clinic I was sent to had the small cylinder type, I am 6�4� 280 and my arms were pinched tight against my side causing me to move, they stopped the process and I ended up going to another site that had an more open unit it worked for me.

My heart is beating like a drum just reading these. Bye!!!

Yep. Just thinking about caves and such gets my anxiety up.

I got that feeling when I had my MRI done. Thank goodness they gave me headphones and Pink Floyd was playing during the whole procedure. I just shut my eyes and went with it. Ask for music.

I think I lasted 15 seconds in the first closed one...then abject panic set in and I was OUT of there NOW! Have had a couple of open MRI's and MRA's since and was ok but never again in a closed one...not conscious anyway. And there is NO way you will get me in a cave...nope nada no f'in way...

I have had many MRI and CATs over the last couple of months. Only once did I get the fantods. I opened my eyes when I should not have and I forgot to practice the correct breathing techniques to calm down. I managed to straighten myself out and haven't had any more problems.

Sorry to hear that. When I got one on my head the tech was so worried about the possibility of me freaking out, that he almost freaked me out!

I'm not claustrophobic so I can't help other than to say: drugs. Get ye to your doc for some Valium or whatever they use nowadays. I had Valium before a hernia repair (done under local anaethesia, eek) and that stuff WILL relax you.

Those MRI machines really are a trip, all the humming and whirring and so on.

Man, you 'phobes would just love this cave in New Mexico (about 40 miles east of ABQ on the other side of the Sandias) that I went deep into back in the day. It had entire 20-30 yard stretches that were no bigger than an MRI machine... grin. We got all the way to the end (several hundred yards? Half mile?) and there was a little cavern about like a bedroom, with some lowrider vatos who'd also done the thing. We smoked pot with them and then things got a little spookier. I wouldn't recommend getting stoned before an MRI, based on that experience.

Best part was that everyone's flashlights died on the way out. We crawled out of there by the light of our Bic's. Good times.

Guess all the hundreds of [bleep] termite infested houses I've been under, some 10" off the ground seasoned me for that type of experience. Have to turn your head sideways, or dig your way from joist to joist to get all the way through. Spend all day under them nasty things, with spiders and Dursban vapor, lol

Plus, I used to do some caving when I was a young buck.

Ah, you're taking me back to the days when I worked as a subcontractor in Dow Chemical's Dursban plant. Nasty chit.

No way, no how....the word spelunker races my pulse.

I'm blessed with the lack of claustrophobia and have been in some very tight pipes, sewer and storm, over the years. Just had my first MRI about a month ago. They asked me what kind of music I liked, slapped on the head phones, rolled me and it was smooth sailing.
My wife will have to be sedated if and when she ever has to have an MRI. She gets claustic in the back seat of a 2 door vehicle.

If ya dont like the MRI be sure TI be cremated when you die, eternity is a long tine in a casket

I had one on my knee this last Friday. My head wasn't inside the thing, though. I used to be a roofer and have lots of experience in very tight crawl spaces in addition to having done plumbing and wiring under houses with just enough room to breathe. It doesn't bother me any.
The only problem I had with the knee is that half way through, my leg started to spasm. It took a lot of will power to hold it steady for that long. I was sure glad to have it done with.

The last MRI I did was late in day and took an awful long time.
Had a helluva time convincing myself that everyone had not gone home and left me in it.

1B

The wash cloth was the answer for me. I had 4 MRI's in three months a couple years ago.

Yes, I do. Have been mildly claustrophobic from childhood, ever since getting stuck in a cylinder as a young pup. I also dread MRIs, both for the CP aspect, as well as the awful nausea, and memories of same, that comes with the dye injected as part of CT scans. <shudder>

I've never had to bail during a procedure, but I undertand it. Sorry about your troubles, sir.

Six years or so ago I needed to have an MRI done on my shoulder (turned out I fractured it) they tried a closed MRI before the machine even stopped putting me in I had to come out.........the one and only time I ever had felt claustrophobic. Wound up getting an open MRI and all was well!!!

Missed a good chance at a good nap.

I took my tough rancher, hunting, fishing buddy from east Texas to see the mountains around Ruidoso with our wives years ago and he wanted to learn to ski. We loaded up on the t- bar on the baby slope and on the way up it got us about 20 feet above the hard packed snow. I should have realized he had a problem with heights since he refused bowhunting due to the need to hunt from an elevated stand. At about 20 ft high he developed rigor mortis and became stiff as a board with a death grip on my arm a golden eagle would be proud of. His eyes rolled back in his head and he straightened out stiff as a board. Luckily, I was able to keep his butt balanced on the bar till touch down.

PS. If the MRI tube is tight, a diet is in order.

I have had a bunch of CT scans due to cancer issues. Never had a problem. Now that my kidneys are shot I can't have the contrast dye but still have to drink that barium stuff.
When I had my first MRI I thought it would be the same. Oh NO! I was out of there within five minutes. Wound up going to the ER and then my family doc to get tranquilizers.
Next time they wanted to do an MRI (at Mayo)I told them of my first one. No problem. Gave me a mild sedative and a towel over my face. Fell asleep. Now I just make sure to ask for help before I go in.