Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire MRI Claustrophobia

I had to get an MRI yesterday and failed miserably.
About half way through the 40 minute procedure while in that tight fitting tube, I was overwhelmed with claustrophobia, I mean a total freakin panic attack and had to abort the procedure.
I will try again with some sedatives from the doc, but that experience really sucked.

Anyone else suffer from claustrophobia?

My mom does real bad. Even with an open air MRI she has problems if she has to lie down on her face. She recently had one before she had surgery for breast cancer and I had to sit in there and hold her hand and talk to her the whole time to get thru it.

Im a firefighter and it doesn't really bother me much, but just the length of time it gets uncomfortable and gets you thinking. Try an open MRI, they are much better.

We all have it, it just depends on how small a hole they put you in to bring it out.

The Dr. thinks my wife has a partially torn rotator cuff. My wife has tried twice to get through an MRI but can't do it.

The second was an open MRI and was better,but she still couldn't make it.

I'm not claustrophobic, but I've had an MRI. The noises that make it sound like you're inside a 55 gallon drum being beat on by the cast of Stomp must make it harder to take.

I went through it for my shoulder & once I laid down I said a short prayer & I NEVER opened my eyes again until I was out.

I put in my ear plugs and relaxed, piece of cake, although it does sound kinda like distant warfare.

Gunner

Close your eyes and try to nap.

fortunately i dont given how many of them ive had, prolly close to a dozen between my back and knees....infact i usually fall asleep during them

I started one and had to stop it pretty quickly. They said it would be about an hour and I knew right away there was no point in trying. A lot of it has to do with my size - I know I am overweight and thus it was tight fit. I had an open MRI and was able to get through it.

I fell asleep during the one I had.

Exactly. Forced to sit still that long, I usually can't help it. My body is in the machine, my mind is out deer hunting or fishing.

Accept it for what it is. A mental barrier, and an opportunity to conquer and over come a basic fear that most have to some extent. Kind of like someone with a fear of heights gettin the nerve to jump from an airplane.

I felt like I was on a major adrenelin rush the entire time I was in the tube. I hung in there, but I sure was glad to get it over with too.

I know what you mean. Just had to go through this 2 weeks ago for a torn rotator cuff and tricep. First machine they had me try was a mobile unit and was pretty much like stuffing 250 lbs of big butt in a tube meant for 100lbs. I lasted about 5 minutes being squeezed in there and had them get me out. 2nd machine was wider/taller and I had no problems - it was also newer/quicker - only in there for about 20 minutes.

That's the best way. Just don't open your eyes whatever you do. Doesn't completely solve the problem but helps immensely.

So do I. It's a blessing if you have to have them done.

I've had plenty of MRI's. Used to have some anxiety in the tube, but found that a blindfold or even a wash cloth over my eyes before they slide you in really helps. I think that looking around inside the tube and seeing how small it is really gets to you. These days, blindfold in place, I can do an hour or more in the tube and come out well rested. Also, they have a support that elevates your legs, so you're not laying out stick straight. It helps me get comfortable. Make sure you're comfortable before they slide you in. Ear plugs help too, as I can't hear anything but jack hammers going off once you're in there.

Never been a problem for me. Spending long hours in a hard hat diving dress in a hundred feet of total dark might have helped me overcome any problems like that.

We all seem to have weaknesses, some worse than others. Let them knock you about half way out and you should do fine.

I've had two and always wondered how a really big person could do it. I'm not sure if I could do it again without something to aid in the claustrophobic atmosphere. Back then it wasn't a big deal but now,I dunno.

Jayco