Has anyone had to be put to sleep for MRI?

[luvthatdisney]

I think I must be crazy

I have been having some tingling issues with my arm/hand, face and foot. My neurologist scheduled me for an MRI. I asked for the open MRI machine as I had some issues with a CT scan a few months ago. He also gave me a valium to take prior to the MRI. Well...I could not do it! They slid me in twice and both times I feel like I am going to come unglued. It did not help that they place a mask like thing over your head to hold it still - yes it is an MRI of the brain.

I am heavy , but I am very tall for a female (5"11") but I really think my issue is I have problems lying flat on my back with nothing under my head. I feel like I am suffocating. I tried it with my eyes closed, but I still had the feeling I could not breathe well. I had the same feeling in the CT scanner and it was wide open.

So now, I am scheduled for an MRI at the hospital under anesthesia. I have not been put to sleep since 1997 and I am nervous. I feel stupid, gosh I could not lie still for 30 minutes to get this over with. I know it is common for kids to be put to sleep for MRI's, but adults??? Everything I read on the internet talks about adults with mental problems needing anesthesia for testing. I guess I fall into that category.

Has anyone else had to go to this extreme to get their MRI done???

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

You are not alone. I am clausterphobic and also can't lay flat. I had to have an MRI of my knee once and could not do it. My head was right outside the machine but it was still too much anxiety for me. Luckily the knee pain went away.If I ever need one I am sure I will be under too. Good luck.

 

[joyjoy]

I WISH they had given me that option when I had an MRI. God, what an unpleasant experience. Good luck.

 

[NHdisneylover]

to your original question--no.
Have they done a siple blood test for Pernicious anemia? My first symptoms were tingling in feet, hands and arms then it also started in my face. I also became anxious and panicky (especially when driving on the highway for me)--which eventually (was not diagnosed for 5 years) turned into full blown panic attacks. I am so greatful for the doctor who tested for this (I am "too young" to have it) as it was easy to manage once we knew what the issue was.

Good luck. It will work out for youeveryone has their fears.

 

[princesskelz]

I had a scare in April with pressure in my optical nerve...they wanted to rule out a brain tumor so they sent me in for an MRI at one of our hospitals. (the MRI came up clean just to add) I was not put to sleep. They put a splint on my neck so i wouldnt move. I agree it was not plesent and i was scared already im only 16 and I had the possobility of a brain tumor and the docters were going to order a spinal tap. (thank goodness they did not.) They did ask if i wanted to listen to music. It did help with the fact your in a tiny space. Mabye ask for music? Hope everything turns out okay.

 

[GeorgeG]

I haven't been intentionally put to sleep, but anytime I get to lay still for any length of time is a good opportunity for a nap, no matter what the circumstance.

 

[huckster]

I am some what Pooh sized and they give me 2 valims , they dont really knock me out , if the are sedating you , they will prolly do it with an iv , not actually intubate you you will be sleeping , i have had 12 mris in the past 12 years, many times i wish i was sedated.. just be sedated , your not mental fear is a very real thing as is not breathing so well on your back.. good luck!!

 

[emer95]

No, I did fine with my MRI (sorry).

But I had to lay on the floor in a fetal position between each breast for my first mammogram because I had myself so worked up that it was going to hurt (it didn't). I said to the technician, "I bet you see this kind of thing a lot, don't you?" and she said, "No, never."

Also, I practically need to be strapped into the chair when I get the glaucoma eye test. The eye doctor loses patience with me very quickly because I apologize profusely and blink like a maniac, and then LEAP from the chair every time I hear the *puff* of air.

We're all strange in our own way. That's what makes us special! {{hugs}}

 

[tigercat]

I have had a couple of MRI's and what I do is start saying prayers before I get in and then keep doing it until I am finished. I accidentally opened up my eyes one time and boy did I shut them up fast.
tigercat

 

[bumbershoot]

I got claustrophobic just hearing my husband's closed MRI experience, so if I ever needed one I'm sure I would need to be "out" too. Don't feel bad.

That said, just in case it's something simple...have you seen a really good chiropractor? Often that sort of thing can happen if you have some vertebrae just a tad bit out of alignment, b/c being out of alignment puts pressure on the spinal nerves, and pressure on spinal nerves causes strange things to happen. It might be worth giving chiro the ol' college try before undergoing the MRI and anesthesia...

And someone else mentioned p. anemia...worth a check, too!

 

[joyjoy]

I haven't been intentionally put to sleep, but anytime I get to lay still for any length of time is a good opportunity for a nap, no matter what the circumstance.

I challenge anyone to nap with the WHIRRRRRBANGBANGBANG.......CLANGCLANGDZZZZZZZZZTWHIRRRRRRRRRRRR <technicians voice> "The next series of sounds will last seven minutes." BANG. BANG. BANGBANGBANG CLICK CLICK BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG

It's reaaaaaally unpleasant.

 

[Christine]

Also, I practically need to be strapped into the chair when I get the glaucoma eye test. The eye doctor loses patience with me very quickly because I apologize profusely and blink like a maniac, and then LEAP from the chair every time I hear the *puff* of air.

You need to get a new eye doctor. My eye doctor uses a laser and you don't feel a thing. He told me that it is an "archaic" practice to use the air machine.

 

[Pakey]

I challenge anyone to nap with the WHIRRRRRBANGBANGBANG.......CLANGCLANGDZZZZZZZZZTWHIRRRRRRRRRRRR <technicians voice> "The next series of sounds will last seven minutes." BANG. BANG. BANGBANGBANG CLICK CLICK BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG

It's reaaaaaally unpleasant.

I thought the same thing when I read that post. Even with the earplugs, it is so noisy.

I didn't think the MRI was as bad as these scans I had to have during my cancer treatments where I had to breathe in radioactive stuff and then have my lungs filmed while laying inside a tube very similar to an MRI machine. That was much worse because I had to be in the machine in a room alone for about an hour. The guy who put me on the machine was in this hazmat space suit thing and then he left the room and operated the machine remotely. I was so scared.

But I have to be sedated at the dentist, no matter how minimal the work is. Do I feel like a baby? I DON'T CARE.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I've only had one MRI and it was about an hour after I took a pretty strong painkiller (herniated discs), otherwise, I'd likely be in your situation, too.

 

[honugirl]

I wish they would. I have to get them routinely now every 6 months or so. I hate MRI's. Now I take 2 lorazepam (atvian) and I do OK. I had a really horrid experience a year and a half ago. But you just get through it, you have to. Good luck!

 

[rie'smom]

I think I must be crazy

I have been having some tingling issues with my arm/hand, face and foot. My neurologist scheduled me for an MRI. I asked for the open MRI machine as I had some issues with a CT scan a few months ago. He also gave me a valium to take prior to the MRI. Well...I could not do it! They slid me in twice and both times I feel like I am going to come unglued. It did not help that they place a mask like thing over your head to hold it still - yes it is an MRI of the brain.

I am heavy , but I am very tall for a female (5"11") but I really think my issue is I have problems lying flat on my back with nothing under my head. I feel like I am suffocating. I tried it with my eyes closed, but I still had the feeling I could not breathe well. I had the same feeling in the CT scanner and it was wide open.

So now, I am scheduled for an MRI at the hospital under anesthesia. I have not been put to sleep since 1997 and I am nervous. I feel stupid, gosh I could not lie still for 30 minutes to get this over with. I know it is common for kids to be put to sleep for MRI's, but adults??? Everything I read on the internet talks about adults with mental problems needing anesthesia for testing. I guess I fall into that category.

Has anyone else had to go to this extreme to get their MRI done???

Before they put you under, please ask them to check that your arms are strapped to your side or otherwise held in place.
My 16 yo niece had to have several recently because of a stroke. One of those times, they were going to sedate her. Thank God they didn't.
She could not move her left arm because of paralysis and when they put her in the tube, she started screaming. They were telling her to be quiet. Turns out her arm had slipped off her stomach and was caught. If she had been out, she would not have been able to register her pain and her arm muscles would have torn.

I challenge anyone to nap with the WHIRRRRRBANGBANGBANG.......CLANGCLANGDZZZZZZZZZTWHIRRRRRRRRRRRR <technicians voice> "The next series of sounds will last seven minutes." BANG. BANG. BANGBANGBANG CLICK CLICK BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG

It's reaaaaaally unpleasant.

I HATE those noises. After my last MRI, I was a wreck. If I ever have to have another one, I'm asking for a Xanax first.

 

[maxiesmom]

I challenge anyone to nap with the WHIRRRRRBANGBANGBANG.......CLANGCLANGDZZZZZZZZZTWHIRRRRRRRRRRRR <technicians voice> "The next series of sounds will last seven minutes." BANG. BANG. BANGBANGBANG CLICK CLICK BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG

It's reaaaaaally unpleasant.

No kidding!

I had an MRI on my knee, and it didn't go well. It probably didn't help that I needed to use the restroom really bad too! And then the tech kept yelling at me because I couldn't hold still. Jerk! What a time to develop a twitch.

I hurt my arm and I probably need to have an MRI, but I know I would need some major drugs to get thru it. Valium isn't the best choice for me, it just makes me cry. So I am going to deal with the pain for as long as I can.

 

[dismom2]

MRI's are very stressful for me, too. When I was younger, I wasn't chlosterphobic, but now.... it's bad.

The last place I went gave me headphones with music, and they ended up putting a towel over my eye's. It seemed to help somewhat, and having your eye's closed before they put you in the 'tunnel' helps. I had to do some serious concentrating to try to ease my anxiety...thinking of a vacation helped. Keeping my mind busy thinking of other, more pleasant things, took my mind off of where I was. It was very hard, and I did have to be pulled out a couple of times, but I finally made it through... good luck to you.

 

[yoopermom]

After having a terrible one that sent my claustrophobia drive into high, I changed and went to this place
http://www.newmri.com/
and had it done using their "high field open mri scanner". It wasn't "perfect" but it was do-able. There must be more of these types of scanners around the country, I would think, maybe by you?

Terri

 

[minkydog]

DH has to be very sedated in order to get an MRI. In fact, when he got his pacemaker the thing that thrilled him the most was NO MORE MRIs DS14 is mentally handicapped and unable to comply with instructions. They give him IV sedation--propafal. Yes, THAT propafal. He gets his MRI in a hospital setting with an anesthetist who monitors him during the procedure. He's never had a problem.

I don't know whether your doctor would go that far to get an MRI but it's worth a try. It sounds like they're checking for serious things(they don't get brain MRI for nothing) so the MRI is really necessary. There's not another technology that can give your doctor the answers that MRI can. Hmmm, it would be worth asking for extra sedation.