Getting an MRI and just a bit nervous

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1

Hey Mamas ~

I've been having an issue with clogged salivary glands...

My first "episode" was 2 yrs ago and then again this last April, with mild to moderate discomfort for the past 2 months.
The pain, when I'm actually HAVING an "episode" is excruiating! Feels like I've been punched in the jaw - HARD - with a bada$$ diamond ring - and it radiates up into the hinge of my jaw & also my ear.

I'm no sissy when it comes to pain. I've birthed 2 kids (induced with no epidural on the 1st - complications with the 2nd) and I'm here to tell ya, it's JUST as bad (in a different way, of course). When I have an "episode", it IS debilitating...

That said, my ENT has ordered an MRI. I completely trust him & his judgement (yes, I know HE will not be the one performing the procedure), but still, I am a bit nervous.

At first, I joked about it : "Hey, maybe I'll ACTUALLY get an un-interrupted 20 minute nap!"
But now that I've researched it a bit (read articles, watched vids on You Tube), I'm....ummm....scared.

I'm not claustrophobic or anything, but it the machine itself just looks so intimidating, ya know? I mean, I've only seen this kind of "thing" in movies and it's usually when someone is diagnosed with something terrible...and there's the heart-wrenching violins playing in the background.....

Of course, I am worried that they will find something even more menacing than just clogged glands, but I'll save THAT worry / question for when / if that happens....

What I would like to know from you Mamas is this :
Has anyone had an MRI? What would be the best course of action for me to remain calm? Should I be sedated (that IS an option)? Should my husband go with me & watch? , etc....

2

I've only had a couple... my 8yo has had a lot of them :)

TOTALLY not scary (if you're not claustrophobic). Loud? Yep. (They give adults earplugs under the ear protection -goggle type with a radio built in so you can listen to music, kids they use mondo ear protection for and then stream a movie for them to watch and they listen through the ear protection).

I was really nervous the first time about not moving. I'm ADHD I move. That's what I do. Twitchy McWiggler. And I was going to have to lay STILL for half an hour??? I mean, you see that in the movies all the time, right? The whole "don't move, don't move". Well, guess what? They totally prop you into position with super soft foamy things and pillows... and then if they need to reposition you... they wheel you out and redo all your pillows and supports.

And it's not just the area they're scanning they prop up. You get props on the REST of you as well. They tell you to get comfy (after putting a wedge under your knees and basic support... and then they totally "tuck you in" with all kinds of the molding foam pillow supports.

I get cold in MRI's (some people get hot, for them they have a fan, just like a tanning bed)... so I wear wooly socks and adidas track pants (no metal in them at all) under the oh-so-lovely gown.

The MRI machine goes in stages. 3 minutes. 2 minutes. 6 minutes. Each time they change the stage, the attendant chats you up, lets you know how long the next one is, lets you get a little wiggle out if you need to, turns the fan on or off, changes the radio station. Honestly, I wished there was LESS talking... this was my half an hour of "free time", I was in the middle of a good day dream here, man, quit interrupting my alone time!!!

Totally not scary. Just loud. And a lot like a tanning bed.

3

I had to lay in the machine for 25 minutes while they MRI'd my back last year. The best thing to do is just close your eyes and take yourself somewhere pleasant in your mind. I've had two, one where they put the iodine in and one when they didnt. If you are getting the iodine it feels really weird when it goes into your bloodstream you sort of get a warm rush and it almost feels like you peed yourself because of the vessels around your groin. It's not uncomfortable, just weird and only lasts for a few seconds before you acclimate to it. It's nothing to be worried about, I don't think you need a sedative, but if you are really nervous I suppose it wouldnt hurt to take one to help you relax. Laying still is hard to do when you are in a backless gown lying on a hard table. Just think of songs and other things and before you know it - it will be overwith. Hopefully you'll get some good and quick results as to what's going on. Wondering what the heck is wrong with us is half of the frustration.

4

Be sedated. The only way I can do an MRI is to have plenty of Valium beforehand. It is not a scary test but it is confining. Whether you are claustrophobic or not, it is one of those things that you just need the drugs. If you do sedation and can doze off during it that is always best. I am overweight and short. The weight limit for the closed one is 300lbs. Take a roll of playdough and roll it out thin like a snake. It can do all kinds of things. Take that same long thin snake and double it back on itself, then double that. Even double that. That is what it feels like for me, I am a ball of playdough trying to go through a thin tube and can't fit.

MRI's a very good diagnostic tool. They can see things that a normal X-ray can't. They see soft tissue problems. Good luck! I hope they find everything they need to and that simple things will fix the problem!

5

MRI's aren't bad. They are painless. The only bummer is that you do hear the noise of the machine. Plus, you lay in a tube which some people might not like. I ignored the noise. I could have had ear plugs but I needed to hear them talking to me.
I was sedated once only because I was screaming in pain and couln't be still. The MRI was normal. Shingles don't show up on an MRI. We didn't know that's what I had until several days later.
My last MRI was for a dislocated/separated shoulder. They needed to see the tissue damage. The MRI also showed that I had a broken arm that was missed because they only concentrated on my shoulder for the hospital x-rays.
MRI's really aren't that bad and you just have to stay still. I appreciated laying still for the whole thing. Meditation, if you will.
I don't think your husband needs to go and watch. I say that because my kids waited outside while I had my last one. The main thing is to concentrate on being still. Focus on calm breathing. You need to be able to listen in case they tell you to hold your breath.
I've had a million x-rays and the MRIs are just noisier in my opinion.
No pain involved, no violins.
Not sure what you're watching on the Sci-Fi Channel, but MRI's aren't bad at all. I breathe calmly and relax.

Best wishes. Let us know how it goes.

6

I get migraines so I've had several MRI's and there is nothing to be worried about. I am not claustrophobic, but I don't really care for small spaces. I just close my eyes and relax. If your nervous about it, you should get sedated but you'll have to make sure you have someone with you. Just be prepared for the loud banging noises the machine makes and sometimes you can feel the vibrations. Also, I'm not sure what they'll do for you, but since I was getting an MRI on my head and you can't move, they stuffed padding in between my head and the headrest and put a piece of tape over my chin so I wouldn't move. If you are a little claustrophobic, that might make you a little more nervous, but it was no big deal, I actually almost fell asleep having to lay so still. They will talk to you every once in a while to make sure you are okay and they can hear you too. They give you headphones with soft music playing to drown out the noise of the machine. It will be over before you know it. Don't stress about it, take the time to just relax there is nothing to worry about.

7

I had to have an MRI done when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wasn't nervous going into it (other than about the cancer, I had already been diagnosed....wasn't nervous about the machine or anything). I am not claustrophobic at all either. They gave me a set of headphones to wear that played music to try to block out some of the sounds. I will tell you that those machines are NOISY! I was fine for the first several minutes, but then it just started to feel like I was in there forever and the sounds are just very strange. I also felt little puffs of air on my back and neck that for some reason just freaked me out. I'm sure my nerves were on edge to begin with and I wasn't having a very "upbeat" day going into it (I generally handled my cancer diagnosis very well, but this particular day, I was feeling very sad), so that may have helped to fuel the fire, but I will tell you that by the end, I was having a very hard time staying still and was really wondering if it was ever going to end. I don't know that I would have wanted to be sedated, but I wish that someone had explained it a little more thoroughly to me so that I would really have known what to expect. I had a button in my hand that I could push if I needed her to stop, but I knew if I stopped it that I would just have to do it again, so I waited it out and prayed a lot.

I guess what I'm saying is that you should understand that it is VERY loud and the noises are erratic. It isn't like one loud thump through the whole thing....the noises change as the machine is doing it's thing. So, be prepared for it to be very loud and ask for some headphones or ear plugs if they don't offer them. I probably would have felt better if my husband was there watching, but he wasn't, so maybe do that also.

You'll get through it! Now that I have done one, I don't think I would be bothered by it if I had to do it again. I just know what to expect now, so it woudn't bother me.

8

An MRI is really not that bad. It can however be loud. You will not be able to be sedated as you need to hold your breath at certain points for a certain amount of time. I have never had my throat done but have had organs examined and that is what they make you do. The tech will talk to you during your MRI. They will tell you what to do and when to do it. You will also be able to talk to them. The best thing that you can do is do exactly what they say, when they say it. For example if they tell you to hold your breath, hold it until they tell you to breathe. If you are unable to perform the task or breath too soon they will have to keep retaking the pictures. The better you are at following their instructions the quicker you will be in and out. Whatever you do, hold still. Do not move around. As far as being enclosed if you are not afraid of enclosed spaces you should be fine. It's really not that bad. Not sure if you have ever been in a tanning bed, but it is just like that. The worse part about the MRI, for me, is the noise. It is very loud. There are very loud alarm type noises. Your husband can go with, but he will not be allowed to be in the room with you. He will have to be outside waiting. I have had MRIs at least 6 times in my life. Just keep telling yourself it will be over soon, do what they ask you to do, and know that you will be fine. Good luck!

9

I'm just on the edge of claustrophobic. Not panicky, but certainly not comfortable. My first MRI, I was in so much pain from a ruptured disc in my back that I seriously wanted to die. (I had decided how to kill myself if the pain couldn't be alleviated). At that point I didn't care one BIT what happened to me. I wasn't very happy to see the top of the tube 10 inches from my face, but I just shut my eyes and kept them shut. After that - it wasn't so bad. It is loud and clunky/banging noisy.

The second time, they gave me headphones, asked what kind of music I liked, and it was pretty much over before I knew it. I wasn't apprehensive at all, and I knew that the more cooperative I was, the quicker it would be over.

to me, it is NOT worth any type of sedation, just close your eyes and relax. My husband wasn't with me either time. I always think that if I model for my kids that something is worthy of fear or apprehension, they will learn to be fearful and apprehensive, so I put on a brave face and do it.

10

I get really claustrophobic and was fine with an MRI. The tube is not as encasing as you would think. Have them give you something for over your eyes. Not seeing that you are in the tube will make all the difference. I don't think you should be sedated for this or that you will need to bring your husband.

11

It makes a lot of noise! I had the worst headache when I was done. I just kept my eyes closed the entire time. The hospital I went to had the machine positioned near a window and it had a mirror so you could see out so it didn't feel as closed in.
I'm assuming you are having dye. Do yourself a favor if you are a hard iv stick tell them they will have someone else start it. The dye hurts and burns if they miss your vein.
Oh and if I ever had to have one again I'd bring someone with me. My head hurt so bad it made me nauseous I would have loved to have had someone with me to drive me home so I could have just closed my eyes and slept.

12

Some people are afraid of closed in spaces.
My Mom actually DID fall asleep during an MRI - she felt it was totally relaxing and any noise she heard she said was like white noise to her.
Sometimes it helps to think past it - what errands are you doing the day after?
And before you know it, it's all over and done with!

13

I had an MRI about 8 years ago. Mine was an open MRI. It looked like a giant metal pancake over a table. It wasn't a tube. I'm not claustrophobic either but the idea of the tube freaked me out, so my doctor sent me to the open MRI. See if your doctor could do that.

14

I had an MRI done on my head and neck because I was having excruciating pain. I had to go back the next day for another one because they found a "mass-like lesion" and wanted to take a closer look. Talk about freaking out! I thought I was dying!! The best advice a friend gave me was even if they find something there are more chances that it is benign or nothing at all to worry about. It turned out to be nothing in my case.
For the machine itself, it reminded me of being in a tanning bed. It is very loud, so I asked for the headphones to listen to music. It usually lasts about 20 minutes. I just turned my mind to pleasant thoughts, listened to the music and even talked to God during that time. Honestly, I think I did fall asleep (despite the noise) during the first MRI. I was too scared during the second one, but like I said it turned out to be nothing. My mom came with me because I was freaking out on the second visit, but they didn't allow her to come back to the exam room, so it is up to you if you want your husband to be there. Good luck and I am sure you will be fine. Hopefully they will find a way to relieve your pain. That sounds awful! Big hug!!
Angie

15

Kelly,
I have had several. I am claustrophobic, so I close my eyes before they put me in and keep them closed. I suggest you do that too, even if you are not.
The noise is very loud, but doesn't bother me. I can never really hear the music through the headphones, but they mute the noise a little. You might also consider putting ear plugs in.
Good luck and God bless.
Victoria

16

I have been through an MRI twice, once with sedation and once without. My opinion, request sedation. You are not completely asleep, but will feel relaxed. In my case on the second experience they gave me a warm blanket and had phones with relaxation music. It was actually quite a pleasant experience.

17

I have had 3 MRI's and have fallen asleep through all of them. I am a thin person so I always felt I could wiggle out if I had to. The one MRI was on my foot so only my foot was in the machine which of course was no big deal so I probably shouldn't count that one.

18

I know how you feel. I have had 2 MRI's because I'm a breast cancer survivor. They are not fun, but if you remain calm and still, it's over quicker. I actually took my husband with me for the 2nd one, and he sat right where I could hear him, and he could re-assure me if I needed it. I was also sedated, which helped a lot. There is no pain involved, just noise, like a pounding hammer very quickly. I close my eyes the whole time, and picture something pleasant in my mind. Good luck to you.
Another note, my husband had a clogged salivary gland, and it was very painful, but once they removed it, he was fine, and hasn't had a problem since. He had a small out-patient procedure to remove it. I'll be thinking of you, and hope it goes quickly for you.

19

I had a couple MRIs as a teen. If you are not clausterphobic, you should be fine. You lie down, get moved into a tube and lie there listening to a knocking sound. It really wasn't bad.

I hope all goes well for you!

20

It's not so bad if you're not clausterphobic. I've had several done - some were a little more 'irritating' than others but that's because some of them I had to have my whole body put into the thing. In your case, you will probably only be slid into the machine a bit past your chest - it won't be too bad at all. they give you headphones and talk to you through them and you can answer them. They just don't want you to move while they take the actual mri and will tell you not to move during that moment. if at any time you are so nervous that you need to come out, you just talk and tell them and they will slide you right out. i actually did nap a little the first time I went in one;) Although there is a bit of noise associated with the machine.

Just close your eyes and imagine something sweet and peaceful to you. I always imagine my cat. I know it's weird that it's not my husband or child, but those things always make my mind wander to something else that I need to do or say to them, so I just think of my pet - sweet and soft and cuddly and unconditional love.

good luck,
Shauna