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How bad is a closed MRI?
I need one of the cervical spine. I have had an open MRi of the cervical spine and it was not bad and I think I had a closed one but it was pelvis only. Would you take something to keep you calm?
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Posted 3/20/08 4:42 PM  |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
I went for one of my skull and it was fine. There was an angled mirror in the tube so you could see the technician. My doctor offered to prescribe something for me but I didn't take her up on it since I don't have issues with small spaces
Good luck - I hope everything's ok. 
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| Posted 3/20/08 4:59 PM |
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
Posted by Christine
I went for one of my skull and it was fine. There was an angled mirror in the tube so you could see the technician. My doctor offered to prescribe something for me but I didn't take her up on it since I don't have issues with small spaces
Good luck - I hope everything's ok.
Thank you. Now I found out that my insurance has to pre-authorize it. It took about 45 minutes worth of phone calls to get that tidbit of information. I get so impatient with insurance that the test itself will be easy compared to these phone calls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Posted 3/20/08 5:22 PM |
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twobabies
Praying
Member since 7/05 9662 total posts
Name:
Mrs. Honeybee
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
i had a breast mri. it was closed. not bad at all. i just closed my eyes. 
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| Posted 3/20/08 5:32 PM |
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Googlie
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/06 532 total posts
Name:
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
I actually had an MRI yesterday on my lower back (lumbar spine) and the tube is small but there is plenty of room...My doctor gave me valium in case I needed it, but I didn't...I had my eyes closed most of the time because it helped me not to move and it was weird just staring up....the technician also gave me I guess what you would call a panic "button" and said that if I needed her to squeeze it... it's really not too bad
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| Posted 3/20/08 6:11 PM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
I've had one of my thorasic spine a few years back...and had one prior for my sinuses. They aren't bad at all. Just close your eyes and try to sleep....I had myself a nice nap
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| Posted 3/20/08 8:11 PM |
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
Thanks everyone. The thing about Valium or Xanax is that I will not know whether i need it until it's too late. Also, I don't want to drive home on that stuff.
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| Posted 3/20/08 8:23 PM |
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waterspout4
My loves
Member since 5/06 19150 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
Kerie, I've had all closed MRIs over the past 2 years and I just keep my eyes closed and listen to the music. I don't see any reason to open my eyes, so as soon as they start to pull me into the machine I just close them and drift off into a thinking, singing mode.
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| Posted 3/20/08 9:14 PM |
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partyof6
b nice like u want ur kidz 2
Member since 7/06 7752 total posts
Name:
jeannine
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
I get them all the time for my back---its not as bad as u think. You can get a mild valium and take it b4 u go and be ok to drive home...but if you close your eyes and listen to the musiic its relaxing..its just alittle noisy.
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| Posted 3/21/08 10:06 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
I had one a year and a half ago. I fell asleep for most of it. I have to do another one very soon, and I'm sure I'll fall asleep again. As long as you don't mind a semi-restricted space, it's fine.
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| Posted 3/22/08 4:58 PM |
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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
Def take something. I am supposed to go for a brain MRI and have chickened out 2 times already while there. I even chickened out in the open one. I am going to try and take something if I go again.
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| Posted 3/22/08 9:26 PM |
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PreshusSmurf
So in love with my little guys
Member since 1/07 2963 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
I would definitely take something if I were you.
I just had what was supposedly an open MRI on my cervical spine (c5/c6/c7) in December, but the thing is that it was open from my chest down (you go head first into the machine) so it didn't really matter that it was "open" -- it still had that coffin/tomb feeling.
The place I went was awful, I think it was in Hewlett. The tech didn't give any idea of how much longer (a lot of them will talk you through it, counting down the time so you feel like at least you're making progress), and I was feeling very claustrophobic during the test. I kept calling out to her, but got no response. They didn't play any music or anything to distract you, so all I heard was the noise the machine made.
I also was experiencing a lot of pain from the neck brace they put on you to keep your head still, so that made the experience worse for me.
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| Posted 3/23/08 4:40 AM |
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DebG
Pick a cause & stand up for it
Member since 5/05 18602 total posts
Name:
The cure IS worse!
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
you can ask for something from your doc it can be light like Ativan/Lorazapam. Also, if you talk to the tech before you go in you will be better off. Just tell the person what you need adn 99% of them will work with you.
You can have the mirror put up to see them
or you can hae a washclose put across your eyes( dry)
you can have head phones on playing music they have (they will ask you what genre, or some places can even play off your ipod)
The can talk to you between each scan and tell you how long it will be
If you know a way that keeps you calm and relaxed just ask for it.
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| Posted 3/24/08 5:03 PM |
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JenG
Love my little boy!
Member since 6/05 2489 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
Posted by Christine
I went for one of my skull and it was fine. There was an angled mirror in the tube so you could see the technician.
i went for one of my skull also. the first time i went i requested the open machine. this time it wasnt' available so i went in the closed machine. the mirror was great. you didn't feel like you were enclosed. just close your eyes and try to relax. ask the facility if they have the mirror inside the machine, it makes a workd of a difference, good luck! let us know
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| Posted 3/24/08 9:25 PM |
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beautyq115
New Year!
Member since 5/05 13729 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: How bad is a closed MRI?
I am a person who does not like enclosed spaces and I had a few after two car accidents it was not a good experience
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| Posted 3/25/08 12:43 AM |
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