MRI and severe anxiety

I went in for an MRI yesterday and once inside the tunnel my anxiety was soooo high I asked to be let out and was unable to relax myself enough to be able to go through with it.

I've had MRI's in the past and it was anxiety-provoking. I've been given a mirror to be able to see 'outside the hole' and it's helped me pull through those MRI's. But this time, due to a lot a lot a lot of stress in my life....my anxiety level is up so so high it keeps me from going through with the MRI. I have another appointment tomorrow and would like to know if anyone here has any tips on lessening the anxiety.
I don't have any anti-anxiety meds as I've never been prescribed that. Ordinarily I don't need it. But I feel I need to somehow get a grip so that I can successfully complete the MRI tomorrow.

Any tips, ideas, suggestions are appreciated.

use an open mri

They can get an order for meds right there in MRI. So, if you can't deal, then ask for the meds. It helped me to put a towel over my eyes too, so I didn't look at anything.

They should also give you a buzzer/call bell to hold so if you do need to take a break and come out, they will hear you and let you out.
Best,
Okie

I have had a couple of MRI's. It seemed to get harder for me each time. Not sure why, possibly each time the worry about my illness was greater.

Last time I had to keep my eyes closed. Having them open and focused on the machine so close was nauseating to me (although nausea was one of my illnesses symptoms also). So I kept my eyes closed and put my mind in a nice relaxing, green, shady outdoor setting.

Let us know how it goes for you.

You should call your ordering doc for the MRI and ask for medication that will relax you. It is commonly used by patients who are having MRI's. And the other option is to schedule at an open MRI place. Not sure where you live but some people would rather drive long distance for that.
Good luck!
Snow

First time I freaked..... so had to stop right away.

2nd time medication... and a friend from work went and held my feet... yes my feet.... it grounded me and made me feel safe... he talked to me the whole time and cracked some jokes and I got thru it....

other things.... counting... 1,2,3,4,5,6.... concentrating on the counting helps when there is alot of pain in a procedure.. this isn't pain but that may help..
make the numbers BIG in your mind and just concentrate on seeing them and tune everything else out....

Thank you all for your kind advice. I woke up this morn and canceled my appointment. I will ask the prescribing doc for some meds that I can take prior to doing the MRI.

Thanks again! Take care all!

I am kind of claustrophobic so I wore a blindfold while in the tube. Since I couldn't see the narrow tube walls so close to me, I didn't freak out. In fact, it was kind of relaxing, and I dozed off.

I freaked too. I took Ativan and did the upright MRI. It was a breeze. You get to pick your music.



They also have this type.

I would find a place with an open MRI (ask the doctor prescribing the MRI for such a place). I don't do too bad, have more trouble worrying about the contrast dye, etc. but I have done what freewill suggests, count. I had an MRI for my hearing and the "banging" was horrible but the MRI for my intestines wasn't so loud but they offered music headphones. It also wasn't for so long; doing my "head" took a whole lot of time (20 minutes) and 3-4 separate "sessions" in there the whole time. I lived :-)

Thanks all for your responses! I've heard an open MRI is not as 'good' as a closed one. Is that really so?