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My first MRI

Today I got my first MRI and it was the freakiest thing ever. I’ve seen MRI’s on TV a lot, on the TV show HOUSE for example a lot of important scenes play out in the MRI room but what they don’t show you on TV is the fact you have to stay really still in these machines for around 45 to 60 minutes! What they also don’t show you is how claustrophobic an MRI machine actually is.

Before going into the MRI room I had to remove all the metal objects on me including my watch, coins, belt and wallet. I didn’t have any metal in my wallet but the magnetic strip on the credit cards get wiped out in an MRI machine. After I removed all the metal I went into the MRI room and was told to lie down on my back while the doctor gave me some ear plugs to help with the sound. She then proceeded to lock my head into place so that it didn’t move and handed me a button to hold which I should use in case I need anything. She then pressed a button on the machine and the area I was lying on started slowly going inside the machine. Once I went in maybe 30cm I stopped her and told her no way I could do this. She asked me if I was claustrophobic I told her I wasn’t but this was just too much. It’s uncomfortable lying on my back and getting shoved inside a tight space made me feel extremely uneasy. I kept thinking random thoughts like what if there was an earthquake and the ceiling fell in and I got stuck in this machine. It would be like getting buried alive, very freaky. I asked her if there was any other option other than an MRI she told me there wasn’t. Not much I could do so I figured I would try going back into the machine with my eyes closed.

It worked, or at least it helped a lot. She told me if I stayed very still we could be done in 45 minutes, if I moved then things would take longer. I was now lying inside the machine with my eyes closed and grasping the emergency button in my hands. I figured I could use this time to think about stuff when suddenly the machine started to work and I lost all thought. The machine emitted very electronic sounds mostly but in some occasions the sounds were very industrial similar to stuff Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails would use.

To kill time I decided to count the length of each scan since the machine would start for a bit and then shut off for a minute or two before starting again. There wasn’t much to do sitting still in the machine so I figured by counting the length of the sessions I could maybe figure out a pattern or at least get an idea of how long I was in the machine for and how much time might be remaining. I opened my eyes every now and then and honestly it just felt really horrible and extremely uncomfortable being in the machine.

I had no idea how long had gone by or how much time I had left. Every now and then the doctor would ask me via an intercom system if I was ok and that I should continue to remain still. Then suddenly I noticed I was being taken out of the machine, I was relieved it was finally over when to my horror I noticed a male doctor at the other end telling me not to move and that he was just going to inject me and send me back into the machine. I was like what??! What injection?! Are you sure? Am I not done?? He told me I still needed a few more minutes. He gave me the injection and sent me back in. Once inside I noticed he took the emergency button from me and forgot to give it back to me. That freaked me out. I started to panic a bit since there was now no way to get in touch with anyone in case something went wrong. What did I get injected with? What if I got a negative reaction to it? I started to feel there was something wrong with my breathing. It was very difficult to breath and I was freaking out. Then the machine started again and I had to stay still, I figured I would try to control my breathing and get this whole episode over with.

Around 10 or 15 minutes later I got pulled out of the machine. What a relief. When I got outside Nataly was waiting for me, I thought the whole procedure had taken maybe 20 or 30 minutes since it didn’t feel too long but to my surprise it had taken a full hour. I found that very weird, usually time goes by really slowly in a situation like that but I guess since I had no clue on how much time was in fact passing things just moved quicker. I hope I never have to get another MRI done again. What an experience…

42 replies on “My first MRI”

It’s a cosmetic thing nothing serious (I hope, I get results tomorrow). I have a lump in my cheek I need to remove. Have had it for years but it never used to show but now since I’ve lost weight its showing. Plastic surgeon told me I needed an MRI before he operates just to make sure the lump isn’t close to any important nerves or my glands…

I freaked out when I saw MRI in the title, lol. Thank God it’s not life-threatening, I wish you the best of health! 😀

There are close system mri’s and open system mri’s. I tried the closed system similar to this one. Terrible experience. The exact thoughts raced through my mind.

There is no way in frigin’ hell I would go through one of these for a minute, let alone an hour. This would be my worst nightmare, if I had to do it. I would pay for the open one and I don’t care how much it costs.

there IS A NEW MRI its open its like a ring and its really good for people with phobia

its a bit more expansive than this one my mother hate this one 2

ugh why didn’t they put something on for you to listen to?

I had my first MRI in Dar EL Shefa… and it’s a kind of MRI machine that is open ended… if you look back you can actually see an opening not totally closed. and before you go in they explain to you that if they cannot see something in the MRI they will take you out and inject you with something like a dye or whatever to make those areas that are not clear clearer…

Thankfully i didnt get the injection

and before you go in they tell you what do you want to listen to… music qur2an or something else… i chose music and with each song (classic 80’s and 90’s) i could determine that at least 30 minutes have passed. The trick not to freak out is to completly close your eyes before they strap you in… and i hated the Doom Doom metal sounds the machine made and had i had a heart monitor on my heartbeat would have been through the roof… but then it passed and all was clear and the songs helped alot…

Insha2 Allah your scans will come out all right 🙂

you’re right, they are THAT bad…i got an mri when i was 14, and it was for my brain so i had to HOLD the INJECTION IN ME while staying still..it was hard! im sure your results will be good

When I had it done I survived the first scan but when they wanted to put me back in I refused. They eventually got an anaesthetist to give me a drip to subdue me which worked very well 🙂

Ohh man I feel you mark iam actually claustrophobic that even when I’m about to board a flight I need to prepare myself mentally take pills watch tv etc. I once did the open MRI that is really good I was fine with it. I feel bad you went thru this but luckily its over. I hope one day I can conquer my phobia.

Dude. Hope you are well.
Well, first think patients donlt know much.. I think doctors must explain everything in detail before any procedures. You mentioned they injected you, now question is WHY. Did you ask and why they didn’t inform you earlier.
I pray that we all never face hospitals especially here.. its toooooo ….
Take Care..

I know how you feel. My first and only brain MRI was in Kuwait. I never dreamed it would not be an open MRI machine. Almost all MRI’s are open in the US. I made the mistake of opening my eyes while inside and I freaked out. The only reason I didn’t squeeze the panic button was because I kept praying and focusing on positive images. Somehow I made it through and thank goodness my tests were clear. I hope I never have to go through that again. I’m glad you are okay.

Salamat Mark.
I’ve done my MRI at least twice fir my SCI, it isn’t that bad, why don’t you admit you’re claustrophobic? :p just kidding with you.
Stay well and good luck.

I have done an mri recently for back pain issue the experience was terrible
I hope i would never need it again :”(

Hey Mark sorry to hear that .. but an MRI is a really simple procedure ! I do it like 5 times a year .. and usually they offer u a headset in which you can hear music or the holy quran .. and the injection they gave u is a yellow subtstance that makes the MRI they see much clearer .. But they don’t use it anytime unless its really necessary.

I did mine in Dar Alshifa, Mowasat, and Alsalam. I also did it in Germany and London, Kuwait’s MRI is waaaaaaaaay better than the European ones .. more advanced and more space inside, unlike the European ones feel like ur in a coffin.

I went to MRI 6 months ago. After this experience I got results to show to my doctor.
The doctor looked at it and said to me: According to MRI you should be feeling pain somewhere between 6th and 7th discus on the right side.
OK, that is exactly what I told you when I first came here. I don’t need 160KD exam (insurance paid for it) just to tell me what I already know.
Than I asked: should I be doing some exercises?
The answer was ingenious: Yes you should, but be careful cause if you do wrong exercises you will hurt yourself even more.
This concluded my MRI session.

Imagine Mark when you’re inside the machine malfunctions and you got stuck and it suddenly rotates like a cement mixer? Dayumn! >just an imagination<

First of all, hope you’re feeling better Mark.

I had one at Al Razi but thankfully I only had my legs in upto the waist. They too had a closed MRI. Luckily had it done correctly in the first attempt.
They do have open MRI’s and I know I too would freak out if I had to go full body.

Take it easy.

i agree with u mark on this , the feeling of lying still in the dark and it happens the first time, i have done it twice and the first time was hossible but the second time i was used to it and knew what to expect

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