Yes, MRI's can be stressful. I've had three of them. One on my right shoulder, with injection of blue contrast fluid to show any tears (leaks) during the MRI. And, two on my left shoulder, with no contrast fluid. I done fine laying in the machine, but was very glad when it was over.
Good luck with the MRI next week, @Chrissy Cross ! I had to have one before the heart procedure last time, and I am seriously bad claustrophobic. They didn't even have me all the way in the tube before I was in a total panic, and about ready to start screaming. I was huffing and puffing (gasping for air) by the time they got me back out. They re-scheduled the appointment, gave me a prescription for a sedative (Valium ?) and then they said that they could do what they called an open MRI; so I didn't have to be totally inside the machine. Robin stayed with me the whole time, and I almost slept through it after taking the Valium; so I guess it worked okay.
Boy, Yvonne, you're going to scare the heck out of poor Chrissy with what you went thru, unless she's done the same.
Thanks for sharing this Yvonne. If I do ever have to have an MRI I'm going to tell them I need an open one too and lots of sedative!
I'm not so much claustrophobic as I'm a fidgeter and I know the minute I'm told I can't move, my nose will itch etc. On the referral it says open MRI but they never mention that when they talk to me so I'm not counting on it. I was going to get my shoulder done tomorrow and my spine on Saturday so I wouldn't have to,lay still for so long but now with the change I want it all done in one day. She said she'll give me a half hour between them so I can get all my fidgeting done. I think it also says...no contrast.
Same as wife and I.....getting older and feeling it sometimes daily. But all-in-all, we are both doing ok for heading into our 70's.