h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been having a rough time of it lately. I've had migraines for decades, but lately they've become more frequent, like every other day. I started getting vertigo as well in the past few years. A few months ago, I had the worst vertigo attack yet, and it all started with a bad migraine. It even sent me to the emergency room. They did a CAT scan of my head, and found nothing (old joke, but how can I resist?).

The past few weeks, I have more headaches than not. Both migraines and regular headaches. I saw a neurologist earlier this week, who thinks the migraines and vertigo are linked. I'm now on a migraine preventative medication, but it takes about two weeks for it to start working fully.

The wanted me to get an MRI brain scan to check things out. I had no worries about getting it done, just about what they might find. I found out that I'm horribly claustrophobic! Oh my, that was one of the worst experiences of my life (and that's saying something!). I couldn't do it. I toughed it out as long as I could, but they only got one picture.

So now I have to go back, and I just can't stop thinking about it. My heart pounds if I think back on what happened. I cried for over an hour after the MRI on Thing, and actually had to have a drink at 9am to calm me down (I don't drink!). The technician told me to get in touch with the to get meds and try it again at another Cleveland Clinic location with a larger MRI. I don't think I can do it. But I have to.

Has anybody else had problems with claustrophobia? Any coping mechanisms for me? I feel so inadequate after this. Like I'm weak and silly.

Oh, wait, I hope it's not an allergy to es that's causing the migraines

I never thought of that!

But I had allergy tests done. That's one of the first things they test for!

They never had that test when I was a kid. Not much allergy in London.

Not many es you see.

*leaves -free with a card that reads "hope you get better soon

I have one or two suggestions to tackle the claustrophobia thing.

But first, and sadly, no ice cream for you, my lady, until this is sorted out. is the worst thing for migraines!

Try asking if you can put an airline eye mask on when you enter the tunnel. I would think the scan can see through that, and it works with horses!

Ask if you can go in face down, i.e. lying on your tummy with a pillow under your head, and keep your eyes closed before they put you in, and until they pull you out.

Meds from the doc would be good to relax you.

And if they have a larger machine, that is also good. I would be claustrophobic inside one of the smaller machines, but I have to go in one of the larger ones because I am a bit on the tubby side, and I'm fine.

Let us know when the next scan is set, and I will be thinking of you and sending good vibes. And if you're vey good, I shall allow you some ice cream. In the meantime have a

UG

My sister has gone in face down, and didn't have a problem, so it's a consideration.

I was okay going in the first time, had my eyes shut the whole time, but as I went in, it was so small, my arms started pushing in towards my body, and it startled me. I opened my eyes then, and saw that the machine was a few inches away from my face. That was the end. That's when the panic set in.

I have an eye mask. I should bring it next time.

The second time, I started getting an odd disconnect from my body. I was convincing myself that I was breathing fine, and it was okay, but the longer I was in there, the less I could feel my body. When I couldn't feel the breath going into and out of my lungs any more, I panicked again.

Maybe I needed to be clutching a HHGG:

Thanks for the positive vibes. I need them!

No probs, Shea, and nice to be chatting again after all this time.

However, it's 0120 here and I have to be up for the Remembrance Day Church Service at 0900 tomorrow, so had better sign out now.

Keep me posted, and I will be thinking of you

UG

UG?

Oh my goodness. It's great to see so many familiar names posting again after so long

*sends positive hugs*

I don't really get claustrophobic so don't have owt practical to offe, excepting hugs.

Thanks, Clive.

I think "talking" about it is really helping. Know that you're all in there with me should make it a lot less crowded!

Not much help I can give either, Shea; I'm not claustrophobic and I've never been in one of those machines myself. If it's any comfort though, my own problem is a general fear of doctors and hospital treatment (and yes, I did nearly pass out when they started attacking me with needles etc. during my recent little episode ).

<and sympathy>

Thanks, PF.

I called the 's office and finally got a human being on the other end. She said they'd prescribe something to calm me down a little (I said I need something to calm me down a LOT). They need to call me back to reschedule.

Whenever I've had MRI scans (probably more than forty or so by now I'd imagine), I useually always keep my eyes closed, though no idea why really as I'm not clostrophobic, I always find the noise the worse bit, and the trying to stay still thing...
Do they play music for you whilst your inside the machine? some people prefer that as a kind of distraction though I was never offered that whenever I've had scans, I havce heard it mentioned...
I'm quite lucky, though, most of my scans were short, no more than fifteen minutes or so each, I've heard of people having some that are whole body scnas, which last ages... goodluck, hope the meds can help calm you down and relax... and of course don't panic

The only music I hear when I'm getting an MRI is very, very loud and repetitive dub step.

I'm not claustrophobic either which is good because mine can take up to 1:45. They pull me out half way through to juice me up with "contrast".

If you're claustrophobic, there are so called "open" MRI scanners. You may have to go to another facility, but you'd be much more comfortable in one. They're not much more claustrophobic than laying in a bunk bed.

As a migraine sufferer I really do sympathise with you. I hate the
whole aura, nausea and blinding headache part. I'm lucky that feverfew
grows in abundance here so I find a few leaves every day helps. (That
remedy came from an old farmer) The taste is foul, really foul but it
is in tablet form.
It sounds like you have a double whammy of migraine and cluster
headaches though. Whatever it is I hope the hospital can sort you out.
Good advice about the cat scan from the other posters.
All I can add is something about breathing. Anxiety causes us to breathe
shallow high up in the chest. Breathing down deep into the tummy slows
down the breathing and combats it. Have a little practice and use it
if you can when you are in the cat. Focusing on each breath distracts
the mind.

They offered me music, 2legs, and I was glad of it, since TJ said the noise was very loud and to ask for ear plugs. The headphones were very large though, and after the first few seconds, I asked to have them taken off. It just made things more crowded in there. The second time I went in, I just had the ear plugs on, and the noise didn't bother me at all. Guess I was distracted by the inability to breathe.

Unfortunately, I can't use an open MRI, Baron. They can only use the closed one with brain scans. Of course.

, breathing is the issue, hands down. I have asthma, so not being able to breathe is always in the back of my mind. I kept telling myself that I could feel the cool air, and that it was going in and out of my lungs, but somewhere in there I kinda lost track of my lungs, and that's when I panicked.

I've actually been practicing. I've been trying to wear a sleep mask, and doing slow, deep breathing while lying on my back in bed. I'll try breathing deep from the tummy next time. I think that hearing from everybody here is going to help. I can think of all of you while I'm lying there, and it should keep me calm … or drive me insane. We'll see which!

s too everyone. Thanks.

I usually either fall asleep or get really close to doing so. You wouldn't think it possible with that noise, but relaxation (so called "self hypnosis") techniques work well.

I guess the tunnel type MRI machines provide better resolution. They never offered me the choice but I had just assumed it was because they mostly had older closed ones there.

Migraines?

I had a lot of those when I was a teenager, but then they stopped and have become rarer, though I got the migraine aura a few days ago when I was in the supermarket. The nausea and headache never materialized, though. I was lucky.

Anyway, in my teen years I was told to stay away from chocolate. The only migraine medication they had then was Cafergot, which consists of caffeine and ergotamine. This makes me think that caffeine might either prevent or alleviate migraines in some way.

I'm a little bit claustrophobic. The MRI seems very very weird. I didn't appreciate having to hold my arms over my head and feeling them brush against the MRI machine.

Shea, I have to ask: is there a huge new source of stress in your life? I had a neighbor who only ever had two migraines in her life.
The first time was when she gave birth and was told that her nowborn son had Down Syndrome. The second time? The next time she give birth, and learned that her new daughter was normal.

Paul, I've had migraines for about 25 years. They've been getting worse lately. But the vast majority of my headaches were hormone related, and I'm going through menopause, so my hormones are going bonkers.

The big issue lately is the fact that I've been getting vertigo. For a while we all thought it was benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, but it's been happening more and more frequently, and it doesn't usually happen frequently. The last time was very bad. So the thinks the migraines and the vertigo are linked. But then I've been getting other headaches lately too.

Things have been stressful, but no more stressful than usual. Certainly, a lot less stressful than when I was unemployed! But I don't really know. I'm thinking winning the lottery would resolve a lot of stress.