I went into the Doctor today to get an MRI for more back pain to see if I need another surgery.

To get the MRI, I would have needed an IV with something starting with a "G" to get past the scar tissue. First off, I'm pretty nervous about another back surgery and I hate needles, and IV's even more. So, I rescheduled the MRI.

Do I have to have an IV with that stuff? What does it make you feel like? I had a CT scan to get my appendix out a few months ago, and I hated the injection they gave me. It made it hard to breath and felt like I was gonna pass out. And MRI's take a lot longer, and you are in a tube. Not the greatest feeling in the world.

I just want to avoid a panic attack inside the tube...

Any suggestions?!

Hi PC,
Welcome! Hopefully I can help ease your fears about the MRI.
First, they use contrast (gadolinium) for an MRI so they can clearly see the spine and make a diagnosis. MRI's without contrast can be inconclusive. The contrast that they use with CT's is entirely different. I also have chest pain and shortness of breath with the CT contrast so I was very hesitant to have the contrast with my MRI. The radiologist explained that they are not alike in any way and that it is very rare for anyone to feel bad with the gadolinium. I made the radiologist stay with me because I was actually afraid I would have a heart attack (luckily he was a friend of my husbands so I didn't feel too bad asking). He was right, I wasn't even aware when they injected the med in!! I felt nothing. Good luck and I hope the MRI finds your problem. Please keep me updated after you have the test!

Deb

deb is right.what you can also do here is ask your doc for a bit of relaxation with something like a small amount of valium.this always helps me to just relax alot easier and also helps standing the pain of having to stay in that one posistion when my legs want to do the spastic happy dance.unfortunetly,no one LIKES needles but sometimes they are just something that you have to deal with.i watched my then 12 year old son go thru sooo many blood draws and bunch of other needle involved crap while he was going thru liver failure/transplant that i just feel if he could do that(and was also just sooo amazing thru it all too.way better than his parents),what was i complaining about ya know?he still has to have monthly blood draws.just put your mind in your "happy place" and try to relax as much as possible when they go to stick.it does help to not think about it while its occuring.its a very quick stick and over in a second.thinking about it and anticipating it is actually worse than the actual stick itself.in my experience actually having my blood drawn hurts a heck of alot more than an IV being started.

what this boils down to is that you really DO need to have the test,its in your best interest to just do it.and adding the contrast will really help in obtaining the best possible pics of the area where you are having problems.sometimes we just have to do something because to not do it could have possible consequences or make a dx much harder to make.if you really feel like being in that MRI will be an issue,just speak to the facility that is doing it and ask about possible sedation with your MRI.if you are going to be having an IV anyway,they can also give you something to better relax you.either that or what i mentioned above,just speak with your doc about it.the valium really does help me and i have had to have like 16? MRIs done on various body parts just in the past 7 years.

you will do just fine.worrying about something before it happens is natural but in most cases,its not as bad as the reality of it when it actually takes place.there are much worse things than an MRI or having an IV started that you could have to deal with if you don't just get this done,ya know?just check out all your possible options to make this as easy as possible.once you have things set and in place,it just makes some of that fear of the unknown much easier to handle.good luck with the MRI,you will do just fine PC.please keep us posted.Marcia

Hi, I would say the same as the others. If you have scar tissue, then you definitely should have the MRI with contrast. I have alot of scar tissue and had to have an MRI w/ contrast this past summer. I didnt have any reaction to the gadilinium, thank goodness, and I have problems with getting allergic reactions to some drugs and hives and such for I dont know what reason. But I seemed okay after I got the contrast. It also helped to differentiate between disc material and scar tissue. The worst part for me is just having the MRI itself b/c I can never lay still b/c it would always hurt me lay down still for so long.

The only thing I can tell you: if this the worse problem you or me have to face in this earth, i take it!!! :)
I just had this done: they do it to see better what is going on. Contrast can show cleare picture especially if you had previous surgeries, inflammations which causes scar tissue to grow.
Let me tell you: I would rather have it with contrast if any concerns than without it because you want to make sure that your diagnoses as accurate as possible, especially if you may face another surgery.
I have a very weak and bad veins: usually i get "pocked" minumum of 5-7 times before they find that vein. And hey, I am still here! You will be fine, don't be scared, just keep positive!:)

I wish all my MRI's had been with contrast. It showed the need for my second surgery. It showed possible Arachnoiditis, which I didn't want to hear, but at least they won't go into that area when they do the next surgery. It showed the scar tissue, which isn't a big issue, and it showed the nerves that at issue to be freed up. It doesn't hurt to have this procedure. Relax and get the test done. Good luck.

Hi PC,
Are you moving ahead with the MRI? When is it scheduled? Hopefully you feel a little better after reading the posts. Please keep us posted. We care!

Deb