Migraine

So I went in for a second MRI last night after the first showed a "questionable 1cm lesion on the base of the skull." This one was to be one with contrast, which I've never had. I was bracing myself for it, cuz I hated the first one (ugh, loud noises and small spaces), but knew I could handle it.

Got through the first MRI. Then they pulled me out for the injection of the dye. I should mention here that I get a little anxious around needles, so when I get blood drawn I always have to take deep breaths and calm myself a bit. Well, I didn't realize that I wouldn't be able to move even slightly from my "head vise" and would have to be kept in that claustrophobic state while being injected! But then it got worse. They COULDN'T FIND A VEIN. I got poked in 6 different places, and nothing was working. They called in two different doctors to try it and no one could find a working vein. Finally they had to page an ER nurse to see if they could do it, but in the end it took 2 HOURS of me waiting there stuck on the table in the vise, anxiously waiting to be stuck again. They were finally able to find a vein in my left hand and left me with "yikes, I hope you never get sick and need an IV!"

GREAT. That makes me feel good. Much less anxious about needles NOW. UGH. Just had to vent. Anyone else have this problem with finding a vein? Any advice?

Also, I've noticed that each time I've gotten the MRI, I have trouble sleeping. It feels like I'm wide awake, and I can feel the inside of my head "clicking and popping". I don't know if this is just leftover adrenaline, or anxiety about the results, but has anyone else experienced this?

Oh, you poor dear!

That sounds like a miserable experience and a half. I'm so sorry. It's bad enough to be apprehensive in the first place, but then to have such difficulties on top of things! I don't think their yikes comment was very sensitive. I wouldn't feel very reassured, either, if I heard that after going through such trauma. You just vent away, and get out all you need to!

I've had three MRIs, and I didn't have any trouble sleeping afterward. I did have issues the one time I had dye, but it was more of a groggy, coming out of anesthesia kind of feeling it left me with for some reason. I've not had any problems getting the clicking and popping sounds out of my head. I'd imagine this is kind of like that "ear worm" phenomena, like when you get a song stuck in your head. I've had issues trying to sleep with that before. I bet it's the same principle. Like you, I don't suppose the leftover adrenaline, cortisol, and anxiety help, either.

I certainly hope you don't have any kind of experience like this again. My heart's with you.

My last MRI, I had my 1st ever full fledged panic attack. It was later realized this was a side effect of a new med I had just been started on (and later had to stop taking) I am not claustrophobic in any way. I had my wedding ring on, and my hand was laying on my rib cage. When all the amazingly loud vibrational grinding started up, all the bones in my chest began to vibrate. I freaked, and they had to pull me out. It took them a couple minutes to figure out that the metal of ring against my bones was setting up some form of harmonic vibration. Since it would have taken hunting up a lot of soap to get the ring off, the solution to the problem was to put my hand down by my hip, sort of tucked under my (well paddded) behind.

I am SO with you on bad MRI experiences!

I'm not real crazy about MRI's either. I'm also claustrophobic. I was lucky to have earplugs and blindfold. Well being druged up worked too lol. Don't know much about result being good or bad but I hope everything works out ok.

Always in my thoughts and prayer. As my mom says when prayers go up, blessing come down. At least the doctors seem to be working on it.

hang in there!

Dutchess

I've had problems with nurses finding veins...when I went in for my PFO closure I had one on each side, both looking for something.

Usually if you hydrate with water (16 oz can do the trick for most) before an appointment which you know requires intravenous fluids, they will be able to find your veins better since they "plump" from the cells engorging with fluid.

Unfortunately if you are in an MRI for any length of time, and you are like me, all that laying around is going to really try your bladder. Plus, sometimes you can't have water before surgery.

I've had MRIs a few times all for my brain, but I'm claustrophobic too so I usually go to the open ones, and they give me headphones. I have no problems falling asleep in the machine...my husband's boisterous video game playing and music making has made me impervious to noise during sleep.

What irks me (and it's such a trivial gripe) is that I have to remove my piercings for an MRI...Piercings can close within a matter of minutes depending on the anatomy. Unfortunately I also have a piece of metal (nickel) in my heart due to the PFO closure so it's always funny to see the looks on the attendant's faces when they ask if I have any metal implants. AYUP, I do.

Hey there,

I'm sorry to hear about your MRI trouble, it can be a very bad experience for some people.

Ear plugs, a wash cloth over your eyes, keeping hydrated the day before and of the MRI and when all else fails ask your doctor for something to "help you relax" if need be. I've done all of those things before. Now what works best for me is the wash cloth and hydration. I've also found that if I keep my arms warm, that seems to help. I am a BAD stick too.....

I'll second Leeloo's advice to hydrate well before they have to find a vein. But there is another trick, too, they might try. I donate blood occasionally, and I've got exactly one favored vein they really like for this. Last time it tried to hide on them, so they heated up a rice bag and laid it on my arm over that vein for a few minutes. The heat plumped it right up, and they had no problem finding it and sticking me after that. That's something you might ask about if they ever have issues finding a vein again, for whatever reason.

I've had more than a few MRIs, just had one not too long ago for my neck. I actually did start to panic this last time. Usually I can handle them fine, because I'm not claustrophobic. But I've had a problem with staying still for long periods of time lately, I even tend to panic when I get my massages now... not sure if that's med related or what, but it sure is an uncomfortable feeling for me.

I've never had anyone have a hard time finding veins. Which is a really good thing in my eyes, but needles make me very anxious as well. The first time I dragged my DBF with me for comfort I scared him because I turn white like I'm going to pass out... he said I had a similar reaction in the ER when they gave me the Dilaudid... So I would be totally freaked out if they couldn't find my vein.

I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience. I hope the MRI is at least worth it and they get useful information from it.

Meli

quote:

Originally posted by dragondroolHOST:
I'll second Leeloo's advice to hydrate well before they have to find a vein. But there is another trick, too, they might try. I donate blood occasionally, and I've got exactly one favored vein they really like for this. Last time it tried to hide on them, so they heated up a rice bag and laid it on my arm over that vein for a few minutes. The heat plumped it right up, and they had no problem finding it and sticking me after that. That's something you might ask about if they ever have issues finding a vein again, for whatever reason.

Hmm, that's an excellent idea! I have some of those at home that I use for cramps, and they work wonders. I do tend to get colder more easily than most people (my fingernails turn purple in air conditioned rooms sometimes), so I wonder if that was a big part of it...me being scared AND cold probably didn't help! I'll suggest that next time.

If your fingernails and tips of your fingers are changing color in the cold, then it's possible you may need to talk to your doc about vasospastic arteries.

I was diagnosed a few months back and put on verapamil. It didn't help my migraines but it did keep me from turning colors and being cold all of the time. I am not on it anymore so now I freeze my tush off again.

It may help control your migraines so I would toss it out there to your doc if I were you. VA can definitely contribute to migraines.

There's a specific term for the disorder that I am having problems remembering. Someone might be able to help!

Raynaud's Phenomena...That's the name of it!

I have the primary form. I haven't progressed to secondary. Sad when you can't remember your own diagnosis, huh? I am blaming my meds.

Here's an article for you:

Raynaud's Phenomena