I've had weeks to prepare myself for this MRI, in fact, i had CONVINCED myself that i a) Definitely would not be trapped and b) i could leave at any moment.
I had plenty of time today to get panicky. My appointment was at 12.45 and having to get there 10 - 15 minutes early as to not over run for others (their wording on the letter), i FINALLY got called at 1.30. I had to change into one of the lovely naked bum gowns and told to wait for another couple of minutes. You could hear from the waiting room the noises of the scanner, but nothing can prepare you for the actual noise.
I had discussed that i would take mum in the room with me, but then at the last minute not to, i was being brave. I lay on the stretcher thing, my knee was caged and locked into place and i was slowly entered into "THE HOLE". It was at that point i realised that i could definitely not leave in a hurry. My knee was trapped and the thing i was lying on was moved by a keypad way over by the door!!!!! I was in up to my head, not much of a view i have to say.
The room was freezing and the music i chose to listen to was UB40 (the best of a bad list). The music started and i heard through the earphones "Loud noise for 30 seconds" and the machine started, then i got "Loud noise for 4 minutes, keep very still", OMG - all i wanted to do was twitch my fricking knee!!!! At one point i lifted off my earphone to see just how loud and i am not kidding, it was deafening. The sounds were bizaare.
http://www.lodestone.co.uk/faqscansounds.htm
You can listen to them there, i heard all of those and when they are going for like 4 - 5 minutes at a time, it feels very intense.
Anyway, i did it. I managed. NO panic. Very little anxiety if any. I would have given it at worst a 3 out of 10.
Now i just have to wait for the results.
x