Asking for a hand hold

[iwentjasonwaterfalls]

I have my regular MRI later today. I have a brain tumour and things have worsened lately so I'm dreading the results, but more than that, I'm dreading the MRI.

The hospital I go to for it has no headphones or music playing or anything like that. They give you foam earplugs that fall out immediately and then it's head in a cage time. I spent most of the last one crying. The staff must be rushed off their feet so I don't blame them at all but there's no empathy or "are you ok?".

I don't know what I'm going to think about for 45 minutes to take my mind off the noise. I'm dreading it.

No advice to give, but just wanted to know I’m thinking about you and sending all positive thoughts. When I get really stressed and need to distract myself I try to recite poetry to myself (with varying degrees of success!) but appreciate that wouldn’t work for most people. Hand hold and hugs.

Thank you. I do like poetry so that's a good shout, I'll have to see if I can remember any!

Thinking of you. I don't find them easy with music or without. I've had two and each time I've cried quietly through each one, willing myself not to click the panic button to bring it all to a stop.

I'm not a meditative sort but I try as hard as I can to keep my breathing calm and keep reminding myself that it is almost done. This is obviously a big fib at the beginning but as time passes it comes closer to the truth.

Hang in there.

Think of your favourite book and tell yourself the plot.
Maybe sing to yourself?

Thank you, I tried deep breathing last time but the head cage goes right across my chest at the bottom and makes it so hard. I wish they could develop an easier, quicker way of doing these scans!

Sending you positive energy and good thoughts OP

Can you go via a chemist and get some wax earplugs that you can soften and put in your ears? Small chemists often stock the Quies ones that are really good at blocking noise. Much better than foam ones.
I’m sorry you are having such an awful time.

I saw this. I have no advice except that I’ll be thinking of you today. I had one once and recited poetry, Hail Marys and counting multiples of numbers (12, 24, 36).
Hope it all goes fast for you xxx

Oh that sounds miserable OP.

I read a good distraction technique on here before - try name a vegetable for every letter of the alphabet, then a fruit, then a TV show etc etc etc. Just something to focus the mind.

Good luck, both for the test and the results.

Thank you all, I really appreciate the good wishes and the advice! I will try the vegetable for every letter of the alphabet trick, and I'll try multiples (although times tables were never my strong point 🤣). I'm doing a part time computer programming degree so maybe I'll try and create a code while I'm in there and see if it works when I get home 😅

We always plan something nice for after, it used to be a post-MRI KFC, but I don't like their chips anymore so need to think of a little treat for afterwards too.

Really seriously concentrate on your breathing close your eyes and pay it 100,% attention. I use a cpap but also have claustrophobia and this helped me .

Just know that when you’re in there lots of MNetters are thinking of you and willing you on!

I hope it’s the quickest 45 minutes ever, and that the results are better than you think x

Thank you all, I got through it by trying to remember a poem I read earlier this year (I got most of it right) and keeping my eyes closed. It was rough and I cried afterwards but it's done!

The scan was up on the computer as I left (the scanner was in a little mobile van thing this time!) and I know what my tumour looks like from before, I don't like what I saw but I am not a doctor so hopefully I will be proven wrong 🤞🤞🤞

I am sending hugs to you. Best wishes that your time goes quickly while you are in hospital.

Glad you got through it xx (Will be thinking of you.)

Glad you got through the scan okay OP. Thinking of you xx