Bright and early tomorrow morning, I am getting an MRI of my lumbar spine to see what changes have taken place since 2019, at which time the surgeon told me I had the spine of an eighty-year-old (I was only 60!). This MRI will help the pain management doctor determine what course of treatment we can use moving forward since the cortisone cocktail shots I have been getting may have contributed to the pelvic fracture I had in July (my second one – now I have matching sides).
Of course, I want to know my options, but I am a large woman and claustrophobic. I waited two months for this appointment. An appointment for an open MRI was not available until July! On the bright side, the MRI machine I will be in tomorrow is called a wide-bore machine, which is 70 centimeters in diameter. The standard one is 60 centimeters in diameter. I am grateful for whatever extra space I can get.
I plan to close my eyes as soon as they start moving me toward the machine and not open them again until I am entirely out of the machine. It is usually when my arms reach the chamber that my breathing and heartbeat start to increase. That is when I will say my Hail Mary and pray that I can make it through the 45 minutes without being too uncomfortable or pushing the panic button.
My reward for surviving will be a trip through Starbucks’ drive-thru for a Chai Latte. Wish me luck!
#SOLC25 Day 2/31
Rita DiCarne 
You will definitely have to write a follow up story and let us know how it went. Prayers… š
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Rita, all the best! It sounds like you are making good plans and getting some good advice in the comments. I hope they will get some answers for your pain management. I’m glad you are writing about it.
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Thank you.
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I will keep you in my prayers. I am claustrophobic too. My recent experience in the tube was a test of sending positive energy to my mind. I also said the rosary. You have always been a strong woman. Love from your old friend, Juju
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Thanks, Juju! š
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Oh my gosh, I can already feel my throat tightening up from claustrophobia. The last time I had one, my plan was to keep my eyes closed the entire time, too. I was surprised when they put headphones on me with my favorite type of music. I actually fell asleep (from my anxiety buildup) and they were waking me up when finished. Praying for you, for sure…and hoping you get headphones! š
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I am always ready for a nap! Falling asleep would be fantastic. š¤
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I will be thinking of you. Getting older is HARD but still beats the alternative! Perhaps you can use the time to plan some blog posts???
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I love that idea!
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I will be sending positive thoughts your way in the morning. I totally get the nerves around an MRI. I can’t do one without my dose of diazePAM. Just breathe- you can do it.
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Thank you!
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Oh, gosh, I just saw this, Rita, or I would have asked you how you made out when I saw you on Saturday. I hope they had some good news and ideas for how to manage this going forward.
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Thanks!
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Oh I know the feeling. I had an MRI this past fall. I did two things. I had noise cancelling headphone and tried to listen to music and also put a wash cloth over my eyes so I was not tempted to open them and freak out. I ended up lucky in that since it was my hip my head did not have to go in. Good Luck and hope it goes quickly with good answers for pain relief.
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Thank you. The washcloth is a good idea because I have been tempted to peek in the past!
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Just reading this made me squirm because I am just a little claustrophobicā¦ Can you take music to listen to while you are in there? Or an audiobook? (I havenāt had to do an MRI yet, so I donāt know if that is allowedā¦) Iām glad itās early so you can get it done with and have the rest of your day to relax! (I hope.)
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They give you headphones and ask you what kind of music you want to listen to, but the machine is LOUD! I definitely wanted to get it over with early!
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You can do this! But those Haily Marys never hurt! May God calm your anxiety and make the time go by fast! Enjoy that Starbucks!
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Thanks for the vote of confidence!
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I would never think to put “cortisone” and “cocktail” together. I pray that the early a.m. MRI goes smoothly, and you get some new good information, and you get to practice your deepest belly breathing. I really love the quote you share. It gave me a mood boost just to read it.
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Thank you!
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