I recently had occasion to have an MRI scan again, to investigate some tension headaches that I’ve been having, and apart from terrifying me, as they always do, with thoughts of cancer, brain tumours and who knows what else they seem to find inside my head, I must say that it’s probably the least pleasant examination, while you’re awake, that I’ve been through with a doctor. I’d far prefer to have root canal treatment, something I didn’t enjoy very much, with a dentist any day of the week than go for an MRI scan.
There is something about being laid down, and having a cage fitted over your head before being slid into an incredibly narrow space after which the machine starts bombarding your with noises that seems to induce panic. I didn’t have any medication before the exam, but I was told that approximately 30 to 40% of all people having MRI scans have pills to calm them down, but they can’t drive afterwards. An attorney I know, was sent by the Road Accident Fund, when he brought a whiplash claim against them for an MRI scan. He had to be sedated before he would go into the machine and while that’s probably a severe reaction, I must say that I do understand why people suffer from claustrophia or panic attacks. Once you get used to it, it’s quite calming to actually have some relief from the ringing telephone at the office and the non-stop emails.