Today, I learned I'm claustrophobic by having a raging oh-god-I'm-gonna-fucking-die panic attack while I was stuck inside an MRI scanner. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, while getting my MRI, I found out I had claustrophobia when I had a major panic attack and then was pulled out after only completing a single scan. I suffered through the other 10 because if that happened a second time, we'd have to reschedule after I took meds for it. I didn't even know I had claustrophobia. FML
Today, I had a panic attack while giving a presentation on how to breathe to avoid having panic attacks. FML
Today, I got stuck for a while in a hallway between two security doors due to a malfunction. I'm not claustrophobic, but I sure am sensitive to horrifying smells coming from a nearby bathroom stall. FML
Today, I had a panic attack. Not on a crowded train, or an airplane, or in school, or any of the expected places. It was in my yoga class, which my therapist recommended for me, while I was in a dead-body position. FML
Today, I had a panic attack because I was constipated. FML
Today, I was squeezed through an overly-crowded hallway down to my psychologist's. There, I sat in an overly-crowded waiting room to see him, next to an obese woman and an insane man. I finally entered the smaller-than-a-closet room. My reason for seeing a psychologist? Claustrophobia. FML
Today, as a last resort for my back problems, I tried acupuncture. After the needles were placed and the doctor had left, I couldn't move for 30 minutes. I had a panic attack. FML
Today, I finally told my boyfriend that I see a therapist every week because, amongst other things, I'm terrified of being locked in a room. He didn't believe me, so he locked me in the bathroom "for a laugh." I had a panic attack and passed out. FML
Today, I blanked and forgot to take out my piercing before going for my MRI, even though the nurses asked me multiple times to make sure I had no metal on me before entering, you know, the big machine made of massive electromagnets. The piercing was on my clitoris. FML
Today, I was in the bathroom at work. The lock on the stall door broke, and I couldn't open it. I was all alone and I started having a mini panic attack. After several minutes of frantically trying to fix the lock and hyperventilating, I realized I could just crawl under the door. FML
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Top comments
xsydneyx123 28
Oh no. I'm glad you're okay, OP. Coming from a person with severe claustrophobia, i know how much that sucks. I really hope they pulled you out and made sure we're okay. As a side note, you were being scanned for a reason so I hope everything is all right. Please do a follow up and let us know how everything is. (:
lexiieeex3 32
Hopefully they pulled you out and you're safe now! I can't imagine how terrifying that must be. Good luck OP!
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Comments (59)
lexiieeex3 32
Hopefully they pulled you out and you're safe now! I can't imagine how terrifying that must be. Good luck OP!
Sunflower1919 19
I had to have an MRI a couple of months back. More terrifying than the noise or small space was the presence of red nail varnish scratches from the person who freaked out before me.
revan546 24
"Sir we're just going to have to repeat it until you stop moving ...sir?"
Papersock 20
I hope they didn't find anything from the scan. Best of luck, OP
GodPart2 20
That's the way we torture Russian communists who pray to a pic of Putin riding a bear, and who generally don't carry vodka with them. God bless America!
RoseFox0029 22
...The ****..?
SerenaIncendia 11
Mother russia will terminate you.
Cads1 24
Seems a little strange to me. I would have thought the noise would be more annoying than the close space.
andits 21
How is that strange? OP is talking about his/her fear not what they're annoyed by. Fear is a more heightened experience and the fear of small space is very common.
Meettitan 14
Fear can often be irrational, as well.
militarybrat 21
Being afraid and being annoyed are two hugely different things. Pretty sure people with these fears dont like it when people say shit like this. They already get laughed at. Have some compassion.
AndyPurdy 31
i've had an MRI brain scan before,was a bit scared at first but managed to stay calm,anyway sorry about that op :(
Mauskau 36
They were playing nice relaxing music when I had mine, I would've fallen asleep if it wasn't from the banging and clacking of the machine :(
AndyPurdy 31
lucky,i didnt have music playing during mine
littlekellilee 45
You can bring a CD for them to play normally. I always fall asleep now because of the music and the warm blankets. Then I twitch and have to get it redone.
xsydneyx123 28
Oh no. I'm glad you're okay, OP. Coming from a person with severe claustrophobia, i know how much that sucks. I really hope they pulled you out and made sure we're okay. As a side note, you were being scanned for a reason so I hope everything is all right. Please do a follow up and let us know how everything is. (:
niallo 23
#7 That has to be one of the nicest, most supportive FML replies I've seen in a long time. Well done. My reply is that I'm a nurse. I've seen this sort of thing many times before. Usually we medicate them, but if they are really bad we do it under anesthesia. Get it done. The doctor is looking for something. I hope everything works out.
Sandsh8rk 36
Oh you poor thing :( At least you know for next time.
Selphis 20
Had one of those too, I'm not claustrophobic, but it wasn't a comfortable experience...
Novadi 22
I find this hilariously ironic because MRI scanners help you live in the long run and OP is having a sense of dread in it.
nattlecakes 19
If you've ever had a serious full blown panic attack then nothing about this post would be funny...
Novadi 22
I'm sorry I worded that wrong. I found the irony funny, not the situation itself. I hope OP can eventually overcome his/her fear of cramped spaces.
AnOriginalName 19
I'm no medical expert, but MR scanners do nothing but take pictures. Next time a photograph sews you up and saves your life, relate that story and I'll think about how MR scanners help people stay alive.
Meettitan 14
Hey pal, you just blow in from stupid town?
_caitlyn992 6
Are you some special kind of stupid #25?