The last one I had, I had a really hard time getting through it.  This time, it's going to be on my neck.  I am getting massive headaches and was discovered to have arthritis all over the place, so I don't want to cancel or postpone.  I am not able to take valium or anything.  Any suggestions on how to get through this?  thanks to all.
136913
Request an open MRI if it is available where you are going to have it done.  It is a much less closed in atmosphere and I find that many of the patients with anxiety over a regular MRI find this a suitable alternative. Also make sure you tech is aware that you anticipate having a difficult time.  One last thing, traditional relaxation and self talk is always a plus. A calming scent on a tissue, etc. Anything that works for you. Good luck!
103377
i just started again yesterday.  i had been taking it a few years ago, but stopped because i was "feeling better" (bad idea, by the way).  so far i'm not sure i'm  feeling anything, but the doc also has me on xanax 3 times a day and it's making me SO sleepy.  i feel like i can't function.  i don't know if it is a combination of the two, or the fact that i'm taking so much xanax each day, but i'm definitely going to call the doctor on monday and find out if i can lower the dosage or something...i think maybe you should do the same.  go to www.zoloft.com and you can find out what side effects can occur.  good luck!
596127
i just had all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed and it wasn't so bad.  i had iv sedation too, i think that is the only way to go.  i was talking and telling them about a trip i went on and the next thing i knew they woke me up.  i must have just fallen asleep right away.  you will feel the needle from the shot, but its only a pinch and will go away right away.  when i woke up i felt like i was drunk, but was ok.  after an hour or so the sedation starts to wear off and you need to take pain killers.  to be honest it did hurt like hell the first day, just take some medicine get an ice pack and go to sleep and you won't feel the pain.  it will hurt for a few days, just keep taking pain medicine and relaxing by your 4th day you should be all good.\n\ni heard that if you tell your doctor you are affraid they might be able to give you a Volume pill before you go in for the surgery to help you calm yourself down.\n\ndon't cancel it, you need to get it done and if you wait it will be even worse.  its good to do it at once because if you do only part you will have to go back and endure the same thing again.  don't do that!\n\nyou will be fine, just relax and get it done with.
480584
My honest opinion for you is that it is going to suck for a bit.  You will have discomfort at first usually well controlled with pain medications.  You will also have to be wired shut for a few weeks (usually for about 6 weeks) where you will have to consume mostly a liquid diet.  Afterward, your muscles will be sore and tight. BUT, I PROMISE YOU, IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE END!!!!!  I have seen and been part of a few of these cases and actually had a friend who had it done about a year ago and everyone that I have asked, would do it again in a heartbeat!  Hope that this proves helpful, good luck with it!
142565
As someone who has had JRA since age 14, and OA since 35, my best advice is exercise and rest.  There is no cure for RA, and it is a mysterious disease, even to doctors.  It is known as an autoimmune disorder, where the body attacks itself, thinking there is an infection, when there is none.  \n\nI truly believe there is a VERY strong correlation between physical, and mental stress, and RA symptoms.  I have had different blood test results at different times, and it didn't always agree with my symptoms.  \n\nTry hot and cold packs for relief without side effects.  Heat draws blood to the joint, and is good for stiffness.  20 minutes maximum, min 10 minutes or until relief is felt.  Ice draws blood away from the joint and is good for when the joints are inflammed, meaning literally hot to the touch.  Ice can provide great relief where prescription medicines fail.  \n\nHave her read a book called the Mind Body Connection, by John Sarno.  There is a great deal of medical evidence that symptoms of asthma and arthritis are directly related to stress and how the body reacts to stress.  \n\nBelieve me, I'm not saying it's in your mind.  These are very real symptoms.  I have spent months on crutches due to its debilitating power.  But I have NOT received any significant or long-term relief from any pill.  Find the root of the cause, and why.  Deal with how you react to stress, and change it.\n\nAgain, as a sufferer of arthritis and asthma for most of my life, I know that doctors will profit from your suffering, but have little to offer in relief.  She needs to think of why this would happen now.  I'm sure the baby has a lot to do with it.  Obviously, or it would never have cropped up.\n\nDo NOT take her to a chiropractor, unless you want to be at their mercy for life.  Good luck and don't forget to breathe!  Breathing delivers oxygen to the tissues and joints, and lack thereof creates pain and injury.
214285
Drink Gatoraid if it's available to you at work, or something with caffeine.  Tap on accupressure points, there are some on the outside of your hand, where the "karate chop" point is, use three fingers from your other hand and tap about 7 times and take deep relaxing breaths, think good thoughts about how you feel when you don't have a headache while you are doing this.  Good luck!
516163
Oh honey,  I am so sorry.  The mind is very powerful.  I can understand that you are stressed.  What you mentioned about it being more painful now that you have noticed the mass...is very accurate.  When you focus your energy on stressing about a health problem, it almost always makes it feel worse.  I have also been having health (teeth) problems that are totally encompassing, and I *can't* possibly put it out of my mind.  All that I can suggest is to change *how* you are thinking about it.  Instead of worrying about it and making yourself miserable, try to use your own energy to visualize healing yourself.  Instead of projecting/manifesting negativity, send positive healing thoughts to your body.  Tell your immune system how incredibly strong and smart it is, and how it is fully capable of healing your body.  I know it sounds crazy...but it will help you to feel better.  When you guide your body to do this, you need to be 100% confident in what you are thinking.  Not only will it actually lessen the physical pain that you are feeling, but it will also help lessen your anxiety about it until your appointment.  Whatever treatment the doctor gives you, continue this practice.  It will help you heal quickly.
294756
I had a real similar event last summer, on the Fourth of July.\nbut it was due to a brain tumor,  the rest sounds real familiar matter of fact, deja vu.\nI'm a 42-year-old male two daughters.\nand a girlfriend, that I'm amazed she stayed with me :)\nI also lost a lot of memory.  Most of it as a comeback.  I still have seizures everyday.  \nI can empathize with you about the anger thing.  I still have family members that are not speaking to me :)\nthe doctor told me that it's real normal, for the anger and it seems to me.  It's a different kind of anger than just plain angry.\nand I was lucky to have a loving girlfriend that has stayed with me,\n\nstory is way too long to put into this context.\nI understand everything you've gone through.\nand if you need someone to talk to.\nit would be good for me to talk also.\nAllanMayta@yahoo.com\n\nAllan Mayta
632549
I did the same thing....fell asleep sitting on the couch with my neck tilted forward and when I woke up I pinched a nerve or something painful...A friend was going to the chiropractor and suggested I join her...I had never gone...and after 3 treatments it was all better...1st one helped , second one took the pain away the 3rd one relieved the stiffness and slight discomfort I had left over.
125541
I have mild scoliosis along with a herniated disc in my lower back.  I've only had one bout of very severe pain and it lasted about 4 months.  It was so bad it kept me awake at night and I walked with a limp and I thought I was going to have to have surgery but I really wanted to avoid that.  I went to a chiropractor and he did help the limp but the pain only got worse.  What finally helped me get rid of the pain was when my doctor prescribed a round of Prednisone to help with the inflammation.  It finally eased the pain enough that I could get some sleep.  After I finished the Prednisone and was enough better that I could at least function, he sent me to a Physical Therapist to learn some helpful exercises.  I had to do them every day but the improvement in the pain was definitely enough to keep me doing the exercises.  The next step for me was weigh loss. I lost 115 pounds and started doing all kinds of different exercises from aerobics, to running, to weight lifting.  I have been completely pain free for over almost a year and a half now and I managed to avoid surgery.  Good luck with your pain, I know it's excruciating and miserable to have to live with back pain.  I hope you get it resovled soon.
432561
Yep, just takes awhile like most everything.\n\nNext time (and there will most likely be a next time, if you have one already), try to attack it early on. \n\nMake sure you are consistent with keeping in on at all times, so the medication can do it's thing.
371358
I took it for a short time....for depression. I had headaches, and gained weight.  Also, when I stopped taking it...my hearing kept going in and out.  I kept hearing this zzip..zzzip...I could actually feel a strange vibration going thru my head...and that's when I figured out it was my hearing....fading in and out.  Really weird.  And they say it is not habit forming....but, then they say "well, you can't just stop taking it..you have to be weaned off of it."  If that's not an addiction....then explain that one to me!! I ended up just going to a counselor and now I am doing great....I just had to have someone not involved with my life to help me figure things out.
158852
I went through a similar cycle with no help from anywhere.  Drugs left me zonked the next day too.  Eventually I found relief through my own little techniques.  Stress doesn't help mind you.  She has to find a pattern that suits her.  The trick is that when your head hits the pillow it can't say "OK go to sleep, go to sleep this time".  The n the cycle has already begun.  I drink a warm malted milk and then always force my imagination to go somewhere.  For me the start is always very science fiction, but that is just me.  Before you know it the mind can wonder on its own and zzzzzzzz.....  Just advise mind you, insomnia is different for everyone and there are different types.  The other main variety is waking up 3 hours into sleep and then being stuck awake.
338651
I had the same problem at 15 but back then you just lived with it.  I have had both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis for the past 50 years and let me tell you, it's no joke!  Sissies don't make it; it takes a lot of grit to keep going.  I've had a knee replacement, a lumbar laminectomy, a cervical discectomy and in 8 days, I will have a total hip replacement.  I know how very frustrated.  Personally I did not have any luck with therapy, orthopedic inserts, braces, or a TENS unit.  I have taken Voltaren 75 mg. twice a day since 1990.  I have walked with a rollator for two years.  I have no answers for you but I feel your pain, both physical and emotional.  I have a wonderful team of doctors and surgeons.  If it were not for my faith in God I would not have anything to look forward to.  God bless and good luck!
200675
ouch!! i know that feeling well, i had all four out under general anesthetic, it gets worse b4 it gets better, 10 - 14 days for the swelling to completly go. good luck!!\np.s its worth it!!
564026
I started suffering from panic disorder after my father's death - I heard this can happen after a traumatic event.  I had them for 5 years, tried all kinds of medications until finally they put me on xanax.  That is the ONLY thing that worked for me.  I did get addicted and had to get help to get off (as I was on them for so long) BUT if the panic attacks came back, I would go through that again if I had to - the xanax addiction -- because panic attacks are absolutely horrible.  I said to someone that had them "yea, you feel like you're going to die" and she said "no, you know you're going to die" -- she went to the ER with every single episode.  People - unless they've had them can never ever understand as the feeling is unexplanatory.  I feel for you big time and hope you can get some help quick for them because I FEEL YOUR PAIN.  People think panic attacks mean you are panicked over an event but that isn't the case - they come on at all times and for no particular reason.  I'm glad you brought this up.  It might help people who don't understand, understand how serious they are.  BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.  As for the xanax - it is worth it - just not too many doctors wanting to give it out.
154144
You are deffinatley showing signs of having and or developing a serious problem. I think you should go and talk to someone (a councellor, not a friend or anything cos they can be quick to condem). I went through something similar and found talking through my problems really good. You shouldnt drink to get drunk - thats simply binge drinking. Have you thought about why you want to be drunk? Is it to feel good, to block out pain, etc? Also, its troubling to think that you hide your behavour. I know that its hard to talk about it, but it is deffinatley worth it. Its amazing how good i felt after the first session, just to spill everything out to someone who was totally unbiased, knowing that its totally confidential and whoever your talking to isnt going to think your a nutcase is fantastic!!! I hope everything works out for you, and again, please go and talk to someone. Something that really woke me up was when i was told that you can actually die just from drinking too much - because its a depressant, it can actually relax your system so much that you stop breathing and just die in your sleep. Imagine your parents/siblings/friends/etc walking in to wake you up and not being able to - that thought freaked me out. So yeah, again, hope it all goes well, i would give you my email address if you wanted to talk but i dont really want to post it here! Take care