Couldn't even last 10 seconds, I freaked out. *content warning regarding MRI scans* title edited by MNHQ

I have had quite a few MRI scans. The absolute best thing to do is ask for music in your headphones and keep your eyes shut.
Do not ever open your eyes inside one as that’s the trigger for claustrophobia.
Keep your eyes shut and basically imagine something you enjoy a holiday or a summer picnic. Go through all the details in your head. If you start thinking about the MRI bring yourself back to the story and what you were doing in it. Remind yourself you are safe and stay in your own head and with the story you are creating. Sounds simple but it works. Again do not open your eyes. It will be finished before your story is.

I am a radiographer who works in MRI so just wanted to add some information and clear up a few not so accurate comments. It's so common to have this reaction so don't be hard on yourself. The radiographer should have discussed what you wanted to do next, whether that was to rebook another time or not at all. You can request sedation medication from your GP (not from the MRI department) and be rebooked at a later date. We have quite a high success rate with return patients this way. If you don't want your scan at all they might offer you a CT scan of your brain instead but in my professional opinion I would really try and get the MRI. The images of the brain from a CT scan does not compare to an MRI to the point where things might be missed.

Whether you go in head first or feet first depends on what area of the body is being scanned. As its your brain you will have to go in head first. You cannot wriggle out of the scanner when your head is being scanned due to the head coil (equipment) that is clicked in. Not all scans require a separate piece of equipment but brains do. It's not safe to wriggle out of a scanner.

You also can request an eye mask which can also help. There are slightly wider scanners (wide bore) which you can also request. I would say most majors hospitals should have at least on wide bore scanner as a lot of patients cannot physically fit in the narrower scanners.

I would really try again with some sedation, if you have been sent for an MRI scan of the brain you won't get the equivalent detail of images using any other method. I am happy to answer any questions you might have. You should not have been to feel that way and also should have been given options before you left. That's not how it should have been handled. I am positive that you can do this!

The other thing that helped was counting backwards in 3s from 500, strangely enough.

Thank you, that's made me feel better. I'm going to call the GP tomorrow

I really hope this thread does not put anyone off going for an MRI. I feel the responses on here are giving the impression that they are awful, as I guess the majority of people who have them find them ok and won't bother posting.

Sometimes I think it's a bad idea to read about health procedures first because you do get people talking about how panicked they were or how much it hurt and it just sets you up with that idea in mind before you even get there. Becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Some countries would kill to be able to afford multiple MRI machines. We are very lucky being able to have scans for free in this country. It is a short period of lying still with some loud noise. That is all. There is no pain from the procedure itself, no recovery time. Just close your eyes for the whole thing and lie still and listen to the music they play and you will be fine.

It's one of those things fore warned is fore armed.
Usually there is an eye cover I think ? Anyway bottom line is expect a lot of mouse which is irregular in rhythm and normal is nothing wrong. Expect it to take a while. Take note of breathing and stay calm. You are in a situation where there are staff there, it's just noisy.
There are open scanners but only few and far between

I had an mri on my hip early this year I.was absolutely terrified I nearly had palpations even when I think of it I didn't realise I was claustrophobic I went in all way feet first I was weighted down with heavy covers it was most frightening thing ever. I've had many operations cancer treatment and this was far worst terrifying I.did stay in machine but was terrified..I.didnt have a vage over my head I think id have left too if I had that. I don't think I coukd hane another 1 without being sedated .

I completely feel your anxiety as I had a similar issue, i was getting my liver scanned so they tied me onto the body board squashing me and i found it incredibly claustrophobic and the fact you are expected to hold your breath for 30 seconds at a time. The woman doing my scan was horrible and kept saying to me that if didn’t stop moving (I was shaking with the anxiety) they wouldn’t be able to do it etc
I managed it and came out and was crying getting changed, i was a wreck, sat in my car for 20 mins before I could drive home.
anyway, i was asked to get another one two years later (they were tracking a benign growth), i was distraught about getting it again and went to my GP who gave me a diazepam, so have to say that made a big difference so go and see your GP and explain. I also practised the breathing and how to calm myself…really hope you manage as they do give the images your consultant needs.

Does sound a bit different to what I had - there wasn’t any sort of strap thing

MRI's are a vitally important (expensive tool) in diagnostics. You have to find a way to tolerate.

I'd much rather undergo than a dental scaling.

I've found that the nurses were very reasuring and capabile, and one instance they played music thu the headphones, you maybe could specify.
As suggested, perhaps a sedative would useful.

But please do not dismiss this process, if you do, your doctor may lose patience and empathy.

I hate MRIs, but have had to have many. The key is not to look---- take an eye mask that has no metal on it then you can't open your eyes. If I look then I freak out. Sorry you had a rubbish time :-(

If you can afford it, try a private MRI instead. There are some firms who offer an "open" scanner that you sit in and the machine kind of wraps itself around you with an opening at the front. My OH needs an MRI every year for his cancer treatment assessments and tried several times using the NHS tubes - he just couldn't do it. Has no problems at all with the open ones. The only problem that he's had a few times is that the NHS lose the CD and results report - he hands it to them personally in the oncology department, but they still manage to lose it! The last couple of times he's handed it in person to his haematologist, but even she has lost it once (apparently she handed it to her secretary who handed it to someone else, but couldn't remember who, and they lost it!). So if you go private, get an extra spare copy!!

Yeah, I didn't look! The noise freaked me out, though. The technician told me off for wincing when it got going; they could've warned me about the racket. I got the all-clear for MS, so it was worthwhile 👍🏻

I couldn’t do it either. Had a CT scan instead. Don’t think I’d ever be able to.

I've had three MRI's. The secret as you now know is to keep your eyes closed from the very second you lie down. Right until they ask you to sit up at the end. I wouldn't have coped otherwise.

I couldn't easily get out, I was pinned down by a big strap thing across my chest, I think that's what set me off as I wasn't expecting that at all.

I know what you mean, I’ve had several. When I go in the tunnel I point blank will NOT open my eyes - I too slightly freaked out the first time. Try again and do what I did or even put a sleep mask on your eyes to stop you accidentally opening your eyes.

Can they sedate you next time ?
I'm sure you're not the first to freak out like this.
My husband can't even sit in the back seat of a car without a meltdown.
Don't feel bad.
Claustrophobia is very real.

There are such things as Open MRI's. They generally cost more and there are waiting times.

i also struggle in the MRI scanner. I shut my eyes & focus on Radio 2 in headphones (they ask what you want to listen to). They put angled mirror glasses on me so I could see out of the tunnel. From experience, the first five minutes I feel very panicky and need to work hard on slow breathing, but after that I gradually relax, and by the end of the scan I am relaxed and often quite sleepy. Had three now, with two of head/spine with head fixed in coil.

Ask to rearrange and get a sedative before. You will need someone to drive you.

I had one a few weeks ago on my back, but I have a pinching technique (pinch the back of my hand) that I use, this comes in handy at the dentist too 😂

I didn't think I was claustrophobic I had one. It was on my knee but my head was outside the machine, as it started to go in had a panic attack but managed to get through it because my was was out, his knows how I'd have coped otherwise. My gp offered me diazepam which I declined as I thought I'd not need it.

I had no idea how claustrophobic I was until I had my first mri scan. I was having my lumbar spine scanned and they put me in head first, as soon as I'd gone in I freaked out and pushed the button and they pulled me out. Luckily they agreed to put me back in feet first with my head hanging out so I got through it. But the next 2 scans I had were of my neck and head so I had no choice then, I had to just keep my eyes closed and do breathing exercises. Not fun!

You can be sedated if you are unable to cope with the enclosure. Or you can ask to use an open scanner. I work in a hospital and these are the options given to patients.
Usually the radiologist should try to talk to you to alay your fears,but bear in mind they won't do the outside scanner until other options have been exhausted as the open scanners are expensive.
Ask your gp for some sedation first.

Ive had a few

I always take an eye mask

They are not nice but i never open my eyes whilst in it

Def recommend a metal free eye mask