I need to have a head MRI but worried about being enclosed

[Booboostwo]

I need to have a head MRI but I am really worried about going in there and about the cage thingey they close your head in. I've had several back MRIs and just about managed these, although they put me feet first so my head was closest to the exit. I assume now I will need to go head first.

I told my doctor and he seemed a bit dismissive, told me I'd be fine and I had to insist that I was not going to be fine and would probably not manage to do it. Finally he gave me a prescription for Atarax and Tranxene. Is that going to be enough to zonk me out? I am worried that because he dismissed my fears he prescribed something really mild!

Has anyone managed to make it through a head MRI even though they are scared of enclosed spaces? Any tips?

Diazepam works for me and I’m really quite claustrophobic. If whatever he’s prescribed is comparable, you’ll be fine.

I've had these and they aren't fun but they are doable. Make sure you tell the staff. Not sure about the drugs, i didnt have any. I just kept telling myself that if i moved a lot or panicked i would have to have it done again. It is extremely noisy.

Even writing this thread is making feel dizzy and unwell. If the drugs don't do anything I don't think I'll even be able to put my head in the thingey.

When I was 3yo I fell and cut myself on my eyebrow. The doctors stitching me wouldn't let my mother in the room and forcibly held my head down to do it. I think this explains my fear of having my head immobilised and even knowing the cause doesn't make the fear go away.

Tranxene is a benzo like diazepam which is what I had for an MRI as well. Helped me get through it, had to take DP with me so I had a responsible adult tho. Atarax is an antihistamine which is quite sedating as well. I expect you’ll be pretty dopey on the two of those!

Yes I have been warned not to drive and have someone with me!

Oh good, hopefully I will be completely out of it!

We stopped at Sainsbury’s on the way home and bumped into a colleague of his, apparently I was quite amusing

Good luck - I think a lot of how you cope with it will be in how you approach it - at the moment sounds like you’re having anxiety about having anxiety. You’re right understanding where a trigger comes from doesn’t fix it but it is the first step to managing it. It’s the kind of specific thing I found CBT was really good for helping to manage.

Hope it all goes ok (and the results are good as well)

I've recently had an MRI on my hand and had to be in the machine from my head down to my shoulders, which I wasn't expecting.
Neither was I expecting the loudness!
No advice re your fears of being enclosed, but my tip would be to take some good quality ear plugs/defenders, as the little sponge things they provide are useless (and the nurse hurt my ear with the amount of force she used to push them in, muttering about my narrow ear canals ).

Yes I am totally having anxiety about having anxiety!!!! I am bonkers and need to be saved from myself!

Glad to hear of other people who managed to do it! Gives me hope.

I completely understand your concerns. I would feel the same. There are some "open" MRI scanners around the country. I don't know where you are based but it may be worth a google. From a quick look they have them in Leeds & Newcastle.

DSis had serious anxiety issues and PTSD. MRIs were very triggering for her. Thankfully, the hospital knew her history and were very understanding. They allowed me in the room with her and set up a mirror contraption so we could maintain eye contact. I stood at the bottom of the bed holding her feet.

It is noisy . She had headphones with music (they let her choose) and I had noise cancelling head phones - no music. The radiographer (?) would ask every 10 minutes or so if she was happy to continue.

Also, the hospital had two MRI machines. One wasn't totally enclosed. It was like a donut. We always asked for that one.

Hope it goes well x

I did ask about the donut one as they had one like that for my DD in the children's hospital but no they have a tube one and the doctor thinks the donut ones don't give good enough images (first time I;ve heard that but there you go), so he wants me to do it in the tube one.

Is there any hospital in your area that has an open MRI scanner (not a tube).?

Not that I know of, but also they have a long waiting list and the doctor asked his secretary to get me in for next week (which is also making me worry but I am trying not to think about that!), so I shouldn't really swap next week's appointment in a tube for one in three months in a donut.

I am claustrophobic and have had several MRIs, including 2 of my head that required a head box.
I learned self hypnosis to cope with dental treatment and was subsequently able to use it for the MRIs.
I did it myself by practising mentally taking myself to a peaceful, happy place in my imagination. I also found the music they give you is helpful.
You have a call button to hold, and the technician talks to you through the headphones.

The doughnut (CT) and tube (MRI) are different scanners. MRI have far better details for heads.

I've had a back scan and a head scan - I'm not bothered about enclosed spaces, but I actually quite liked the frame around my head as I had to repeat one of my back scans when I twitched midway through!

There are very few open MRI scanners in the UK to be honest, the number is probably still in single figures.

You can have someone with you if you want, as long as they get changed too and have no metal on them - I've held the hand of someone having an MRI scan who hated them (it was a head one too). You have to lean in a bit for a handhold, or their foot is usually nearer.

Good luck OP, I hope it's not as bad as you fear. Do you have a date for the scan yet?

I have diazepam for MRIs. With the head ones I tell them that I need to shut my eyes before they put the thing on and keep them closed until it's off. The diazepam helps me resist the temptation to open them!
I take a CD too.

New MRI machines can now be donuts, although not all of them are. As I mentioned my DD had a head MRI in one two years ago. Much easier for children, people who are claustrophobic and larger people.

Next week.

AlunWynsKnee good tip! I always close my eyes before they start sliding me in, but with the head cage thingey you are right I should close my eyes earlier.

Definitely keep your eyes closed is my top tip. I found with headphones on and eyes closed, its like a strange sensory deprivation thing, I found it quite restful and almost fell asleep! The sounds are loud and odd but you can tune them out quickly.

It is loud but theres nothing there that can possibly hurt you, or that you'll feel at all, and the technician is watching over you every second.

The doughnut (CT) and tube (MRI) are different scanners. MRI have far better details for heads

The donut DSis had was definitely an MRI scanner. Most advanced machine available they told me.

I think the worry is worse than the reality. I was also worrying about what they would find, but I told myself Im so lucky to have access to MRIs. Lots of people in the world dont get such great care.

I've had head MRIs. They put headphones on you playing music (radio 2! Not ideal but at least its a distraction). You can communicate with the operator and they dont run it constantly so keep checking on you. You can have a mirror above you so you can see the operator.

You aren't "immobilised", you have to stay still so they get a good image. You aren't trapped, you can ask to come out at any time.

To get it over quicker I stayed still and stayed in and said I was OK and asked to keep going every time they checked on me.

I also tried to go to a happy place and imagine sunshine and beaches. Bit difficult as I couldn't do deep breathing as I needed to stay still. But tried counting backwards 3,2,1 relax "my name" as it says in hypnobirthing.

A calming hypnotherapy cd could really help. I used hypnobirthing techique in dentistry as well, and whenever they are doing anything medical to me as I can faint if not careful and coming round is scary.

In the MRI I tried to imagine relaxing each body part starting from my toes and working up like they do in yoga (in yoga you tighten then release each muscle group but id only do this in your feet/legs and hands/arms). So imagine relaxing slowly in turns: your toes feet ankles calves knees thighs pelvis tummy, back, fingers hands wrists arms shoulders neck head. When you are done tell yourself you are beautifully relaxed. Try and imagine a calming voice speaking to you.

When done with that imagine light flowing through you the same way, as the light travels tell yourself it is releasing tension.

Other things you can do: Think of a calming mantra like "its all fine, i am going to get through this as quickly as I can, i am ok'. Say it to yourself in calm confident manner'.

Good luck. You'll be fine.

I closed my eyes before its started and didn't open till after. Made myself keep still (didn't,want to have it again). The noice seemed worse with head scan.

Absolutely agree with PPs saying keep your eyes closed! I kept mine closed before I even went into the machine. I was out after about 10 minutes, and spent the time making a very detailed mental shopping list! I am really claustrophobic, too, but it was not as bad as I imagined. Good luck!

With the back MRIs i’ve had, i’ve spent my time thinking “It’s not a coffin, don’t think about coffins. Why are you thinking about coffins? What did I say about coffins? No coffins. Oh FFS.” I don’t think I am made for meditation!