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?

Close your eyes the minute u get up on the table and dont open them again until they finish and reopen the cage.

I counted up in my head and did alphabet games like a for apple b for banana and just kept doing that over and over again until it was finished.

I’ve had quite a few. I found the staff talked to me and told me what was happening and when, so when they did the next bit of the scan etc. It is noisy but I had ear plugs and I have had headphones before and got played music. There was also a mirror so you can see into the window where the staff sit and they give you a button to press if you need help. I did let my mind wander and almost dozed off!

It's really not nice but it is doable. I almost got to panic attack stage when I had one last year but managed to control it.

Keep your eyes closed, you get headphones and the radio streamed through to take your mind off it and count in your breathing. In for 8 seconds and out for 6. Concentrate on this if you start to get panicky.

Don't forget that they can hear you even though they are outside the room so you can say stop at any time and they will bring you out to calm down and have a breather.

Surely the potential alternative is worse than the MRI? I have a cardiac MRI early Nov. It’s going to feel awful, drugs to mimic a heart attack,60 min in machine.

For me this is the latest in a number of investigations but I accept because the alternative is far poorer

Claustrophobia doesn’t really respond to logical reasoning @Bunnyfuller

No phobia does.

I had 2 MRI scans, each session was around an hour each. I participated a (NHS) medical research study whilst at uni so the scans were not for health reasons, but I assume it would be a pretty similar process. Both scans were carried out at an NHS hospital.

To be honest I found being inside fine/unremarkable - if anything I was just struggling to stay awake as I kept drifting off. I was given headphones and a blanket so I felt fine/comfortable. The practitioner regularly checked in with me and I was well informed of the safety precautions so I felt safe.

Swedish mind was for an ear issue - they did my head then both inner ears- I had headphones and ear plugs for both. Doesn't matter what's on the outside of your body (or in your ear canals) - the scan picks up the magnetic field of the cells inside your body. The ear bit was really quick too - four minutes for each ear.

'mine' 🙄

I've had several. The first one was a bit of a shock as I had no idea what to expect. The second time I went along really worried. I told the radiographer and he said well if it gets unbearable, just climb out, it's fine. Knowing that I could get out made it so much better and I was absolutely fine. I'd recommend closing your eyes early on and learning some breathing techniques. And remember, you aren't trapped in there.

Oh shit, I hadn’t really given this much thought. My son needs a head MRI later this month. He has Autism, and I am now worried how he will cope.
Do they let you take your own noise cancelling headphones? Could he listen to music on his own iPad?

They should let you stay in the room and hold his foot as long as you are also metal-free @NewtonPulsifer

Ask for the tilted mirror, if possible. With that he can see “out”, see you and feel much less enclosed. CD playing arrangements, vary IME. Ring the scanning department to check what’s available.

I believe there is an educational video or DVD available somewhere that was developed a few years back in the UK to help with children’s MRIs. Might be worth asking the department about that, too. Or goofing. That “see before you do” approach could be particularly helpful for autistic children, depending on his particular needs.

Newton I would give the hospital a call ahead of the appointment and talk to them about his condition. There will be things they can do to make it less stressful for him.

Thanks Tottie and Flump, good advice.

Yes I concur with keeping your eyes close and focus on your breathing. Think about that and not what's happening.

It is VERY loud and be aware the the noises change all the time so just as you think you are used to it another one starts which can be unsettling but ok if you are prepared.

I have tinnitus so I use wax earplugs in addition to the headphones they provide and it still seemed loud!

Your head isn't immobilised but the cage thing is a bit unsettling and I don't have claustrophobia. So you are right to take some meds to help you through.

Head MRIs don't take very long and don't hurt so you can also reassure yourself that it's all over soon. You can also think that if you want you can stop at any time. You are in control, not like when you were three and had no control being held down. This is different you can move (although you shouldn't for the imaging) and you can ask them to stop if you want to.

They will also check in with you if you are ok and you can sometimes choose the music to be played through the earphones so ask about that if you think it will help.

Everyone 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!

I had a head MRI. I'm not that troubled by confined spaces. (Keep your eyes closed.) I was surprised however at how NOISY the damn thing was. It easily drowned out the music that was playing on the headphones - though I soon found myself getting lost in the beat of the scanner noises themselves. It was like some heavy metal / hardcore techno remix of a Steve Reich composition... utterly fascinating.

Sorry Mumsnet app issues that was a quote from OP previous post.

Everyone is made for meditation. Meditation is not about trying to clear your mind or not think about something. As you found that’s impossible. What you can do is train your brain to focus on something other than your thoughts. Like breath or parts of your body (like in a body scan). Your brain will try to draw you back in to the crazy thoughts and you just bring it back again to the breath or whatever else you are focusing on.

I’m very claustrophobic and I had one.

What got me through was breathing exercises (in for four seconds, hold for seven, out for eight, or as slow as you like) - this tells your body there is no need to panic.

Also I visualised being in wonderful calm places or immersed myself in daydreams of stuff I’d like to do/nice memories. When I started to get a bit panicky I would mentally say to myself “This is exactly where I want to be, I want to have this done and finished. I’m glad I’m right here.” It sort of neutralised the moment.

But you’ve got lovely drugs! You’ll be fine

Badtasteflump

Oh, that's interesting. Consultant didn't think I could but we'll see. Thanks.

Your consultant said that? He probably knows more than I do, having had no medical training whatsoever! I was just going on my experience. I had a brain mri first and was also booked in to have both ears done (IAM) at a later date. I asked the same question at my first appt and was given this info then.

I closed my eyes before I went in, put the music on as loud as it would go, and mediated. Was oddly relaxing as PP said. You have to tell your body to relax and remind yourself of the potential alternatives if you can't go through with it. You can do this.

My DS has a brain MRI next week which is scary. Any idea if we will get results straight away? Or how long after?

I had a head MRI. The head enclosure (?) had a mirror so I could see the team at the deal at all times. I had ear plugs and ear defenders. The noise of the machine was strangely calming. The staff were lovely.
I was terrified before I went tbh. But it was the most relaxing thing I'd done in ages and nearly fell asleep . No one needed me for 15 min, I'm not used to being able to stop.

I have regular MRI scans on my brain; I second putting the eye mask on asap and taking yourself off to your favourite place (you could practice doing that while lying on your own bed beforehand).

I always make sure that I am lying comfortably too before saying that I'm ready. Sometimes the padding under the knees is a little too high or a little too low and that can make the whole process horrible. If I'm properly comfortable I can now get through it quite easily but I appreciate that has come with experience.

Good luck OP. With the scan and the results

It took me several attempts to actually get in the scanner as I panicked every time they fastened me in. I ended up asking the guy to show me how to fasten and unfasten the head restraint, so as I knew in the event of him dropping dead/a zombie apocalypse/the world ending whilst I was in the scanner, at least I would be able to release myself and get out. This made me relax a lot more as I felt like I was in control. I kept my eyes firmly screwed shut the entire time in the scanner and sang songs in my head along with the noise (it starts to sound like a dodgy rave after a while ).

I’m terribly claustrophobic (memorably burst, naked, out of a sun bed booth the one and only time I tried it, as I couldn’t stand being enclosed!), and I’m going to have to have another one soon, so I sympathise entirely.