MRI scan - tips on coping!

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

Can anyone tell me how to cope with claustrophobia when having an MRI scan? Really need one but had a panic attack the other day when they wheeled me into it. Really need one but the thought of going back fills me with dread.

Practice breathing techniques. I have lots of MRIs and breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6. Also I have to take my mask off.

Tell them before you go in that you struggle.

Close your eyes while you're having the scan and focus on keeping your breathing calm - in through those nose, out through the mouth for the count of 4 each time.

Ask them to keep you updated on how long the scan is taking during it, if you feel it will help to know that you only have a x minutes left.

Remember that you're safe, that you can escape and you're not trapped. That it isn't for long. Try hard to rationalise it as you go.

Focus your mind on different parts of your body as you breathe: toes, feet, calves, knees etc all the way up to your crown and down to your fingertips. Breathe into each of these areas.

I've had a few, on my head, and they're not as bad as you think they will be. Just noisy.

There are videos on YouTube which you can watch to familiarise yourself with the process and the noise. I know this as my son had one just after his third birthday (the age at which they stop sedating you for them) and we spoke to a play therapist who directed us to them.
When I had one, I wore a sleep mask as that someone tricked me into thinking I was in control of being in there and gave me a familiar (black!) view if I did open my eyes, had a bit of material in each hand to hold during the process and then rub in the gaps and, most importantly, chose a CD I was ridiculously familiar with so, if I was told I had to be still for three minutes, I knew it would be the next track and a little bit longer.

I didn't open my eyes at all. From the minute they were wheeling me in until I came out!

I knew if I did then I would see how enclosed it was and would panic, if I didn't know then I could pretend I was on a beach somewhere and the tunnel was actually nowhere near me

It was hard, but managed it!

Diazepam.

The GP prescribed me 5mg (a single pill!). It wasn't nearly enough though - next time I'll be asking for for 10mg!

I was terrified and refused it when they wheeled me into the room (huge waste of people's time and money- I know)
I had to wait a few weeks longer but they referred me to a different hospital with a newer machine that wasn't so enclosed and used for people who were unable to go through with the procedure in a 'normal' MRI.
Could be worth asking.

The technician suggested oral sedation, to ask my GP as they are not allowed to give it. To be honest, my panic attack was so overwhelming that I truly doubt that valium or suchlike would do the trick. Might sound dramatic, but I'm not given to panic attacks generally, so this was unusual. They did reassure me that it was quite usual to panic, and they were very understanding.

Have heard of something called an 'open' or 'high field' MRI scanner, does anyone know anything about these?

@Noshowwithoutpunch - yes, that is the kind I mean! Can you tell me more about it, please? Was it difficult to get referred to that place? And I felt the same, as if I had wasted everyone's time, but they were so lovely and reassuring. And I figured well, at least the person who was due in after me may get seen early!

@PinkFootstool - yes, I can't see one pill making any difference at all! Pretty sure I'd need to be put under to endure the procedure. God, that sounds so dramatic, but god, the panic!!

I'm very claustrophobic (can barely tolerate toilet cubicles) and I couldn't manage to go into the MRI. I think they can offer midazolam sedation if you ask. I didn't bother going back as I knew I'd never manage.

[quote BigbreastsBiggerbeard]@Noshowwithoutpunch - yes, that is the kind I mean! Can you tell me more about it, please? Was it difficult to get referred to that place? And I felt the same, as if I had wasted everyone's time, but they were so lovely and reassuring. And I figured well, at least the person who was due in after me may get seen early![/quote]
I can't remember a lot about as it was several years ago.
I was known by my GP to live with anxiety and panic. I was also terrified of medication, particularly sedation so this option wasn't discussed.
I do know I had to travel about 30 mile although if you live in or near a large newer hospital that tend to be the ones with these newer open MRIs then you could have one much closer to where you are.
I had to wait for an appointment. Pretty sure it was about 8weeks but I guess that will depend on how urgent your need is ( mine wasn't urgent urgent).

• if you live in a large City- not a hospital

I was in hospital and MRI was ordered. I just told the doc that unless he drugged me or gave me something I was going to drive everyone mad, and be so embarrassed and stressed myself by not being able to go through with it.

He wrote me up for a small dose of Xanax. Took it 40 or so minutes prior, I put on an eye mask and I got through it. It is not something I would do again without drugs though. Ever. No need to be a martyr, that's what benzos are for!

Which part of you is being scanned?

You might be surprised what medication can achieve when combined with other strategies such as warning the staff so they go slower and provide more/better explanations, your own breathing, visualisation, preparing more so it's familiar, reminding yourself you're in control and can stop at any time etc.

Depending on what you're being scanned for and the rest of your health CT might be an option - much quicker, almost silent, really open - but that involves xrays so it's generally better for you to have mri instead (plus mri imaging might be better for detecting whatever your health issue is).

Don't worry about "wasting" their time for needing to stop or go slower. They are there to provide care to you and help you feel safe - nothing wasteful about it.

By visualisation - preparing a safe/calm place in your mind that you can visit when feeling panicked. Preferably involving as many senses as possible. If you practise and build it in advance when feeling safe (e.g. At home) it is more effective.

I also have this problem with MRIs and had to have a few last year. I was told the open ones aren’t as clear/effective so my consultant asked me to really try the regular one.

I had a complete panic attack on first attempt - properly hysterical ( was also having a neck one so had a neck brace thing as well.). I was seeing my psychologist so had to have several sessions which did help doing EDMR. This was because I knew I’d need a couple of them so had to somehow get to the point of coping if I could!

Then like others have said I kept my eyes closed the whole time and asked for regular timing updates - so each scan cycle the lady would ask if I was still ok to continue and then would say next scan will be 4 minutes, then she’d come back on after 4 minutes etc . I also had someone in the room with me which made it feel more bearable as I knew I could get out quickly if that made sense?

But agree that a mild sedative also worth a go!

I’m claustrophobic but find them fine as I remind myself I can exit at any point. Even with the ‘cage’ on your head I know I can flip it up and scoot down and off the table should I wish. I stay for the whole scan but just knowing I could exit is what keeps me calm

I found what really helped me was the thought that if I wanted to I could wriggle out if I wanted to.
I didn't find closing my eyes helped at all.
I concentrated on my breathing, this helped call me down too.

When the technician popped me in for a few seconds as a trial, I really freaked out and was shaking like a leaf. I honestly thought there was no way I could do it. But I knew that my dad (who was way more claustrophobic than me) had endured one, so I convinced myself that I couldn't not.

Like others, I found that keeping my eyes shut was the only thing that got me through it. It was the proximity of the 'ceiling' to my eyes that was the killer. So resisting the temptation to open my eyes was crucial.
I like the pp's suggestion of an eye mask. I'd do that next time.

A few years later I had to have another MRI. This time I asked if someone could accompany me. My best friend took the day off their Important Job because they knew how terrified I was. But then I felt like a fraud, because the machine that I went in the second time, wasn't nearly so bad! Not only that, they didn't even put me all the way in! My friend could (just) hold my hand through a lot of it, and I could just about see out of the end. I was fine.

So they do vary.

I work in radiology op and this is so common. Many patients get sedation from their go, just make sure you have a driver and if possible ask to have your appointment later on in the day (6-7pm) so you can get straight in bed when you get home. I have had an MRI on my head, I fell asleep during mine through meditation and thinking of lists in my head such as shopping or things to do in the house. You'll be fine. Your not trapped in there xx

*From their gp

@DaisyDreaming - unfortunately that wouldn't have been possible on this machine. I went in feet first and couldn't have exited from the end and the space was (I'm pretty sure) too small for me to turn around and crawl out the way I went in. Plus I was blocked by a big thing that my neck was resting on. I think that was what caused the panic, I couldn't imagine being able to escape under my own steam! Totally reliant on the staff to respond quickly to my pressing the button.

@ftw163532 - it's my back, 'whole spine' it said on the doctor's letter. Would have taken approximately 30 minutes.

Thanks everyone for your helpful and understanding responses - really appreciate them. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one to experience this.

@BigbreastsBiggerbeard I could hand coped going in feet first - I went in head first for both of my MRIs, and the first one (brain scan) scared the shit out of me as I didn't know I was claustrophobic until they put me in....

I cried and panicked immediately and they pulled me out. I went back in only because I needed to know the result but shook so hard all the way through that it affected the quality of the scan.

Next one was a head, neck and shoulder scan. 5mg diazepam. Not nearly enough, hyperventilated through out.

I'm very overweight and it's a terror of getting stuck that makes me freak out. The fear of humiliation as well as being stuck in a confined space.

The backs of my arms were brushing on the side of the scanner just being slid in and being so confined is what set me off. If I couldn't feel the sides, I would probably be fine.

The noise doesn't bother me. Visualisation didn't work. Fear of a brain disease didn't exactly make me cope better. Bring on the drugs!

My OH tried 3 times but couldn’t do it. GP wouldn’t prescribe oral sedation. OH ended up going private for a sit-up open scanner -no problems with that.

I am extremely claustrophobic. I took a tranquliser, kept my eyes shut from.before I went in. I.had my head in the cage and I asked if I could try and get out and they said yes. So i wriggled down and i was out. It was easy and not a big deal. I wasn't trapped and I could easily get out if I chose. I would definitely wear a sleep mask next time. I'd also have some images ready in my head to concentrate on.