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Original poster

Any advice for fear of MRI scan?

64 replies

GettingMarriedAgain · 09/04/2022 10:34

I’ve got to have an MRI scan next week before I start chemo for breast cancer and am actually more scared about that than the cancer treatment itself!

I had one a few years ago for my knee and I was freaked out by claustrophobia when I was having it - even though for that one my head was sticking out of the top. This has now built up to verging on panic at the thought of it.

Has anyone got any tips for how I might get through it without having a full blown panic attack? I know logically it’s only half an hour of my life but panic isn’t logical. Any advice would be very gratefully received.

OP posts:
MrsAvocet · 09/04/2022 16:15

I've had quite a few MRIs in recent years, though not breast ones.
A friend gave me a piece of advice which I found really helpful, which is to count your breaths. This tends to have the effect of slowing your breathing which is in itself relaxing, and the counting provides distraction. It also gives you some idea of the passage of time, as if you're breathing say say 12 breaths a minute you'll be able to gauge roughly where you're up to in the procedure. When I had my first scan I kept getting hopeful that it was over when it went quiet, and then I'd get stressed when the noises started up again. Once I started the counting thing I'd be able to say to myself "No, they said around 30 mins but I know we've only had 20 so this is just a pause" and that helped me feel more in control.

goldenlilliesdaffodillies · 09/04/2022 16:18

OP- sorry you are going through this.
I had a brain MRI scan recently. I got through it by picking subjects eg food/flowers/animals and then going through the alphabet from A-Z thinking of something for each letter. I also listened to the beat of the machines and sang nursery rhymes and songs to them in my head! I also kept my eyes shut as had a head cage as it was a brain scan and kept the panic button close by. Just keep thinking 'this soon shall pass' and it will. I think I listened to hypnotherapy relaxation videos on YouTube in advance as well. Try and think it's a positive thing to help you in your recovery.

gamerchick · 09/04/2022 16:20

I kept eyes closed from before going in and coming out. Not even a sneak peek. Was the only way I coped.

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Zippea · 09/04/2022 16:22

Look out towards your feet and not up.

gentlydoesntit · 09/04/2022 16:23

Wear earplugs. I developed tinnitus after being inside one for an hour.

DragonOverTheMoon · 09/04/2022 16:24

I meditated OP. Get practicing meditation and then whilst you're in it count your breaths up to 10, down from 10, up to 10 ect. I actually found it quite peaceful and was worried before having it.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/04/2022 16:27

I always fall asleep in the scanner and get really annoyed when they talk to me and wake me up. I've never had music offered to me, and never had it offered when I've taken children at work for them. Do don't know if it's a thing. The only time I struggled was when I wore a mask. But was fine when I took it off.

Kittyshopping · 09/04/2022 16:27

I had one last week. GP happily gave me supply of diazepam 2mg with instructions re timing. It totally took the edge off any panic but I did not feel out of it. The machines are noisy and vibrate a bit at times. You are not trapped, there’s always a button to press if you want to stop. The staff are used to nervous patients so please share your concerns. All the best xx.

duvetdayforeveryone · 09/04/2022 16:28

Call them up and be honest. You are not the first person to be afraid, and I'm sure you won't be the last.

karmakatte · 09/04/2022 16:29

I suggest you speak with your physician about your fears. Ask for medication to reduce the anxiety. Most physicians will prescribe medication and enter it as part of the order for the MRI.
I have endured many MRIs and survived (though I wasn't sure I would). You can too!
Definitely ask the technician to take breaks between images to take a breath and get ready for the next. It is usually a series short scans with stops in between.

Bonbon21 · 09/04/2022 16:34

I am claustraphobic..increasingly so.
I had 2 mri during lockdown.. diazapam both times..upped the dose for the second one.
Staff were lovely..gave me countdown..
Make sure your earplugs are well in place.
Count breath in and out for slow 4..practice before you go.
Tell staff you are anxious. You will get thru it..not nice but if I can do it...
I had a little cry when I got out...just tension..but that helped!!😉

Leelaloo · 09/04/2022 17:05

As others have said, you will wear a gown that’s open at the front & lie face down with your breasts dangling into two compartments. It’s a bit awkward but not uncomfortable. For my first scan I was able to bring my husband into the room. He sat at the end of the tube and I held his hand throughout the scan. I’m now fine without him. I pretend I’m on a massage table in a spa! Most modern MRI machines are more spacious than they used to be and I could see out. Remember you are there by choice, will be able to communicate with the radiographers and can get out at any time. Good luck!

Thiswayorthatway · 09/04/2022 17:06

I have had 3 MRI’s over the past 6 months for the same reasons, just finished my chemo. You will be on your front with boobs through holes. Probably also arms in front on a pillow with a drip in a canula on your hand for the contrast dye. They should offer ear plugs and headphones. Lie very still so they can get everything first time. They can always see you and will talk to you. Should last about 30 minutes. Which hospital are you at?

ancientgran · 09/04/2022 17:10

I've never had one but one of my kids did when they were 9. Nervous child at the best of times. I was allowed to sit at the end and stroke her feet that were poking out. At the end she was told she was the last and best patient of the day and they took her into where they sit looking at the screens and showed her scans inside her head.

She had a horrible teacher who used to say, "Have you got a brain in that head." to the kids. DD took great delight the next time she said it by replying, "Yes and I've seen it." Made her day.

Good luck.

Floralnomad · 09/04/2022 17:16

There are some open scanners about that are NHS - I was referred but as it was the surgeon in my case ( shoulder repair) decided to operate without rather than wait . I’d definitely contact the GP and ask for diazepam . I can’t go in a closed scanner so I know how you feel . Hope the treatment goes well 💐

Original poster
GettingMarriedAgain · 09/04/2022 19:41

Thank you for all your suggestions. You lot are lovely 🥰

I’ve got lots of ideas to choose from and I do actually feel a bit less worried than I did this morning.

Thank you for the good wishes and Flowers to everyone else who is going through cancer treatment or struggling with their help. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.

OP posts:
Original poster
GettingMarriedAgain · 09/04/2022 19:42

Help = health!

OP posts:
tigerbird · 09/04/2022 19:45

Good luck OP! I posted upthread about having a breast MRI — but I would honestly say that, even though it’s unfamiliar and the noise etc. are robotic and startling, it really isn’t too bad once you’re having it and it is very doable. The anxiety about it is far worse than the experience itself. The radiographers at my scan were lovely and very very helpful, and it was honestly over with very soon.

You can absolutely do this!

Pomkiwi · 09/04/2022 19:54

Ive been through this, when they put you on the bed you'll lay fave down with you boobs kind of hanging. Made me chuckle as a gelt like a bit like a moo cow 🤣🤣🤣

The first one was ok, but the second one i wasn't relaxed and was tense for the whole 45 mins.

Now i go in, with eye mask and daydream I'm on a beach. I let my whole body relax into the position.

Thinking of you

SirVixofVixHall · 09/04/2022 20:00

@romdowa

I get the tech to tell me how long is left in each sequence. It really helps me to know how long till I can get out. But I'm extremely bad at going in them. Also if they don't put you in a gown wear something light , I find it very warm inside there .
The radio waves heat you up by one degree. I did not like that bit at all, but the nurse said most people don’t notice it.
tigerbird · 09/04/2022 20:05

@SirVixofVixHall I didn’t notice that! But they had the air conditioning on quite high in the room.

If you are having a contrast agent injected, you can ask them to tell you just before it goes in. My arm felt a bit cold and I had a flash of a metallic taste briefly in my mouth, and that was all. They do that bit at the very end, I think, so you know that it will soon be over when they do the contrast scan.

You’ll be great, OP. All the best of luck for the scan and for all your treatment!

CheerioBeerio · 09/04/2022 20:13

I've had a couple of MRI scans. My most recent one, they had radio two playing so I could listen to it, which was good as I like Sara Cox. The MRI was really quite loud though so I missed a bit of the chat.
My scan lasted a bit longer than I expected but the staff were very reassuring and nice and repeatedly asked if I was OK. I think I had an emergency buzzer too.
I am a large lady (size 22/24) and I was really worried about actually fitting in the machine. I had to submit my weight and the height of my body at its most plump bit! But actually it was fine and there was room to spare.

Crucible · 09/04/2022 20:20

Had one recently and I understand completely.
Tell the technicians. They will help and they are lovely.
I don't know if it's possible to do it but ask if you can wear an eye mask (one with no metal on it obviously) do some box breathing all the way through.
You can absolutely get through it. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is acting in the face of fear. Good luck, but you won't need it. X

christmassausages · 09/04/2022 20:35

I wish I'd known about lying on my front, boobs dangling, before I went for my mri after breast cancer diagnosis. I'd had mri's before with no problems but seeing the cage thing you lie on sent me over the edge. I managed to last a good 15 minutes in it before going into full blown fainty mode. Nearly threw up. They had to get a doctor to check me out as my pulse was very thready apparently. Lost all my dignity as well as my make up that day as I was sweating buckets. It was really embarrassing but once I start to feel faint there's nothing I can do to stop it. Good news is that 2 years later I've had a lumpectomy, chemo, herceptin course, hair has grown back and I'm fine. Best advice is to Google the cage thing so you don't end up boobs akimbo like I did😄 Good luck. Stay positive. X

Fordian · 09/04/2022 21:15

What is the cage thing?