Does anyone else struggle in the MRI scanner ?

[stoneple]

I have to have regular MRI's, at least once a year.

Sometimes it's a quick brain one of 15 minutes. Other times it's a longer scan. Usually it involves my head so I have to wear the cage thing over my head and headphones.

I find it really difficult. No matter how often I do it, I absolutely hate it.

Today I had a 1 and a half hour scan and really really had to control myself. It was so horrible.

I just start freaking out in there. I close my eyes of course. But yeah I just hate it.

Any suggestions for the next time ?

I too had an MRI that was open at the sides. It helped but the plate being right on my face and the banging noises were awful. Felt like it would fall and crush me. Irrational I know. I was very distressed afterwards but had to collect myself to drive myself home . Hope I never have to do it again.

I’m very claustrophobic but somehow I managed to not panic every time I had one (6 so far). I focus on silly things like going through the alphabet thinking of flower names, animals or food for each letter.
I do the same at the dentist…..which I equally hate!

I think quite a few people struggle as it can feel quite claustrophobic. So you aren't alone! Sorry you have to have one so frequently

I have had several, including the head box ones. I am claustrophobic and I have worked very hard on self hypnosis - originally I looked into it for dental treatment.
I have found it helpful. Derren Brown has written about it and there are books and self help information around. Practicing relaxation helps too - like we used to do in the days when we had antenatal classes.

Oh yes I struggled and it took me completely by surprise. I knew what was involved wasn't really thinking much of it, lay down, she put the thing over my face and slid me in and u just started shouting No! NO! NO! and they brought me out breathing like a panic attack. I've never been claustrophobic or squeamish in the slightest. I was horrified but didn't want to have to come back so I took the eye mask but didn't like not hearing what was going on so did it but had to disassociate almost by concentrating on breathing and recited prayers not because I'm remotely religious anymore but because they're the only thing from childhood that come without thinking about it. I wasn't praying through fear just more focus.
I feel i'll manage if I have to do it again but I'll be aware to visualise beforehand how I'll cope.

I was really anxious before having mine having listened to all kinds of scary stories from friends!

I was actually shaking as I lay down and almost crying but I knew I had to just get on with it. I am a terrible twitcher, always moving and getting itches so was worried about lying still for 40 minutes!

After the first round of bangs, i strangely began to relax as they were not as loud as I had feared. Also, just before each set started, I noticed that I could hear a tiny ticking sound from the machine which alerted me to the noises.

The annoying thing for me was that after 20 minutes they took me out because the plastic clips on my bra straps were visible so they had to adjust the bra straps and continue - I had thought it was over! They then “lied” to me and said they did not need to start again, I’d just be back in for 20 minutes or so. But of course they did have to start again but luckily I must have dozed off because I was surprised when I finally came out.

So my tips are to listen out for the very faint clicks to anticipate the bangs. I told the technician and she was surprised that no one else had mentioned hearing them so I just hope I did not have a faulty machine!

I had 2 and now I cannot go into lifts, small spaces, climb under anything without a awful panic attack through fear of getting stuck, laying in there the second time I kept thinking about when my kids chubby hamster got stuck in a loo roll. Total panic, however the hospital staff were fantastic despite me sobbing hysterically.

The only person I’ve met who doesn’t mind them is me. I use it to catch up on my sleep. It’s odd because I hate loud noises, even the hoover, but it just doesn’t bother me. Everyone else I know who’s had one hated it.

I had one after a back injury - it was awful. I expected there to be much more room above my head for some reason. I just shut my eyes as I went in, counted down minutes and didn't open my eyes again until they took me out. It took about 35 minutes I think. Drugs are the answer.

I’m the same, i actually love them and have a snooze.

I’m another one who falls into a hypnotic state. Last one I had was an hour and I almost enjoyed it. My biggest snag is that on random occasions I get magnetic twitching which is hard to describe but impossible to control. I’ve had quite a number of MRIs. Whilst it’s clear some people really struggle I’d imagine that like any fear it is possible to use relaxation to keep the panic at bay.

I was in tears after my first MRI and I've had to have a few over the last couple of years.
Like you, I close my eyes and don't open them until it's all over ,which helps with the claustrophobia.
To deal with the noise, I totally embrace it and it is no longer annoying. I imagine I'm dancing to it or choreograph whole lines of ballerinas in my head. As I'm moved in and out of the machine, I imagine I'm floating through the underworld like that Chinese Emperor that's supposed to have been buried floating on a river of mercury in Xian.
It all sounds a bit crazy when I write it down but embracing the process rather than fighting it has taken the stress out of the MRI for me.

What do you dislike? I'm not asking to be obtuse but to identify what you find triggering. For example, are you claustrophobic and find all situations like that horrible? Or do you dislike the link to your (presumed) illness? Or do you get frightened of the results? As, I think if you need them often, perhaps there's a route around this (e.g. phobia therapy).

I was excited (literally and physically) for my first MRI as I’m interested in the science behind it. They are huge users of helium - roughly 1700 litres of liquid helium in each machine.

I always hear the clicks! Know exactly what you mean. Like something firing up!

It's the claustrophobia really.

Just thinking I can't just get out if I need to. I'm stuck and relying on the radiographers to get me out. I've never pressed the button to get them to let me out, but I worry if I did, then would they come ?

I feel ok when they're talking to me while I am in there, even when I can tell images are being taken. But when it's silent and I can just hear the tick tock, it feels weird.

It's not being able to get out if I need to.

I don't mind the noise at all.

I suffer from claustrophobia too and I’m heavy built. I tried the normal MRI, but within seconds was smacking my head against the cage screaming to get out. I felt like a champagne cork!

Was then referred to a larger diameter MRI. Same thing happened. If you demonstrate you’re too claustrophobic for those, the NHS will fund an open scanner, but the image quality isn’t quite as good. So may not be clinically acceptable for your needs.

The reason I’m having brain MRIs is due to structural damage caused by benzos - so taking them isn’t an option for me.

I believe there is specific phobia-related therapy available on the NHS, if you wanted to consider that as an option and you felt it was worthwhile. It a sounds tough. I'm not claustrophobic but am frightened of other things (I don't think there needs to be a rational reason!)

i only went in up to my chest and I’m not claustrophobic so should have been fine, but I didn’t realise it would be so loud and I have very sensitive ears.
I did think about stopping and asking for extra headphones but it was only a short one so I pushed through.
will definitely take ear plugs if I ever need another one.

I feel for you, I had a spine MRI a few
Months ago, the tech said just close your eyes before you go in and keep them closed if you're worried, so I did and it was ok, but not sure I could
Be so calm for 3x as long as I was in it for!

I also have regular scans (every 3 months)
Can you learn to meditate ?
Diazepam from GP? (You'd need someone to drive you home)
I actually feel very lucky to be able to have my scans. It keeps me alive.

"Just thinking I can't just get out if I need to. I'm stuck and relying on the radiographers to get me out. I've never pressed the button to get them to let me out, but I worry if I did, then would they come ?"

In my experience they always respond to the button being pressed. They do understand how frightening it can be.

There are a number of private MRI scanners which aren't the "tubes". They're open ones that you stand or sit in and are ideal for people who are claustrophobic in the tubes. My OH needs a full neck/spine one every year re his bone cancer and he simply can't tolerate the tubes at all, even with sedation. The private open one is the only way he can have a MRI scan. His oncologist didn't even know they existed so we had to find one ourselves, organise it ourselves and even take the CD they send of the images/report to the hospital ourselves and hand it over to the oncologist (they refuse to accept it by email and the first time we handed it over the reception desk and they lost it!).

"will definitely take ear plugs if I ever need another one".

I have always been given earplugs and the ear defenders. I think that should be routine because the banging is very loud.

God I couldn't do that even for a minute!