Couldn't even last 10 seconds, I freaked out. *content warning regarding MRI scans* title edited by MNHQ

[MammaKel]

Hi All,

I had an MRI scan today and I've never had one before but didn't consider myself claustrophobic so thought I'd be okay..

Led down on the bed, fine, put headphones on, fine, put cage thing over my head, fine ... got put into the MRI machine, made the mistake of opening my eyes and it was not fine I was shouting to be let out, crying, squeezing the thing they give you over and over and just I don't know what happened, complete and utter terror took over.

They let me out, weren't particularly nice about it but I just put my shoes on and left crying.

I feel like a utter idiot now, whilst still crying but I genuinely couldn't do it, panic and fear just took over.

It was needed for my head but does anyone know what happens now? Do I just hope I don't have anything wrong with me or will I eventually have to do it?

Massive sympathy/empathy to you @MammaKel and everyone else who has had a traumatic MRI. The staff certainly should have been kinder.

I had my first MRI in a portacabin/car park lorry thing with similar sounding staff and couldn't manage it, I still remember properly sobbing to my DH in the car park afterwards. I was re-referred to a hospital and the staff were so fabulous that it made all the difference - they explained clearly what would happen, reassured me, kept "checking in" and counting down with me throughout the scan as PP mentioned.

Since then, I've had them at a number of hospitals, my specialist one (so for head MRIs so with the head cage) said they have a rate of one in three people that have to come out during their first attempt, but the majority of them are able to go back in with support. The staff say being able to help patients manage to complete them, makes them feel relieved for the patient obviously, but also gives them a sense of personal/professional achievement - they consider it as important an aspect of the job as the scanning itself.

I'm the opposite from a lot of people here, I much prefer to open my eyes. Having them shut makes me feel more "untethered" as I can't tell if I'm lying flat, I get the sensation I could be moving, especially when the rotating noise starts it makes me feel like I'm rotating myself, and it's really unnerving. Having my eyes open makes me feel much less discombobulated.

The trouble with having a traumatic first one is that it's so fucking off-putting that it (obviously!) makes it so hard to try again. I think a different hospital/location for your second one, could make all the difference. If you are allowed to have someone with you, even just to hold your toe could also be really helpful.

Best of luck to you. Honestly, after my first one I swore I would never ever in my life have another one - but now they just feel very slightly uncomfortable, a bit like when the optician leans right into your face to change the lenses in an eye test - an invasion of personal space but slightly irritating, not traumatic. Spending ages taking out all my piercings out and putting them back in afterwards never gets any less annoying though!

Sending you positive thoughts, I hope you can have a second attempt and it's easier for you. (Please update if so!)

So sorry OP, I am claustrophobic and have had several scans. I have always been able to keep my eyes tightly shut for the duration, the only advice I can offer is to not open your eyes next time.

I've had several MRI scans over the years and had not found them particularly problematic.

However, I had one this week as part of breast cancer diagnosis.
So I was face down in the machine for about 40 minutes.

I freaked out just before the end and was overwhelmed by a feeling of panic.

Worse still was they couldn't even find what they were looking for!!

It took hours for me to calm down.
I felt as if I'd survived a battlefield.

The ricocheting of bullets and explosions going on around me was just too much.

But I was lucky, the doctors were wonderfully understanding throughout

They should put you in feet first I had one 13 years ago before my knee replacement, and only went in up to my waist. I can sympathise with the op though, as I'm mildly claustrophobic. I had a head-first one two weeks ago as a follow-up to a dislocated shoulder; and I made sure to keep my eyes closed all the time.

Oh God I wish I'd not read this. My own fault though as I did see the warning and know I have an mri in two weeks for my heart.

I freaked out last time, but got through it because they let my husband come in the room and stand at my head. Reading this I'm in tears and panicking/shaking.

I'm going to ask my Dr for diazepam and insist my husband is with me. And an eye mask.

Actually maybe it's a good thing I've seen this, as I think I'd blocked out last time and thought I'd be fine. Clearly I wouldn't/ won't be if this thread has me in a state.

I didn't know there were open scanners. If my plan above doesn't work I'll ask for one of those.

Tripleglazed when I had one of my heart MRIs with diazepam it was much better.

I have never been able to do this. On each occasion, I have had to obtain a prescription via my GP. It is worth the cost of a prescription.

I’ve had to have a few MRI’s over the years and couldn’t cope the first time due to claustrophobia. However I decided to try an eye mask, putting it on before I went into the scanner and I was fine with that. Worth a try.

My heart raced like the clappers when I went in.

Just have the headphones etc, shut your eyes, never open them until the person says it’s finished and you’re no longer in the tube.

I know a lot of people refuse to go in or never go back, so well done.

Eventually I actually started to fall asleep, and yes I am claustrophobic!

I had so many MRIs I lost count.
I am also extremely claustrophobic and have panic attacks. The longest MRI I had was about 70 minutes.
The way I approach it is to rationalise: it's needed, it will help my diagnoses, it will help to see if there's any changes to my condition.
Now you know how it is, you're ready so you can go for it again. Ask them if you can take something to calm you down, like a travel sickness tablet or similar.

I hear it can be worse if you have the dye, ask if you can have a sedative or what can they recommend.

Ive had a few

I always take an eye mask

They are not nice but i never open my eyes whilst in it

Def recommend a metal free eye mask

You can be sedated if you are unable to cope with the enclosure. Or you can ask to use an open scanner. I work in a hospital and these are the options given to patients.
Usually the radiologist should try to talk to you to alay your fears,but bear in mind they won't do the outside scanner until other options have been exhausted as the open scanners are expensive.
Ask your gp for some sedation first.

I had no idea how claustrophobic I was until I had my first mri scan. I was having my lumbar spine scanned and they put me in head first, as soon as I'd gone in I freaked out and pushed the button and they pulled me out. Luckily they agreed to put me back in feet first with my head hanging out so I got through it. But the next 2 scans I had were of my neck and head so I had no choice then, I had to just keep my eyes closed and do breathing exercises. Not fun!

I didn't think I was claustrophobic I had one. It was on my knee but my head was outside the machine, as it started to go in had a panic attack but managed to get through it because my was was out, his knows how I'd have coped otherwise. My gp offered me diazepam which I declined as I thought I'd not need it.

Ask to rearrange and get a sedative before. You will need someone to drive you.

I had one a few weeks ago on my back, but I have a pinching technique (pinch the back of my hand) that I use, this comes in handy at the dentist too 😂

i also struggle in the MRI scanner. I shut my eyes & focus on Radio 2 in headphones (they ask what you want to listen to). They put angled mirror glasses on me so I could see out of the tunnel. From experience, the first five minutes I feel very panicky and need to work hard on slow breathing, but after that I gradually relax, and by the end of the scan I am relaxed and often quite sleepy. Had three now, with two of head/spine with head fixed in coil.

There are such things as Open MRI's. They generally cost more and there are waiting times.

Can they sedate you next time ?
I'm sure you're not the first to freak out like this.
My husband can't even sit in the back seat of a car without a meltdown.
Don't feel bad.
Claustrophobia is very real.

I know what you mean, I’ve had several. When I go in the tunnel I point blank will NOT open my eyes - I too slightly freaked out the first time. Try again and do what I did or even put a sleep mask on your eyes to stop you accidentally opening your eyes.

I couldn't easily get out, I was pinned down by a big strap thing across my chest, I think that's what set me off as I wasn't expecting that at all.

I've had three MRI's. The secret as you now know is to keep your eyes closed from the very second you lie down. Right until they ask you to sit up at the end. I wouldn't have coped otherwise.

I couldn’t do it either. Had a CT scan instead. Don’t think I’d ever be able to.

Yeah, I didn't look! The noise freaked me out, though. The technician told me off for wincing when it got going; they could've warned me about the racket. I got the all-clear for MS, so it was worthwhile 👍🏻

If you can afford it, try a private MRI instead. There are some firms who offer an "open" scanner that you sit in and the machine kind of wraps itself around you with an opening at the front. My OH needs an MRI every year for his cancer treatment assessments and tried several times using the NHS tubes - he just couldn't do it. Has no problems at all with the open ones. The only problem that he's had a few times is that the NHS lose the CD and results report - he hands it to them personally in the oncology department, but they still manage to lose it! The last couple of times he's handed it in person to his haematologist, but even she has lost it once (apparently she handed it to her secretary who handed it to someone else, but couldn't remember who, and they lost it!). So if you go private, get an extra spare copy!!