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Cancer

Find advice & support if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer

Tips for mri

38 replies

Coffeecupcreme · 03/05/2025 17:46

Any tips for coping with MRI scans for someone who is very claustrophobic?
thanks

OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 04/05/2025 22:46

I’ve had one on my head and it actually wasn’t half as bad as I was imagining. And infact if it’s on your head you don’t have much of your body in the machine. I am claustrophobic but I told them. The guy running it told me how long each part would last through the speaker. So he’d say ‘ok next bit is 3 minutes.’

So I counted up to 60 in my head slowly. Slowly so that each time it finished just before I had counted up. It was just a loud noise and a bit uncomfy from the movement of the machine but nothing bad. I did even open my eyes and I could see a lot
more than I imagined. I then felt better about it. Even with that plastic thing over my head. If I had to have one again I wouldn’t be worried next time.

The lady said to me that the one I was in was bigger than the one in the room next door, so it seems like newer ones are maybe being made slightly bigger too which is good. She even said she once panicked having one done and she works on them! But she said hers was on her chest.

You can do it!

Rummikub · 04/05/2025 23:00

I had one on my heart. 45 mins. I did as pp suggested and kept my eyes shut. I tried yoga breathing. Heard Adrienne on you tube voice guiding the breathing. That really helped. Try getting list in your thoughts. Think of a film etc.

it was loud. And I had instructions to follow. By an automated voice that sounded like Moira Stewart.

I had another on my lower back but because I’m short all of me was in there!

good luck op

cardboard33 · 04/05/2025 23:03

I've had too many brain MRIs at lots of hospitals across the last decade due to my brain tumour. Others have covered most aspects, but just a few more that may help you feel at ease:

You can take your own music (on a CD) and they will likely be able to play that instead, if you want music. I don't have music because I like the sound of the machine and enjoy the "alone" time (I have a 5 year old son), but I did for the first few times.

I wear my own clothes - just ensure that there's nothing metal in/on them, take off your bra if it has metal and I also wear slipper socks and slippers.

I often get cold (despite wearing layers) so ask for blankets as soon as I go in.

Drink lots of water before and after the scan, particularly if you're having it with an iv contrast dye. I also get very hungry immediately after so take cereal bars. I also don't go back to work (so try to get my appointment late in the afternoon) because there have been times when all I've wanted to do afterwards is sleep.

The vast majority of staff I've interacted with really want to put you at ease and will go out of their way to help explain things to you, if you let them know you're anxious and/or its your first time. They can also add things to your notes about preferences so if you need another scan then you don't have to repeat yourself. You get a buzzer to hold and you can press that at any point during the scan and they will get you out for a bit, which ime happens fairly regularly. After they call you in from the reception area there will be cubicles (so you can get changed, they do their final checks, introduce themselves etc) when you're ready they ask you to keep the door open. I read a book at that time, as I've had appointments which have been delayed by 30 mins or more as they've had to stop the scanner for the person before me (as mentioned above), and then other times I've only been waiting for a few minutes, so you can never really tell how long you'll be "waiting" after they've said that you're next.

Good luck, you will get through this as there isn't any alternative other than not having it done! Some people I know plan treats for after they've had the scan, so that could be a nice way to look at the day rather than seeing it as a bad day as you've got an MRI, but as I said, I have sometimes been fairly exhausted so have a plan that you can cancel as required.

notnorman · 04/05/2025 23:14

I had to have one where they inject you with stuff which makes your heart feel like it’s going to explode!
that was fun 🫣

Notquitegrownup2 · 04/05/2025 23:23

Like a pp, I opened my eyes after a while to peer at the room beyond my feet. It helped a lot. As did having my eyes closed and slow deliberate breathing. I also did a lot of counting.

What also helped me was holding things in my hands. I had a little soft toy in one hand and a booklet in the other (had to take the staples out - no metal at all is allowed.) It really helped me to be able to feel first the soft thing, then something with a different texture in the other. It made me feel more in touch with solid objects/the outside world and so less swallowed up by the machine.

I too am very claustrophobic and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it went by.

Best of luck.

Words · 05/05/2025 13:27

This is all really helpful thank you.

Coffeecupcreme · 05/05/2025 19:33

Thank you all.

My scan is tomorrow at 9. I think it’s the anxiety at what they might find that’s making me feel worse.
Your tips are all really helpful ❤️

OP posts:
cardboard33 · 06/05/2025 04:06

Coffeecupcreme · 05/05/2025 19:33

Thank you all.

My scan is tomorrow at 9. I think it’s the anxiety at what they might find that’s making me feel worse.
Your tips are all really helpful ❤️

Ultimately if they find something, then they will hopefully be able to do something about it which will be better than if you dont have it. That's why you're having the scan, and if they don't find anything right now then you will have faced a fear.

I've always found the unknown to be the worst part of my journey. Once you know what you're dealing with, you can make plans which always makes me feel more in control.

Words · 06/05/2025 06:03

Mine is at 850 today @Coffeecupcreme . Very best of luck .we will both be in the scanner at the same time. 🌺

Coffeecupcreme · 06/05/2025 07:09

@Words thinking of you!

OP posts:
Words · 06/05/2025 10:47

@Coffeecupcreme was thinking of you too!

How was it?

I took bêta blockers which really helped as they were running late. No eye mask allowed, nor headphones. Earplugs supplied. Foam blocks either side of head to keep head still. This also helped to muffle the noise.

Êyes tight shut from before they put the cage thing on till when it was removed.

Was only ten mins so not nearly as bad as expected.

I hope all ok for you too @Coffeecupcreme

Coffeecupcreme · 06/05/2025 19:50

Mine was fine. Staff were really kind as I explained how it triggered my previous cancer diagnosis.
They let me wear my eye mask so I didn’t see the cage or anything. Lasted about half an hour. Definitely not as bad as I feared!

OP posts:
autumn1610 · 06/05/2025 19:55

God mine was bad mainly because I couldn’t swallow when it was scanning due to what they wanted to see! So I had about 25mins of stress trying to listen for the change in the machine noise, trying all different ways not to swallow and I couldn’t control my breathing because of it. I was swallowing like a maniac each time the machine went quieter honestly was a nightmare

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