Brain MRI for anxious 13 year old. Any advice?

[Shufflebumnessie]

DS is waiting for an appointment for an MRI of his brain. He's a very anxious child who also says he feels claustrophobic in small spaces.
His Paediatric Consultant has stated that she feels he's old enough to undergo the MRI without any sedation (& I understand that the wait for an appointment may be significantly longer if we opt for sedation).
Has anyone's child had a brain MRI and can offer any advice on what it's actually like please? How long it took? etc. I'm specifically concerned about the fact that I believe a 'mask' is placed over the face/head before going in to the machine which may make him feel even more panicked claustrophobic than if having an MRI on a different part of the body.
I didn't ask this at the appointment as it was all rather overwhelming with the amount of information we were being given.
Thanks in advance.

My daughter was able to watch a dvd in hers? She was about 5 and did it without sedation but wasn’t anxious about it.
the dvd helped as we chatted about how far we thought she’d get through the storyline etc.

I’ve had head and neck MRIs so I assume similar. You lie flat on your back and they put a cage sort of thing over your head so you can’t move but you can see. Then once you’re in the scanner you’re literally in a white plastic tunnel about an inch above your head. They usually play music but the banging from the machine is still loud. Not going to lie, it’s pretty horrible!

Have a look at this first @Shufflebumnessie and decide if it would help your son.

They gave me an eye mask before they put the cage on for mine. Then i listened to music. I'd recommend that. I never saw the cage or the inside of the tunnel. I was told it's like sunbathing on a building site. I'd tell him that. There are banging noises and warm patches.

I had to call it a day half way through. And im an adult who doesn’t usually get claustrophobic. They played the radio in the room but the noise of the machine and noise cancelling headphones drowned it out.

what’s the deal if she doesn’t ants to stop half way through? I had a button to press. Will she get that? You feel more in control with the button.

if she can handle it will it then take longer to get a date for one with sedation ie delay it all?

I have to have an MRI every year and am extremely claustrophobic. Luckily it won't be too long for just the brain.

The number one thing that helps me is I ask the nurse or second radiographer to hold my hand or leg while I'm in the machine. It seems trivial but helps me feel more 'connected' to the world outside and not as claustrophobic. I imagine for a child you would be allowed to be present in the room and I think that would help a lot.

In some machines the thing they put over your head has a mirror that acts as a kind of periscope to see out. This helps me. If this isn't present though I absolutely do not open my eyes as seeing the enclosed space makes me panic. I would suggest he decides on eyes open or closed beforehand, and if he wants them closed then maybe close them before the 'head cage' thing is put on. I believe lots of places have the tech to play films etc, so this might be an option for a child. I always accept the offer of music if they suggest it.

It sounds silly, but if he's up for it I would recommend cutting a window in a cardboard box and having him lie down in bed with a pillow under his knees, earplugs in, pillows on the sides of his head, for 15-20 minutes while you play a Youtube video of MRI sounds. It will simulate the actual situation pretty well honestly and show him that he can handle it for the amount of time that's needed.

I would probably give him some sort of placebo herbal remedy beforehand. Personally I try and go to the appointment feeling tired if possible.

It's highly likely he will actually find it okay. I wind myself up before every appointment, remembering traumatic long brain and spine MRIs, but really the brain one often only lasts 10 mins. The radiographers have been without exception lovely and kind so I'm sure they'll put your son at ease.

I’ve had a few MRI head scans.

I’ve been given foam ear plugs to wear each time but it’s still noisy - lots of repetitive banging/ whirring/ tapping / alarm type sounds that start and stop.

You lie flat with a chunky cage type thing over your head and I think there were sand bags to keep my head still.

I went into the tunnel as far as my knees. It’s white and light, probably about 6” from my face. I had a button to press if I needed it to stop. It lasted about 25 minutes, more for the ones with contrast. It wasn’t the most pleasant but I managed fine.

Are there any play specialists who can help prepare your DS?

ETA for other scans where you can go in feet first you can wear headphones but when I asked about this I was told it’s not possible for head / neck MRIs due to the lack of space.

My son was 13 when he had a head and neck MRI 2 years ago. It went on for about 45 mins, but it was also the neck area so may be longer than your son's. They kept having to stop and asking him to be still so it may have taken longer than would be needed. He was very unbothererd by it. I was allowed to be in the room with him and it was very loud, cold and boring. But I wouldn't say scary for him at all. I would encourage your son to get used to the noises in advance by going on youtube etc, to normalise it. I don't remember him having to wear a mask. Hope all goes smoothly for you.

Thank you all so much for the replies, they're really helpful in trying to gain an understanding what it'll be like for him.
Thank you for the links and ideas on how to help him prepare. They're very much appreciated.
I believe that asking for a Play Therapist is similar to asking for sedation, in that it'll extend the waiting time considerably.
I think once we know when the appointment is I'll contact the department to explain his anxiety etc and see what they say/suggest.
Thank you so much again.

I’ve had several MRIs and really struggled with the first one. The thing that helped me most the second time and has made it easier ever since is the lovely sonographer pointed out to me before I was slid inside that the machine is actually a tube. It’s open at both ends so not really “enclosed”. Let him look through and see it’s open. It really helped me panic less as I felt there was airflow through. The suggestions to simulate at home first are good. Perhaps get him to try to anticipate the time he’s in there so he knows what 15/20/30 minutes feels like without any frame of reference. It helps me to know when I’m more than half way through.