Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Going in scanner with claustraphobia

11 replies

Deborah51 · 03/03/2015 23:51

Hi I have to have a cardiac CT scan but am ridiculously claustraphobic, can anyone tell me what it's like please.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 04/03/2015 08:48

A cardiac CT shouldn't make you claustraphobic at all - the machine is less than 20cm thick, and you go through very quickly so its not like an MRI at all

Original poster
Deborah51 · 04/03/2015 09:42

They said I'd be in it for 20 minutes, I'm really worried.

OP posts:
wfrances · 04/03/2015 09:43

its in a large airy room, and the bed goes through a fat polo mint ,its not enclosed.

DozyDonut · 04/03/2015 10:20

Thanks OP, my dad had a CT scan last year. He is extremely claustrophobic, will never go in a lift etc etc
He managed really well in the scanner. It's not that wide so he was able to see out and the staff were very kind and said he could stop at any time. He was in there 25 minutes. He said the thought of it was worse than the actual scan
Good luck OP, I would inform the staff straight away that you are claustrophobic

Lilymaid · 04/03/2015 10:33

CT scans are fine (I have them every 4 months) and you are only in the "polo mint" for seconds at a time. With MRI scans I've been in the scanner for 45 minutes and I was feeling claustrophobic for the first time in my life!

Original poster
Deborah51 · 04/03/2015 11:32

Thankyou everyone, it's at Lewisham hospital, are all CT scanners the same then.

OP posts:
mollymophead1978 · 04/03/2015 19:38

All CT scanners the same, please don't worry. I had an hour in the mri scanner last week and it was claustrophobic, CT is a giant polo hun, u will be fine xxx

Babyh200 · 04/03/2015 19:51

Same as you Molly, I had a MRI scan this week. I was in there for 30-40 minutes. It was nerve racking, I just kept my eyes shut the whole time. It sounds like the CT scanner is much better x

username12345x · 04/03/2015 22:18

MRIs are the claustrophic ones. Even then if you are seriously claustrophic, they do have open MRI scanners. I think at one point there was only one in the UK in Oxford if I remember rightly but now there are a few more.

If you are horrifically claustrophic and panic attack scale, discuss it with your dr in advance.

If it's more "I don't like it but think I could just about cope" look into going to a hypnotist for some self hypnosis and relaxation techniques.

Original poster
Deborah51 · 05/03/2015 10:04

Thanks everyone, yes I am panic attack scale, I told the nurse at my appointment but she didn't reassure me at all

OP posts:
passthewineplz · 05/03/2015 10:27

I've had a few CT scans, honestly hun they're ok. You just lie on a flat bed and go through the machine for a few minutes at a time. If you suffer from panic attacks ask your GP for some diazapam to take the edge off xx

New posts on this thread. Refresh page