How bad is an mri scan if you are claustrophobic?

[JadeVS72]

I have been offered an mri of my heart as part of some research due to me having an inflammatory auto immune condition. I would be interested in understanding my heart health but I am quite claustrophobic. As it is for research purposes, they would not offer any sedation. Does anyone have any experiences they could share about how bad it actually is? I wouldn't mind the noise it's just not being able to see an open room. How close to your face is the roof of the tube? Thanks!

I only had my ankle done and hated that! There is a panic button though.

I'd suggest you pay to go private and have an open/standing scan.

OH has cancer and needs MRI scans regularly to monitor his bones - he has full on panic attacks in the tube ones and just can't do it. He tried sedatives etc but still no help. NHS just shrugged their shoulders and basically said "tough".

So we researched alternatives and found a few firms who do it in an open/stand up scanner. We asked his NHS oncologist but she'd never heard of them and was no help whatsoever.

If you can, talk to your GP and get a one-off dose of benzos.

I’m not so much claustrophobic as anxious about anything to do with hospitals. My GP practice refused to give me anything to help with nerves even through some diazepam really helped me in the past for other much more invasive tests.

The alternative to an MRI for me was an endoscopic MRI which I was even more worried about so I made myself go to my appointment.
I read up beforehand on how MRI works and felt quite fascinated by it. Truth is though, that I still screamed anytime the damn stretcher you lie on moved, although it did get easier the longer the scan went on.
I did think afterwards that there was really nothing to be afraid of as it’s just a big camera. Mine was open at both ends and they let my husband come into the room so I could see him with my head tipped back which was some comfort or it at least gave me a distraction as all he did was make silly faces at me.
If I had another one, I’d like to think I would handle it better. There is no pain at all - maybe just a pleasant warming feeling in the area they are focussing on. I’m a short size 18 and there wasn’t much room to see down through the tunnel once they put the weighted blanket “thing” over my abdomen. My face was maybe about 4 inches from the white plastic-looking interior although I could tip my head back and see out as mentioned earlier.
If you are claustrophobic, I would seek some form of sedative in advance as there is no escaping the fact that it’s quite a tight fit - even if harmless. The NHS staff were amazing too. Xx

I had a 90-minute one. The thing that got me through was music, keeping my eyes firmly closed and using meditative breathing techniques. Drs made it clear sedation wasn't on the cards despite me being claustrophobic with a history of severe anxiety.

Overall it was empowering. After that I feel I can face anything now.

I didn't think I was claustrophobic until I had an MRI.

For my second attempt they gave me one lorazepam. It worked a treat.

You might find that benadryl works too, though its effect is different.

I have diazepam for mine, and can get through them, brain and spine, so it's the head cage for part of it.

Make sure they turn the fan on, the moving air helps.

If people are reading the advice about the open scanner, please ensure that the Tesla rating is high enough for the detail your doctors need. Mine has to be 3 Tesla and I don't think they are possible in the open ones.

It also helps me to have a countdown from them of what's left to do, and to know that I can come out in between if needed.

I've had 4 and I found them claustrophobic but ive always managed to get through them, a tip is to keep your eyes closed, do some breathing techniques and think of something like being on a beach. You can ask your Dr for some sedation before maybe? They are noisy, ask for music to be played. I had one done recently on my stomach and luckily was able to go in feet first.

I'm very claustrophobic (can't even go in lifts) and had one done last year. I was in the MRI tube for almost an hour. I asked to be pulled out twice before it started as I panicked, but then decided I must get it done, and didn't want to have to wait to get diazepam from.the GP and then wait again for an appointment. So, I put on an eye mask that I had brought along (as I didn't want to open my eyes and see how close the walls were) and I asked if my husband could hold my feet. They said yes. This really really helped me and I got through it fine. I at least knew if I started to panic my husband could get me out quickly!

I have had thee MRIs, one of which was of my heart. I didn't wear a mask as I prefer to see the light and it is possible to see the room behind your head a little and down past your feet if you tilt your head either way.
It is noisy and for a heart MRI you won't be able to listen to music as the scanners will be talking to you a lot and you can speak to them. They frequently ask if you are ok and you will be following their instructions for breathing which might take your mind off it.
I found it very cold and would definitely advise you to wear warm socks. I had to ask them to pause as I was so cold that I started to shiver and they immediately came with more blankets.
Just let them know how you feel because they will have looked after many people who are claustrophobic or just anxious,

Reading these responses, I must have been lucky and gotten a wide bore machine. I'm claustrophobic and had 2 separate MRI's at different places and it didn't feel like a tube, just like a wide arch.