Mri scan

[christina1947]

Devastated went for mri today but couldn’t go through with it didn’t realise just how claustrophobic it would be does anyone know of any other test they can do already had a ultrasound but they didn’t see much from that for some reason.Have a cardiologist appt end dec to discuss mri results but he want have any do you think I should phone his secretary any advise .Also apparently the radiologist said I was the 2nd today and that all doctors should ask patients if they are claustrophobic and arrange a sedative because diazepam sometimes does the trick but you have to go through your doctor because it may change your HR take care xxx

[Mazatectribe]

Hi I'm the same. I've had a few MRIs over the years and now always ask my gp for diazepam which just seems to take the edge off and get me through it. Good luck!

[judes]

I can’t have an mri even taking diazepam did little to ease my nerves.

However, in various places through the uk there are open mris’ it’s like lying on an X-ray table, no tunnels!

You may get a bit stiff lying down but that’s it, I can’t lie flat but they made every effort to make me comfortable

J

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Although I had MRI scans for PAD and back issues (prolapsed discs) I had a CT scan for my heart. The CT scanner is a large ring so claustrophobia should it bee an issue.

I was given diazepam when I had an epidural while they plated my femur. Zero sedative effect just a bad headache. I now refuse sedatives.

[N1kk1B]

Hi Christina,

You're not alone...

I've had a couple of MRI scans, one in a mobile unit which is tiny. I swore I would never put myself through that again as it sent my heart rate through the roof.

Ask if they can give you a CT scan as an alternative as the tunnel is not so small x

[Sillyfroggy]

Had this on Thursday. Yes, it feels v tight. As soon as I realised how closed in it was I just closed my eyes. I found the adenosine far worse than the MRI itself. It’s unpleasant, it’s an hour. But it’s only an hour of your life and is literally as risk free as any medical test could be.

My heart attack preceding it felt WAY worse.

[Hidden]

Hi Christina it is tight in there and i certainly share your feelings. I made it by asking them to play my music instead of theirs! also keeping your eyes closed works too

[RoyM]

I agree it isn't easy...I simply closed my eyes for the whole time, listened to the music and the whole thing will be over before you realise it. It is after all for your benefit but yes it isn't easy. Good luck

[Rosei in reply to RoyM]

That's exactly what happened to me, I wasn't at all happy and thought I wouldn't make, but I closed my eyes and did some deep breathing, it did take quite a long time but it was soon over

[Parminter]

Christina, you can learn to get through it with ease, but you must practice. (They really should prepare patients better than they do, in advance).

'Google' some deep-breathing exercises for anxiety and do them every day until it becomes automatic. Then, when you have the MRI scan, close your eyes BEFORE you go into the tube and do not open them until you are out again.

There will also be a LOT of noise from time to time as the machine does its thing - just keep breathing through the clatter and keep your eyes closed. Think of the machine as big noisy dog trying to help!

Imagine something big and spacious, such as your favourite trip to the sea. Big blue sea and sky.

This is what I do, and it works.

Personally, I would not want anyone else's canned music. I would prefer the sound of my own breathing. Make sure the ear-plugs are fitting snugly.

Good luck, you can sail through this.

[tmatthews]

Hi Christina I do share your feelings. I had mine a year ago now... I had it done at the Q. E in Birmingham and asked them if they had a larger machine.. And they did it was considerably larger than most mri scanners.. The actual ring itself!!! I had to wait a couple more weeks to get this scanner but I found this helped me. You will hear lots of banging as the machine works. I found it easier to keep my eyes open and focus on a light in the room. We are all different. I took the greatest showman to listen too and altho obviously you can't move in my head I was rocking!!!! You take care and you will be o. K. Xxx

X

[tmatthews]

Hi Christina it's me again... a C. T Scan won't give the consultant the results they need for a cardiac Mri. Xxxx

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to tmatthews]

Much depends what the cardiolgist is looking for. Muscle issues and arryhythmias are best investigated via MRI whilst CT is superior for calcification. However, occasionally a cardiolgist becomes more comfortable with one type of scan than another so default to that one. That is why I suggested it.

[seasider18]

If you live in London, Manchester or Leeds they have an open scanners you can stand up in.

Another company have one in Bournemouth.

Google will find them for you

[tandycute]

I'm the exact same it terrifies me. I had an MRI a few weeks ago but not until they let my partner in the room with me which they wasn't going to allow at first. He was behind my head they placed a mirror above so that i could see him. It did help seeing and hearing him slightly. I felt like a big kid afterwards though as i was crying, sweating, dry lips etc, phew ! All the best with it.

[Waterman]

I can sympathise with you. Through all the treatment I had it was the hardest thing I had to stomach by far. I've never had any fear of confined spaces before the test. I am also quite big so it was quite a tight fit in the first place. I would find it hard to go through it again and I think I would have get something to help.

[Speakeazi]

You could try a pair of periscope glasses. You can get them from Amazon for around £10. Make sure there’s no metal in them. You can see out of the mri with them.

Hope you can find a way to deal with this - it is hard and lots of us hate it!

[MrsP70]

I could never have an MRI, I am too claustrophobic I think I would die from the anxiety of it

[Speakeazi in reply to MrsP70]

No you won’t die from the anxiety.

And if you are unfortunate enough to need one, then you will need some help like many of the good ideas above, to get you through it.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Speakeazi]

Good point, and I'm taking notes - there are a lot of really good tips here for getting through a cardiac MRI. Mine was cancelled just as I arrived to the unit (cardiologist decided he wants an angiogram instead) but there's always the chance another will be scheduled.

[WeaverShaz]

I had to have 2 MRCPs. With these there is heavy plate over your chest and your arms are strapped to your side by it. It wasn't nice. Our hospital has a newer scanner that is lit inside but still a tunnel. I found that with music in my headphones and by keeping my eyes tight shut and using visualisation techniques, it was manageable.

[HHH2017]

Hi Christina, I have had 3 MRI scans and always have diazepam as I am severely claustrophobic. I found them really difficult but the staff are made aware & are excellent. They tell me exactly how long ea h section will take and I count in my head. So 45 secs, 30 secs, 15 etc I sometimes come out in between these if necessary. I tell myself by counting i may be a little under or over but I roughly know each time I can come out and that helps me too. Do call cardiology and see if you can try again with diazepam, good luck.

[Nanny72]

I had an MRI just over a week ago. They had to let me out to vomit. After half an hour I went back in again. Sedation would have helped. It was horrendous

[Speakeazi in reply to Nanny72]

Well done for completing under such duress. Really well done x

[Qualipop]

The first few MRIs I had were fine, no trouble at all then I had one where it felt as if my body started to get really hot from the feet upwards . I had to press the buzzer to get out but the nurses ignored it thinking I'd just laid on the buzzer. They then told me it was a reaction to the magnetic field. Next time I got part way through and had to come out again feeling as if I was burning up. I used to go potholing so I doubt I'm claustrophobic. When I needed an urgent MRI this year as an in patient they sedated me and used a more open, shorter scanner and had fans blowing on me . They were prepared for the burning feeling so it must be quite common. Even with sedation I still felt odd but I did get through it. Most hospitals have a less confined scanner so insist on that and on sedation.

[Weelam]

As an NHS patient, you have the right to request treatment at any NHS hospital so you could request an MRI at a hospital with an open scanner. However, I understand that there are only a handful of these and you might have to travel a long way.

[flamepoint]

I dont know where you live but I,too ,am claustrophobic and when I required an Mri on my back I was able to have it done at The Cobalt Centre in Cheltenham where they have a much more open scanner. They do take Nhs referrals.

[heartlover]

Hi Christina,

I had to have an MRI scan last Saturday morning,I must say I wasn't looking forward to it as it was the first Id ever had,the staff asked if I was claustrophobic which I am slightly,but they were so good to me and kept talking to me explaining the next bit.it was soon over,try to get over your fears if you can,its not as frightening as you may thinkx

[lavander1]

I am terribly claustrophobic and suffering anxiety since my heart went into AF. I had to have an MRI scan and thought, I just cannot do this. So I rang and asked about sedation, they didn't do it, so I asked could I take my own, my doctor had prescribed me 2mg of Diazipan so when I arrived for my appointment I took 2mg and by the time I was in the machine it had taken effect, I managed 1 hour and 15 mintues in the scanner without a problem, drifting in and out of almost sleep. It also helped that the aircon was on and I had a gentle breeze across my head, I guess a fan would have the same effect. So don't give up ask about gentle sedation.

[BluePaula]

Hi, Having had a previous MRI scan I knew what to expect, and as soon as I was told I needed one on my heart I toLed the consultant of my concern and my previous panic attack. He was really sympathetic, arranged for me to go in a larger scanner and advised me to see my GP before going and get some diazepam. When I arrived at the scanning unit, the nurse already knew of my concerns, made sure I took my diazepam and put me in the scanner feet first. He was great and spoke to me a lot during the scan and to be honest I was away with the fairies.

Just tell them your concerns, you're not alone and hopefully you'll have the more positive experience I had. Next time I'm going to ask to go to the same unit, which although miles away from home was well worth the trip.

Good luck