I’ve just had a call from Guys and St Thomas hospital telling me I need to have a cardiac MRI scan tomorrow.
I’ve read the notes attached to the email they’ve just sent.......😳 to say I am nervous is an understatement!
1 hour and 30 minutes in the scanner, cannula fitted, ecg to be worn, blood pressure cuff, mri coil, breathing bellow and dye injected into the heart!!
I am having a panic attack already!
Please can anyone put my mind at rest.
I guess I’m more worried about being in the scanner for so long, than I am about the tests.
Carol
Written by
Carolx
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I spent an hour in the MRI scanner and I am claustrophobic. Milk fairy describes what happens really well, except I didn't get the headphones. They spoke to me through speakers and I did the holding my breath and then breathing normally on cue. I held something in my hand to press if I needed anything. When I went into the room I didn;t really look at the scanner. I shut my eyes as I went into the scanner and kept them closed most of the time. It really helped me get through. I got an odd taste in my mouth at one point but it rapidly went away. What I imagined and how it actually was were very different. It's not as alarming as you think it will be. Everyone is really reassuring and despite dreading it at the time I would be willing to do it again. You need to have the scan - they only make an appointment for you if it is vital they see everything in detail. I postively kept telling myself that I was going to get answers and I was fortunate to get the chance to have a scan and I was not going to deprive someone else of the chance (I had been escalated to the top of the list so someone else was cancelled) and then behave like a gibbering wreck so it took longer or wasn't completed. You wear a gown - nothing metal of course on your top half - but they happily left me in my trousers and I took my shoes off. There was a blanket thing put over my stomach. Honestly once you get out and reflect it isn't so awful. Be brave young Carol, you can do this.
Don't forget to wear your Big Girl's Pants, I wore my Big Boy's Pants and it went fine. I have had around half a dozen in the past 2 years and only once did I feel uncomfortable. They are watching you very very carefully. I know my Heart took a turn for some reason and I was withdrawn from the scanner without really knowing about it just asked " did I feel well enough to continue " sure lets go and it was completed without any further problem. So you are in safe hands and really you are never alone during the entire scan.
Sure it will all go well, it's amazing what information they can get from an MRI and the beauty of it is they can review the scans over time, and even pass them around a team !! so my cardiologist told me.
I had one and it lasted an hour. YMMV but I found them quite warm so I’d wear light clothing and most of all get into as comfortable a position as you possibly can once you enter into it. Any movement after just delays it. Good luck!
I found that when I had this done it wasn't as enclosed as the other one that I had on my hand, perhaps it was 2 completely different machines lol but it definately don't feel like your in for that long. You get the weird taste where the dye is injected but I just closed my eyes and tried to relax, like the others said the more moving about and not deep breathing when they ask will just prolong it. Good luck!
I have had these tests before, at Kings College, and yes although a scary thought they are vital. We have the best NHS service, please be rest assured that the nursing staff are performing the tests to keep you alive and are very professional and kind.
You will be in a scanner for a while but as they constantly talk with you the time goes quickly. There is a button placed in your hand, they can stop the machine at any time. I’m prone to panic attacks so went in to the scanner face down and it was much better for me.
You have support from lots of people so please don’t worry about this procedure. Take care.
Morning carol I had mri at st Thomas last year was really nervous but the staff was very reassuring and put me at ease, I did panic when they first put me in and they took me out let me gather my thought then I found it best to shut my eyes I was in about hour and half and it did go quickly, also has headphones on which they played music through, mandy
I've had a cardiac MRI at Bart's and a gated CT with contrast at St Thomas's - my next scan should be an MRI at St Thomas's in December. I'm actually looking forwards to it!
The nurses and the radiographers at St Thomas's are absolutely first rate, really committed both to getting quality scans and taking care of every patient.
For my MRI I had ECG stickers so I had a (light, wide) weight-belt over my chest to keep the wires in place while the magnets did their thing, but it really wasn't uncomfortable. The gadolinium contrast dye has next to no effects, compared to the iodine for the CT. I honestly didn't notice it. The nurses at St Thomas's are extremely skilled at putting lines in veins.
I never worried about how long it took: you'll feel looked-after throughout, as others have said: they're talking to you and it will be obvious they know what they're doing.
I believe you can ask your gp for some mild sedation like valium/diazepam to use before you go in. I had a ct scan 2 weeks ago and was absolutely petrified about the whole thing. The diazepam definitely took the edge of things. Just tell staff you've had some beforehand. It will probably mention it in the bumpf you get from them.
I also found letting the radiologists know that you're are nervous helps and they should take the time to reassure you. I'm pretty sure they see anxious (understandably) patients all the time.
My first scan before lockdown was cancelled as I was so nervous, my heart rate was around 100, needed to be in the 60's. The whole experience was like a conveyor belt, very busy with loads of people waiting around. Second time much more relaxed, only a few people around because of lockdown, you couldn't even take a friend in the main waiting room with you. They definitely had more time to explain things, take your mind off it.
All in all it wasn't that bad. You can do it, you have to do it, it will reassure you massively to find out everything's ok. If there are issues, at least you know and are in the right hands. Good luck !
hi Carolx, I had one and I too am very claustrophobic. My advice - tell them exactly how you’re feeling when you arrive. They are professionals and will do all they can to make this easier for you, and that will make their job easier too. Also, close your eyes BEFORE you slide into the scanner and don’t open them until you’re out! I had a ‘happy place’ in my mind ready to go to, but I honestly didn’t have time! I was under constant instruction - ‘breathe in, hold your breath, breathe normally’. I counted the clicks made by the machine while I was holding my breath each time.
Good luck with it. Do let them know you’re anxious. They might be able to give you some diazepam if it won’t affect the procedure. If they do, take it!
Carol. I had this done a few weeks ago and was nervous but it was fine. Admittedly I was only 45mins on the scanner but just tried to relax and stsy perfectly still. I concentrated on the music and thought about nice things ie lying on a warm beach. I found the worst bit was the bloody voice that keeps telling you to breath and hold your breath! Good luck. Xx
Carol - I too am hopelessly claustrophobic, but still managed to survive a heart MRI at Barts - just! I too counted the clicks, but my saviour was actually an eye mask (similar to what you might wear on a long flight). As well as keeping eyes shut, I definitely wouldn't do another without a mask
Hi please do not worry, I have had a couple of these over the years my last one in 2017. I just close my eyes and listen to the radiographer. I was worried too the first time but it really isn't bad or painful. It's the best for getting answers too. Please don't worry yourself about it.
Hi Carol, Last year I had CABGX3 & was on a drug trial. As part of this I had Cardiac MRI at pre-OP & 3 months after, mine were both about an hour but they slid me out & came in half way through to put the dye in, less noticeable than angiogram, I found it better to keep my eyes open & focus on a spot inside the scanner, they were very reassuring all the way through, you need to concentrate on the breathing instructions as they sometimes have to redo bits so it's in your hands to make it as short as possible, it seemed to pass fairly quickly for me, hope it all goes well for you
Hi Carol, I had a heart MRI two months ago and can reassure you that there is little to be afraid of. I think the one and a half hours you have been told it takes includes the preparation and resting time at the end. I certainly didn’t spend that long in the scanner. As other friends have suggested closing your eyes helps you to relax, but I didn’t feel claustrophobic anyway. You will probably be given headphones through which you get the usual instructions about holding and releasing your breath. They also help to deaden the sound of the ‘clicks’ the machine makes. Although the leaflet I was sent said a sedative was available, on the day I was told it wasn’t! I put this down to the procedure being carried out by an outsource company in an NHS hospital! That might just be my cynicism but in any case if it is available have it as anything that helps you to relax is beneficial! I know just how you feel being of a nervous disposition myself but really Carol there is nothing to worry about, just relax, follow instructions and go with the flow, the time will pass quickly and you will be on your way home before you know it!
I keep telling myself I’m a strong woman, I can do this.
I’ve given birth 5 times, literally brought them up as a single Mum, survived domestic violence, am going through the horrendous grief of losing my beloved brother, work day in day out with special needs youngsters in a college (who are going through daily struggles)..... and I’m scared of going in a MRI scanner!! 😳
What’s wrong with me!! 🤦♀️
I can do this.
I have to do this.
I’ll update tonight and then you can all say I told you so 😂
I may be too late with this advice! Just a warning that in the 3 I have had in recent years I had to hold my breath after breathing OUT. For some reason I find this more difficult than holding after breathing IN. No idea why they do this, but it caught me by surprise the first time and it was really tricky until I got the hang of it! And I agree that closing your eyes before you go in and keeping them closed is advisable.
I remember your discussion when you lost your brother so unexpectedly last year. Seven month on it must still be very hard for you and your family.
Is the MRI a consequence of worsening of your SVT or something else?
Looking forward to your update. If you're not already on the road to the cardiac lab, allow me to suggest if you don't have an eye mask, the standard face mask might make an acceptable substitute - folded over to double the density and placed over your eyes rather than over your nose and mouth.
Oh Gosh Carol, so sorry. I didn't continue reading all the posts and see that you'd had it done and it didn't go well. So sorry to hear that. How are you now?
I'm glad you have the appointment in the bigger scanner. Loads of luck with that. I'm glad you have some Diazepam. I forgot to mention I had some of that by injection yesterday. It is something extra and I hope it will help you.
It's always scary at first to have something done that you haven't had before. Please don't Google too much, though ofcourse it is natural to want to do that and very tempting!
I had my second cardiac MRI yesterday, but this time I had a right heart catheter as well, at the same time.
I glimpsed inside the scanner when I first went in, but then kept my eyes shut the whole time. I think that really helped. I thought of nice outdoor memories with friends and family and imagined myself in the open air. And I kept talking to myself kindly and telling myself that I was doing really well.
Sometimes if you ask and if they remember, you can get them to tell you if you're halfway through, or that you may have 10 mins left, etc.
Really it doesn't feel like that long in there and I find I lost a sense of time anyway.
Yes, you'll have headphones on and they'll be talking to you all the time, so you're in constant communication.
It's such a good thing to have done as it can only help you. It gives the doctors so much info about what's going on .
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Cardiac MRI
Delayed cardiac MRI results worries 
further to before re cardiac mri 
cardiac stress perfusion MRI
MRI Cardiac Myocardial Viability
