Anxiety over up coming Mri Scan this week

[24623057]

After a month of constant, daily ectopics and a horrible Afib episode. Finally having a cardiac Mri Scan this Friday. My question is how do any of u claustrophobics cope with it? Been told 60 minutes to complete, also having a contrast dye too. I’m petrified. Any helpful suggestions would be very welcome 🥹 Shudve mentioned I was diagnosed with Afib over a year ago.

[Blackcatsooty]

you get to read messages on the outer cover of the scanner, so you can’t be totally enclosed. The die is painless. I was warned I might think I have wet myself, but I didn’t get that feeling. I also don’t think it was as long as an hour.

Just tell the operators know how frightened you are. They will help.

And try to remember that this could be the beginning of the end of your heart issues.

Best wishes

Sooty

[Lovedogs1]

Hello I had an MRI scan before my pacemaker was fitted. I was absolutely terrified, mine also lasted an hour, and I had the dye as well. It was the first time I had an mri and I didn’t know how I’d cope. All I can say is it was not really as bad as I thought it would be, I told the staff how scared I was and they were very good.

[Sljp0000]

Hi

I've had 3 MRIs in the last year and I suffer from claustrophobia.

My scans have all been around an hour. If you've not had an MRI before you need to know they are VERY noisy. You will probably be given (or ask for) some ear phones and they can play your choice of music throughout. I asked for 80s classics and got Madonna!

You will most likely be asked to keep holding your breath as you need to be as still as possible when the actual scans take place. You will hear the instructions through your ear phones. Each time scans are taken the machine will make different noises and move around you. I know it sounds silly but mine was just before Christmas so one sound I imagined I was carving the turkey, another sound I imagined the family opening their presents, another sound I thought of visiting friends etc. Distraction made the time go more quickly!

The staff will give you a button to hold. If at any time you feel uncomfortable or have a question just press the buzzer. They keep checking up on you anyway and of course they're watching from a windowed room in front of you.

Try to remember that just above your head and just below your hips there is light and air. You are not totally enveloped. The table is comfortable and you have support under your knees to add to the comfort. You will feel some warmth from the xray plate they put on your chest. Try not to fixate on the roof of the scanner about your face but close your eyes and think of nice things.

The contrast dye might make you feel a little hot/like you're weeing yourself but it literally lasts for seconds and is not unpleasant. Quite a nice warming feeling actually!

I'm a Christian so talking to God throughout really helped me too. He's always there for me.

Try to relax. See it as an hour to let go of life's strains and tribulations. It's really nothing to get anxious about. You'll be absolutely fine.

Love

Susie x

[Columbo70]

Been there and you can get through it. I had bailed out on several (standard) MRI scans over last few years, but this time I had an important cardiac MRI scan (a few months ago) to take following a MINOCA. It was just too important clinically not to do it. I took Xanax which helped a bit. Your GP will prescribe. It sounds stupid, but I also practiced what it would be like to be in the scanner ahead of the event by lying under the kitchen table for 5, then 10, than 15 minutes. That also got me more comfortable with the idea and allowed me to practice controlling my thoughts. Major thing was constantly rationalising how safe the procedure is, that i was not in any danger and that the perceived danger was all in my head, irrational thoughts that I would need to counter and silence for about an hour. Taking control of the situation mentally and feeling like I had agency made the difference on the day “i am here because I want to be here, this is a safe place, this will improve my diagnosis and make my life better, this is worthwhile”. The other thing that really helped was the number of instructions you are given once you’re in there. “Hold your breath 10 seconds, ok breath out, etc.”. The faithful completion of the instructions was a good way to keep negative automatic thoughts from crowding you out and pushing their way in and also made the time go by quicker. And when those negative or irrational thoughts do come in you have you let that happen, let those thoughts wash through and recognise them as imposters and neutralise them with more rational thoughts. Best of luck, you CAN do it.

[Shallowswing]

I had my first MRI last week. As mentioned, the scanner is open ended which helped but I don’t really suffer from claustrophobia. I was most worried about the dye but I didn’t feel anything, however I did taste it haha - bitter tasting for a moment.

My scan lasted 70 minutes and the dye is pumped in for the last 20 minutes of scans. A couple scans were done as it was going in, a few minutes break to let it circulate and the final scans were carried out.

My radiographer said the CT scan dye gives you a warm flush but not their dye. Maybe a cold feeling but I suppose it affects everyone differently.

I just say to myself I’m not the first and won’t be the last to get this done and I’d be home in no time. Ended up focusing on the breathing instructions and it flew by.

All the best.