I was referred by the electrocardiologist for an MRI to assess the scar tissue etc before looking at an ICD...
Went along this morning and couldn't do it. This is the 2nd time I've tried an MRI (last time was a back injury) and the 2nd time I've had to pull out almost immediately due to the claustrophobia.
Anyone else experienced this - and what can be done about it?
It was a wide bore scanner, but it was still a long tight tunnel, even though I was feet-first.
You should perhaps discuss your situation with the cardio team, and/or the MRI team. You won't be the first person to have found an MRI machine claustrophobic and there must be ways of dealing with that. But if not your cardio team will need to decide what alternatives are available, if any. Finally it would probably not be a good thing for you to have to go through this again without some solution for you, since it will no doubt cause you more distress, added to which you will have taken up a slot that could have been used by someone else. I hope you get sorted.
I’ve since read that some people get through it by wearing an eye mask. The team weren’t all that supportive and just let me go without really helping. This was done privately and I’m a little disappointed they didn’t do more to try and get me through it on reflection.
But to be honest, having my “plumbing” sorted seems to have sorted thing out so I’m no longer convinced I need the scan or ICD anyway.
I thought I couldn’t handle an MRI because of the enclosed space, but my brother said to me, what’s the worst that can happen? Really, what’s the worst thing? Can it kill you? Can it hurt you? I said no, obviously it can’t, then my brother said, what’s the problem then?… Since then it’s never bothered me, Don’t let the claustrophobia beat you!
Sedatives might save the day.
Good Afternoon, I have had to have two MRI and thought not bothered generally by close spaces I found been that enclosed very strange. What I did was close my eyes and keep them closed until I was pulled back out and I breathed slowly and counted my fingers. Also on the first MRI scan I had the operators played music and I just listened and sang in my mind to the words. Both times though I kept my eyes firmly closed which helped distract me from the enclosed nature of it. Am hoping you get sorted soon.
Just popping back - I haven't heard anything from the hospital or consultant since the failed attempt at the scan.
I'm a little disappointed with some aspects of my care, especially as it's all being covered by my employer's private policy. Communication between consultants, the hospital and myself are inconsistent, at best.
Given we were talking about an ICD, you'd have thought there would be some urgency here - and if I chase the electrocardiologist, his responses are short, condescending and rude at times.
I'm not sure how to approach this - I'm mostly OK, I feel like I'm back to where I was a few years ago and we've fixed the deteriorating EF... but I still have anxious thoughts, particularly at night, where I can't sleep as I still think about the incident of VT I had whilst in for an ablation (which we couldn't do in the end due to the VT).
Having heard the call for 300 joules and being ready to shock me, I still get anxious flashbacks!
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