Hello everyone, I posted a message a few days ago relating to a Cardiac Stress MRI scan I am having on Tuesday and although I had some encouraging responses I am struggling to control my anxiety and can’t switch my thoughts off, just thinking things like what happens if I get a angina attack during the scan, will the adenosine bring in my angina on, and the fact that I feel a bit claustrophobic in small spaces , I feel so anxious that I want to cancel the appointment but I know I have to have it. Could you please let me know if there is anything I can do or take to ease my anxiety? Thank you.
Can’t switch anxiety off: Hello... - British Heart Fou...
Can’t switch anxiety off
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Toffodog
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I had this a few weeks ago and was experiencing severe pain during exercise and movement, like you I was terrified that it would cause an attack whilst in the scanner. The dr is there during the procedure and knowing he was there made me feel so much more relaxed. The effect only lasts for 3 minutes but I’m sure it was a lot less than that. Once they have seen what they need they flush everything through. It was worrying but the relief I felt after having it done was incredible, knowing they had all the information they needed and I would now get the help I needed.
You could have an angina attack at any point but having one whilst in the hospital is probably the safest place you could be. Knowing that there is a dr stood a few meters away monitoring all the images and what your heart is doing is very reassuring. I would speak to your gp and ask if there is anything you could have to reduce your anxiety for the procedure, providing of course that it wouldn’t compromise your results. They also offer headphones, that might help with your anxiety.
Thank you for your response, you are right about being in the right place if any thing goes wrong doctors are there to intervene, I know I have to have this procedure in order to get a proper prognosis and the staff have probably come across anxious patients so I’ll just tell them how I feel .
There was no doctor present during my MRI stress test and the two people conducting the test were not in the same room as the scanner, so I was completely alone in the room, but I was given a buzzer to press if I was distressed at any time
Hello , so sorry you are feeling anxious about your scan , would it be possible to ask about a Valium tablet ? I asked for one before angiogram and it really made me a lot calmer ! Hope it goes well for you , the staff are very used to anxious patients and will be helping to calm you all the way they can ! Please let us know how you get on it will be over before you know it and you’ll be one step closer to getting whatever treatment is needed to keep you well 🥰
MilkfairyHeart Star
I have had 3 cardiac stress MRIs.
When the adenosine is injected it's not a nice feeling, I kept my eyes closed, concentrated on my breathing and focused my attention on my toes.
However I knew the feeling wouldn't last forever, I could press a button at anytime to tell the staff I wasn't coping.
The staff talk to you through headphones during the scan telling you when to hold your breath and when to breathe out.
I use various breathing and relaxation techniques to help manage the stressful situations I encounter.
I found this free app helpful.
I hope you find a way of managing your anxiety.
Thank you for your response and sharing your experience and some very useful information and tips with me, I have read that the adenosine puts stress on your heart but knowing you can speak to the doctors puts me at ease because if I get angina they surely can intervene with help. I might ask if they can pay music through the headphones which may help , i will update this group once Ive had the scan .
You can ask for music and they offered me a selection to chose from ! Think I chose some chill out tunes ! Or you could imagine your on a beach in the sun or anywhere that makes you feel relaxed it is hard to calm down but it will be over before you know it also the staff speak to you all the time through a speaker to check your comfortable it will all be explained to you !
Hello 
I am sorry your anxiety has flared up and when this is done you will wonder why or that is what I always find as I get into such a state
As soon as you get there let them know your fears and your anxiety and how this has been affecting you they are used to people been anxious and will put your mind at ease
You are in the safest place to be having something done so try not to worry you will be in safe hands
I do not like small spaces either and have had to have many scans and been anxious to but as it is happening I just keep telling myself this will not be long now and I just keep repeating it over and over again in my head or I sing a song on my head trying as best I can not to 100% focus on the procedure
You will be fine and think after Tuesday it will have been done stay focused and you can do this
Let us know how you get on x
Thank you for your response and once again some good advice especially about singing , I will give that some practice tomorrow as it may be useful, and I will tell the doctors how I feel before the scan and see if there’s anything they can provide just to relax me a little, I’ll update the group once I’ve had the scan .
Ask your GP for 2mg diazapam (valium), it works well with no side effects. But use it only as and when required,
Thank you for your response
My first MRI scan was on my stomach , I couldn’t cope with how enclosed I felt and they had to fetch me out immediately , thankfully I had the option to go in feet first and just about coped , a few years ago I needed another mri and I asked my gp if it was possible to get some medication to relax me enough to cope with the scan as it was a heart mri so ni option to go in feet first . He prescribed me something , I can’t remember what it was called but it did the job as I coped much better , I just kept me eyes closed before I went into the scanner and only opened them when it was all over . Can you get a gp phone appointment tomorrow ? Easier said than done I know . Hope you get on ok with your appointment and test . Take care
Thank you so much for the information you have provided , I did ask if there was anything that I could take to ease my anxiety but was told it would l compromise the scan results.
Hi. I had a stress MRI back in September. I was like you so anxious if fact I walked out of the first one and they rebooked me. Honestly, it was uncomfortable but not half as bad as I had imagined, and the staff were very used to people like me and were reassuring and kind the whole way through
Wishing you well for Tuesday
Thank you for your information and kind wishes
Hi Toffodog.
Just remember that the whole point of the test is that they NEED to stress your heart (which is only the equivalent to what happens when you walk up a hill) to see what's causing your angina and where in your heart the problems lie. Try and see it as a positive thing. They're going to be able to see what's happening. Isn't that amazing? They can then treat it accordingly so you can be relatively well again.
I've had this test a number of times. It saved my life when they did it after my triple bypass had failed within days of surgery.
You'll be fine. Slow deep breaths, think about family/hobbies/holidays etc. Ask for the music through the headphones you prefer. It will be over with in a flash.
Remember, they can SEE your heart so they know what's happening more than you do. You just have to relax and trust their experience. They've done it many times before.
I'm very blessed, I have faith and prayer helps me tremendously too.
Take care and God bless
Susie
I am terrified of MRI’s and am claustrophobic, I believe it is common. this is how I cope. For a start I ask for something under my knees to make me more comfortable and. I keep my eyes closed tight throughout. MRI’s are generally broken down into sections so I ask them to tell me approximately how long each section will be. I then count the seconds up to minutes throughout each section. and fold a finger at the end of each minute. This means that when you get to halfway you know you only have that much to go and you are on the downhill. As you count the minutes away you are concentrating hard so it takes your mind off and it passes quickly. One final tip. Get yourself some Bach’s Rescue remedy capsules and take one or two when you are called. They are really used to people being claustrophobic. Take care.
Breathe you are safe surrounded by professionals. You have a buzzer you can useless, close your eyes. Not going to say nothing will happen but you will be in the right place. We will all send out out positive thoughts 🙂
I like you was very nervous having my MRI heart scan especially as I panic with closed in places. On the day of my scan the staff were so understanding and reassuring throughout the whole procedure. Although you are alone in the scanner you have headphones with music and the staff speak to you via the headphones to reassure you throughout the procedure.Hope this helps you overcome your anxieties & fears whilst you have your scan.Good 🍀
wellbeinghub.scot/resource/...
Try this online help programme, I used it to very good effect in the very dark days just after my heart attack. It really does reduce your anxiety and stress. You learn techniques that you can use anywhere at anytime.
I have had this test twice over the last 10 years, both times there is someone there by you to talk to you, If you feel claustrophobic in small spaces as I do I always carry a small scarf and I put that over my eyes for some reason I find that helps enormously.
I had an MRI last year to ascertain the strokes I'd had...Like you I was petrified. I bought an eye mask from Primark and asked them to blast Van Morrison through the headphones. I can understand the concerns but they will be monitoring you closely....Put it in a time capsule of a couple of hours....then it will be over.
Big hugs!
I was super anxious about an MRI and the staff were so very reassuring they talk you through it all and helped a lot You have a button if things get too much you press it snd out you will come . But I just closed my eyes kept them shut through out so I was never aware of being in the tube (which I think seeing it would have freaked me out ) And really focused on breathing and doing my best to relax - the whole thing last about 30 mins and I think I even nodded off at one point !
Focus on your breathing focus on this mri is important for your health and it will help you , the staff are super professional they do those daily and have seen it all !! and will be there for you and just know it will Finnish before you know it . Good luck
Thankyou so much for your reply, knowing other people have had anxiety and fine through the scan gives me a lot of encouragement and I will either wear a eye mask or shut my eyes tight because the thought of being encased in that tube puts fear into me .
you’ll be fine
These guys are very experienced done it hundreds of times
You will not be the first with the condition you have
Get them to play some good music and close your eyes and think in half an hour this will be over and your consultant will have a better understanding of how you can be better helped
😊
I had mine last November.
I got myself worked up over the Adenosine as I had been on google which isn't always a good thing. I thought my heart was going to race too fast and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Also never had an MRI so panicking about that.
On the day I arrived with the wife in tow feeling all anxious. Got gowned up and cannula fitted. On to the table and given the alarm button in case I needed anything. Doctor was present as apparently if you are having Adenosine this has to happen.
Ok in I go to the scanner which is a tunnel and I felt a bit claustrophobic then the noise of the machine started which startled me as wow these things are noisy.
I felt my heart rate racing and thought here we go, then the doc asked if I was ok, I said I was hanging on as I knew they had put the drugs in. He said no we haven't and came into the room and pulled me out of the machine.
He then told me that I was panicking and that is why my heart rate was too high, which meant he wouldn't be able to do it as the drug raises heart rate but starting too high was not good and I needed to relax.
Ok I said easy for you to say, he said I know but I've done hundreds of these and you will be fine. So with that said I worked on having a word with myself and back in we go.
They then put the drug in which made me feel a bit weird and my heart did get faster but not silly fast, and I hung on to the end of the session.
Afterwards and on reflection I think I made the situation far worse than it would have been but that's the way I am.
There's my experience of it, so I hope you can see that it will be ok just trust in the people that are doing it and try and start off calmer than I did.
I didn't have access to a forum or anything so didn't know what to expect.
You have to do it so they can get a good look at your heart.
Good luck and let us know how you get on 👍
Wow that’s a brilliant explanation , I like you was on Google trying to gauge all the pros and cons and just making myself worse. My worry is that I have very frequent episodes of angina and afraid that it may trigger when all the prep work is being done and I’m moved into the scanner however I have seen my consultant earlier today and he says I can take my GTN spray with me and he will provide it to me if any angina attack occurs, he also assured me that he would be present during the procedure so I’m trying to reassure myself that all will be fine , but it’s bloody hard .
Hi, take yourself off for a walk. Don't over do it. Watch a place in the sun. It might help you to forget about the weather in this country. Don't be getting stewed up. It won't help you. Take care.
I totally get it. J have sand issue with tests. Breathe deeply and/or get anti anxiety meds.
You may find an eye mask would help. I close my eyes but the temptation to just have a peep is there. Next scan I will use a mask.
I'm dreadful with MRI scans. During one(or many) I Pressed the buzzer for them to get me out and they ignored it. When they did pull me out they said they thought I'd laid on the buzzer so make sure before you go in that the know you haven't laid on it.
Oh wow that would certainly make me panic especially if no one attended immediately, I will make sure before the scan that someone will respond if I’m in trouble
Breathing Exercise for P/AF
Find a comfortable chair, place feet on the ground, close your eyes, breathe normally.
Start by scrunching your toes, and let go.
Tense your calves, let go
Tense your bottom, let go
Tense your arms, let go
Then your hands and fingers, let go.
By doing this you can see and feel what tension and relaxation feels like.
Next, breathe in through your nose to expand your belly for the count of
6, hold the breath, breathe out of your mouth like you’re blowing through a straw for the count of 8.
Keep doing the breathing for as long as you wish to help relaxation.
You need to concentrate on the process which can stop you from thinking about
Your P/AF
©️Angela Rawlins
Thank you for your response, I have been practicing holding my breath for count if 10 because apparently if you can’t hold your breath for this amount of time they can’t do the procedure so I’ll include your technique into this .
I had to go in the scanner and it seemed like a long time, breathing in holding 🤯 and I thought o was good, I swim 3x a week 😳
If you practice hopefully you can’t worry💗🙏🏼 I know how your feeling, I’ve had a lot of health rubbish the last 4 yrs
My daughter was a nervous wreck when she went for one He asked her what kind of music she wanted and she said 80 s The first track was Under pressure which made her giggle so she coped I suspect that was picked on purpose
Just what I need a bit of humour ,that’s brilliant and glad it helped her , can’t wait to see what they play for me hope it’s not “Another one bites the dust “ 😂
I hope not too Toffodog You will be fine just tell them when you get there I was fine when I had mine done but my daughter as I said was a gibbering wreck We are all different and the staff are used to that
Surely if you take anything to calm you down so to speak will undoubtedly compromise a stress test? Secondly, I assume you are having the test to measure your stress levels to ascertain how to treat the cause of the stress, therefore it must be in your best interests to be there in as honest a mood as possible. So would think any form of medication to calm you down would be counter productive
However I am no expert, just a very practical and logical head and therefore would recommend you see your doctor for a qualified opinion!
As for practical suggestions, other than the doctors, lets be brutally honest - if you do have an attack or something like it you could not be in a better place to get almost instant assistance, so really, from that point of view, there is nothing to worry about. As a five year old I surprised my mother when she was trying to teach me about traffic and road safety and the dangers of crossing the road. I very matter of factly informed her I would not begin to cross a road until I saw an ambulance for being hit by an ambulance cancelled out any concerns for I could get to hospital really quickly!
I too am a born worrier by nature and was always told to think of a safe beautiful place to be - my thoughts was a beach on an Atoll in the Indian Ocean, lying in t he sun, light breeze, the sound of palms gently swaying in the breeze, smell of percolated coffee amid the whiff of the gently lapping sea that is as clear as glass over the whitest coral sand zzzzzz zzzzz
You are quite right about being in right place if anything happens and has others have said the doctors are there to make sure all goes well ,so I know that I need this scan in order to move forward and that’s the view I’m taking and I’ll Aldi be focusing on positive things when I’m in the scanner room.
Hi , I've only this to add to the other valuable advice already given, at my hospital you can take your own cd and they will play it during the scan. Worth taking one along if you have such a thing or maybe you can request via Spotify or something. It helps me. I shut my eyes before going into the machine and keep them shut until they tell me it's over. Meanwhile I focus on the music, only breaking my concentration when they speak to me through the headphones. If I do start to feel panicky, I count down slowly from 20, together with slow breaths if possible, telling myself first that "I can do this, but when I get to zero I can push the panic button if I still need to". I haven't pushed it yet. Its a fantastically euphoric feeling when it's over. I feel so proud of myself Good luck.
wish you well . Sure you’ll be fine
I had a cardiac treadmill stress test last fall and the reason why I actually looked forward to it was because I knew there would be several healthcare professionals in the room with me & that the end result would be a diagnosis for my 'episodes'. It turned out I was correct that there were 3 others in the room who knew exactly what they were doing and all eventualities were therefore covered. If you were to suffer an angina attack that's the best place for it to occur. Also you actually want them to see the worst that you've gone through so they can reach the right conclusion. When you start feeling the anxiety level creep upwards go for a walk or do some deep breathing exercises or maybe work on your hobby. They seem to help most people.
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