Feeling panicky

[avjh]

Am going for a MR scan tomorrow.I gather that I will be enclosed in the tube for at least 20 mins.

I don't like enclosed spaces and try to avoid using lifts if possible.Not looking forward to it.

Has anyone got any survival hints.xx

[Ella32]

Hi

Yes don't open your eyes from the minute they push you in until they pull you out, and remember you will have a panic button if you need to get out and they can hear you/speak to you at all times I recently got married and in my last MRI scan i was going through who sat at which table in the reception, it really helped me and before i knew it the scan was finished

Also the machine makes VERY load noises so don't be alarmed when you hear them

Good luck

Ella x

[Hidden]

Yes I kept my eyes closed too even though Im not clautstrophobic it does make loud bagging/ drill like noise im afraid. Ella's advice is v good and reasurring a few hospitals offer you the chance of head phones and music.. mine doesnt

[Gina_K]

Hi,

I agree with both above comments, keep those eyes shut, I had headphones with choice of music. I hated the thoughts of it and have to admit I was'nt as bad the second time.

You have a button to press, but they said to me if I pressed it I was'nt going back in! I tried imagining myself on a lovely sandy beach, with a blue sky and the heat of the sun on me etc etc. Might be a good idea to think about what you are going to think about if you know what I mean. I went thru my kids dates of birth, said prayers LOL! Now that I think of it, maybe I am claustrophobic.

Remember, it is to assist in your treatment and that we are very lucky that they can use MRIs to assess us, it will all be over quite quickly and you'll be

pleased with yourself.

The thumping noise is a bit disconcerting but they keep talking to you and telling you how much longer etc. Well my hospital did, and I guess there is standards for these things.

Good Luck, keep us posted.

Gina.

[little_em18]

Hello! I had an MRI scan the other week on my ankle and I was really nervous too. I dont normally get nervous about enclosed spaces but MRI scans seem to have that effect on me! They offered me some headphones and a choice of music (it was even music I liked!) so that I couldnt hear the machine. I thought I would mention that it depends which part of you that they want to scan which has an effect on how far you go into the tube. I only had my ankle done so most of my body and my head were completely out of the tube. When I had my hips done I was a bit further in but my head wasnt fully in. It probably doesnt help that Im quite small! They always try to make sure that you go in feet first I always just think about it as a really big Xray machine If you have to have another one done in the future there are now some MRI scanners in some hospitals which dont have a big tube but do the same job. If you get worried then maybe speak to your consultant to see if there is one of these available for you to use next time?

I hope the scan goes well and you get the results you are hoping for. I went to sleep for twenty minutes for mine!

Good luck,

Em x

[avjh]

Thanks everyone.I'm definitely going for the eyes closed at all times.I hadn't realised it would be so noisy.So glad you warned me of that.

Think I will make a list of topics to think about.

Will let you know how it goes.Fingers crossed xx

[Erika]

I don't know if my method of taking my mind off things works for anyone else but many years ago when my five children were all small, we had a buddist monk come to the house selling some beautiful paintings.

He could see that my life was very hectic with the children and we were also renovating a very large house at the time, so living on a bit of a building site.

He spoke very softly and had a totally relaxed manner about him and he said to me did I ever chant!!

I thought he was nuts - what would people think of me wandering about chanting!!

However, on one very stressful day - when the children were at school or nursery - I wanted to crack on with some housework and so I started to try chanting - The only think I could think of was George Harrison's Hari Krisna mantra!!!

So as I was getting my jobs done I was chanting like a goodun!! I got everything really quickly and was quite impressed with how I felt at the end of it.

Now whenever I am stressed or worried I do the same ... When I have to go to the dentist, I lie there with my eyes shut and chant to myself in my head which seems to get me through it really easily.

I do hope I don't come over as a crazy woman - I can assure you I am relatively normal! but just thought I would offer my little pearl of wisdom xxx

[Judi]

By the time you read this you will probably have had your scan. Just on the off chance that it's later today - I am also claustraphobic in small spaces (dont like heights either). I've had 2 MRI scans and was given ear phones both times. I shut my eyes and practiced deep breathing. The outcome was that I almost fell asleep and felt at peace when it was over. Dont know if it was because it was over and done with or because the deep breething relaxed me. I didn't find the scan nearly as frightening as I thought it would be. Hope it goes well. Judi

[Hidden]

I have acute claustrophobia, they have to give me a tablet before the procedure so I don't claw myself out of there! Im exagerating, but usually, they are very compassionate with me. The best has been a n injection of Versed 10 minutes before starting an MRI. Next thing I know they are telling me we're all done and I can walk right out of there. Can't drive, so someone has to take me. It's an amazing drug, works fast and then it"s gone.

You could perhaps call someone and tell them you are panicking, and could they arrange to have something ready when you go in. Good luck, let's hope for favorable results. Loret