So it looks like I will be getting one very soon. I'm claustrophobic and I have no idea how I am going to cope. Last time I had one done I barely managed to keep myself under control and not press the panic button (bc pressing the panic button would have meant starting over) I wasn't even that anxious back then and it was still very hard to stay calm.
My doctor suggested I get an IV med to sedate me..did I mention I black out when i have a needle inside me for more than a few minutes see So overall it's not something I look forward to but I know I only make it worse by thinking too much about it. I was going to ask the doctor if I could do a CT scan instead even though I know for my issues the MRI is much better suited.
Any ideas how to handle the anxiety is welcomed

[Wren_]

hi chocmouse, are there any open mri options near where you live? I'm facing a similar issue ... I don't know what it's like where you are but when I was asking our local imaging place in my country they were saying that there was some kind of open machine that they used with claustrophobic patients (although it sounds like the one near me has a long waiting list ) ... I hope someone else has some suggestions to help with the anxiety connected with this

Hi, thanks for mentioning that. I didn't even know about open mri options. Here is a picture I found of a modern scanner:

The new MRI scanner that won't give you claustrophobia | Mail Online

My doctor referred me to the same place I went to a few years ago. They only have one old scanner which took over 30 mins. Maybe they bought a newer model now. The open MRI looks ok but I'm not 100%ly sure I can go through the sounds and having to stay completely still for too long.
Thanks for your post and I hope you will get to do your MRI test sooner than later

[Wren_]

I'd never heard of them till the other day either ... might be worth asking the place your dr referred you to if there is anywhere that does have such a machine or if they have other suggestions besides a sedative that would help with the claustrophobia.

I can't imagine staying completely still for ..... well, I can't imagine it at all really so it could be interesting

Me neither..the idea alone makes me very anxious. I'm doing breathing exercises now I will be asking my doctor for some anti anxiety medication but it might not be enough to 'keep me still'. I guess I just had a bad experience in the past and can't stop thinking it will be even worse this time. My GP was already very irritated with me last time when I told him I was a bit scared. He looked at me like..so what? : )) Last time was more of an emergency situation though so I told myself I had no other choice. Plus to be honest I had no idea it would be that narrow in there. Sometimes it's better to not look up things online.
There is a webpage with all the hospitals in my country that have this new model. Nothing very close to me and apparently there is a long wait list everywhere. Overweight people and people with claustrophobia are given priority. Anxiety aside it is quite impressive that they built an open MRI..and damped the noises. I can only imagine how hard it was for people to get through the procedures when the first MRIs came out and scans took half an hour or longer. I should be thankful that things are much easier now. Maybe I can think of something to reward myself with after its over

[Wren_]

Hopefully more and more places will get these open MRI machines as time goes on; not that it helps either of us right now. Good idea with the possibility of a reward, maybe something that would generate enough interest that you could be thinking about it while you were having the MRI done instead of what's going on there

[Purpledaze]

You didn't say what part of your body is being scanned, but sometimes they can leave your head poking out... Or even just the top of your head. I always keep my eyes closed to help me stop thinking about being in a tube. In some places they will play music, which is a good distraction. You might been be able to take your own music for them to play, or a relaxation CD, if that is something that helps you. You should be able to take an oral sedative at a high enough dose to help with your claustrophobia (provided you don't have to drive/work afterwards of course. Wishing you all the very best with it

I don't have any good suggestions. Take the sedative and just do it. Please

its my head that needs scanning : (

[Yoda]

I am claustrophobic too and when they tried to do a regular MRI on me I freaked out before they had even begun and said, get me out, get me out and they did. Then they scheduled me for an open MRI and I was scared I wouldn't do it better but they said bring along a music CD and they played it while they were doing the MRI. I also took a lock of Dusty's tail to hold onto to keep me calm.

Yoda, thanks for the music suggestion. I need to ask my doctor if I can bring my own music. I assume drinking a glass or two of wine isn't allowed

[yellowted]

i am very claustrophobic so much so i could not complete a closed MRI, i was scheduled for an open one which took hours due to them scanning both head and spine. it was fine, i am unable to lay flat on my back so i was allowed to lat on my side, they packed sponge blocks around me so i stayed still and comfy, the machine makes some funny noises, stops and starts and every now and then the bed shakes a bit, but i took myself into my own thoughts and was surprised when they finished and i checked my watch to find how long i was in there, it was twice as long as it seemed!
the worst bit was the washed out feeling i had for a day or so afterwards, i think it was a slight reaction to the dye stuff they used.

[Perna]

Oh, a head scan; they are bad with the noise unabated right there where your hearing is, don't think you can wear headphones if you have it for your head (I got headphones when I was just doing my intestinal area but that was hard because I had to hold my breath off and on as they commanded me through the headphones). I had one for my ears/Ménière's Disease. What got me through it was thinking forward to afterward; schedule it for a time you can go to a meal afterward or some other reward and think about that. Think about what you are going to tell us about it afterwards on here Play games with the horrid, clunking sounds; see what the limits of your being able to think are :-) like trying to think about what you are going to talk to your T about next.