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MRI and Claustrophobia

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Posted 10/10/2018 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
When I had my 1st MRI about 5 years ago, I found out I had claustrophobia when my head went into the MRI. I toughed it out, but it was a real challenge for me.

Just had my 2nd MRI and I wanted to share some tricks I used that helped with my claustrophobia. If you also have this problem, give them a try. You can always take a sedative if you have someone else to drive, but I was driving myself and I had a 2 hour drive to get home.
  • Go to a facility that has a wide MRI or open if you can find one. With a wide MRI, your head goes partly into the MRI tube, but you can still see outside a little bit with your peripheral vision.
  • Keep your eyes closed. Aa soon as my head got close to entering the tube, I closed my eyes and kept them closed.
  • For both MRIs, headphones and choice of music were available. You can't hear the music much of the time over the scan noise, but it is still nice to select music you really like.
  • Ask the technician how long it will take. Mine said about 25 minutes. It helped me to know that I just had to lie still with my eyes closed for 25 minutes and it was over.
  • Ask the technician if he can keep you posted on time. I asked if he could give me a count about every 5 minutes.
  • My tech would come over the speaker just before a scan started and tell me about how long it was. I think the shortest was about 30 seconds and the longest a little over 5 minutes. I found knowing how long it was helped me relax.
  • They may have glasses that allow you to see out the far end of the tube why laying down. I tried them on and decided against them, but you might find them helpful.

Good luck.
Posted 10/12/2018 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the tip..I had a MRI years ago for radiculopathy (incorrectly called a pinched nerve in most circles)...it wasn't so much the enclosure ...but was told not to move...I was in a painful position...for 20 I mean 20 minutes...(if I moved they wanted to sedate me in a hospital setting er no) I stayed still...relied on my marathon training and actual marathons and was successfull getting over the "finsh line"The last time I had such a feeling of elation...pure joy...was...the last time...well when I finshed a marathon...the mind is powerfull...especially when you are in a REAL time situation...fellow endurance athletes can relate...as well as others...to REAL time...its fantastic..
Posted 10/12/2018 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Nice list, richh. Thanks

Question for you, though. I know that not all test are available with the "open" style MRI systems and are only available on the more sophisticated "closed" machines. In fact, I thought I read (although I may be mistaken) that the tests of the multi-parametric MRI of the prostate are not available in "open" systems, but perhaps your experience can show this to be incorrect. However, based on your 2nd bullet (and others), it sounded like your recent experience was in the "tube," and not the "open" MRI system. What more do you know specifically about the prostate mp-MRI tests in "open" systems?

thanks again

Post Edited (Normal59) : 10/12/2018 11:08:54 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/12/2018 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I have been through over 15 MRI's in the past 10 years. Narrow, wide, and open. My routine is to close my eyes the entire duration. I either day dream or simply zone out. Never had to have a calming shot or med. If you open your eyes, you will know how closed in you are. The noises can be unpleasant or even scary, but the ear plugs help. A good MRI tech can make you test more bearable for sure
Posted 10/15/2018 8:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hello!

I am over six feet tall --- I realized that when I visited Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, I sometimes "lucked out" and got the "wider" tunnel, and other times, the "narrower" tunnel.

Because of my height, I asked about this. They said, for certain tests, all you have to do is REQUEST the machine that has a wider tunnel. Important to note --- you need to make this request at the time you are scheduling your appointment, not when you arrive for your test.

It DOES make a difference. I think that you can also have this request noted on your medical records, as well, when there are choices available at some of the larger treatment hospitals.

I learned this by experience ... no one stated this to me. We live, we learn ... and by doing so, we have first-hand experiences to share with our brothers here on this website.

By the way, for those of you with connections to Mayo Clinic, the well known documentary film maker Ken Burns has created a new feature on the history of Mayo Clinic. It recently appeared on public television stations. Fascinating, for those out there with connections to Mayo Clinic.

With my very best,
CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University
Posted 11/12/2018 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
A couple of other suggestions

1) I have a tendency to open my eyes even if I'm "willing" myself to keep them closed. Bring a washcloth or an inexpensive sleep mask (no metal) to the scan to cover your eyes.
2) I didn't like the tech counting out the time - made me more anxious and I didn't make it through the test. I asked the tech (different than on my first attempt) on my second scan not to let me know until there were 5 mins left. Worked for me
3) I skipped the music and used earplugs under the headphones
4) I did take 2 Xanex prior to going in - though medications tend not to be that effective on me unless pretty high dose, it did take a bit of the edge off
5) I listened to MRI machine sounds available on YouTube before the 2nd scan attempt. Helped with getting used to it.
6) Mentally played a game where I would go through the alphabet saying any words that came to mind starting with that letter for 5 words then moved to the next letter. The time passed quickly
Posted 11/17/2018 3:00 AM (GMT 0)

When I first visited Mayo Clinic, they offered a combination scan of both the abdomen and pelvic areas ... the trouble with that was you were in the "tunnel" for about 90 solid minutes.

Due to patient feedback, they eventually found shortcuts, and this scan is now done in approximately 40 minutes ... obviously, patients indicated that being inside the "tunnel" for 90 continuous minutes was WAY too long.

I'm glad they found a way to "shortcut" the imaging ... I hope that as technology continues to evolve, that scanning will continue to be done more efficiently ...

CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University
Posted 11/27/2018 7:44 PM (GMT 0)

logoslidat said...
thanks for the tip..I had a MRI years ago for radiculopathy (incorrectly called a pinched nerve in most circles)...it wasn't so much the enclosure ...but was told not to move...I was in a painful position...for 20 I mean 20 minutes...(if I moved they wanted to sedate me in a hospital setting er no) I stayed still...relied on my marathon training and actual marathons and was successfull getting over the "finsh line"The last time I had such a feeling of elation...pure joy...was...the last time...well when I finshed a marathon...the mind is powerfull...especially when you are in a REAL time situation...fellow endurance athletes can relate...as well as others...to REAL time...its fantastic..

That's another benefit of participating in sports. I've replayed experiences from my rowing days in my head during MRI's, cancer treatment, and onerous dental visits. It's a nice tool to have.
Posted Today 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
Where I am they always ask beforehand if you're claustrophobic and give you the option of a mild sedative beforehand. You need someone to drive you home after, of course. I usually opt for that, plus do a little meditation during the scan to control my breathing.
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