MRI Anxiety

[lifesavacation]

The hospital just called to go over the instructions. It will be conscious sedation like my colonoscopy. I requested the sedation if I had to have the cage over my face like last time. I really didn’t think I was claustrophobic, but the combination of the cage, the closed tube, and the loud noises made me hyperventilate. I feel like a giant baby needing the sedation, but I know I need to get through the test. I had to pay for the failed MRI test and I’m not going to waste my money this time.

 

[georgina]

The hospital just called to go over the instructions. It will be conscious sedation like my colonoscopy. I requested the sedation if I had to have the cage over my face like last time. I really didn’t think I was claustrophobic, but the combination of the cage, the closed tube, and the loud noises made me hyperventilate. I feel like a giant baby needing the sedation, but I know I need to get through the test. I had to pay for the failed MRI test and I’m not going to waste my money this time.

Sedation is a great thing for such a stressful test, no need to feel bad at all about it! No one at the MRI center will bat an eye about it, folks get sedation all the time!

 

[ronandannette]

That's me too. Close my eyes and mentally recite the rosary in my head. I have an MRI of my head every year due to an inoperable pituitary tumor. Had gamma knife radiation on it a year ago, that was a lot more, between the MRI and the radiation part, I did get the sedation for that one.

I do not think you can get yourself out. Plus they always remind me that the door to the room is sealed and it takes a longer time for them to open it to come in and pull you out of there than normal.

Why on God's good earth would this be the case, and why would they ever make a point of telling anybody that?

 

[LuvOrlando]

That didn't seem possible with the head cage clicked down. Of course, I didn't try moving my arms up to see if the thing was movable. Again, we're talking about somewhat irrational reactions here. There was no urgent reason I had to get out, nor any real expectation of one.

It's ok, I like to bring some humor to things that are mostly humorless. It's not irrational, the test is a serious test for serious things and then they put you in a big loud tube while you are worried.

In all seriousness, you really could just shimmy out if necessary. I like the word shimmy because I imagine to myself it would look quite hilarious to the techs if I tried to wiggle my way out of there.

Once I did an open MRI and it was like being in a donut instead of a tube. To get one of these you need to call around and make sure the place you are going actually has an open MRI on premises and then I guess it is an insurance thing. Be warned though, most places are misleading about whether you are getting open or not, best guess is they are bait and pricey to run so avoided.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Why on God's good earth would this be the case, and why would they ever make a point of telling anybody that?

The door has to be fully sealed due to the fact that any external RF energy would affect the MRI image - it would show up as lines , waves or significant noise depending on the frequency and strength. They tell the patient that so that he/she can be fully informed.

If there is an issue the patient can use the nurse call device that they place in the patient's hand. Closing your hand will trigger it and they will get an audible and visual notification if it. If there is an issue the tech can come into the room , activate the manual release for the tabletop and manually retract the table to remove you from the magnet bore.

 

[prairie_girl]

I have an MRI coming up on Friday and am feeling pretty anxious about it. I have had one previous failed MRI exam about 7 years ago. I’m having concerning neuro symptoms so I know it’s necessary. I recently had a CT scan, which I was fine with. The contrast portion I did not like at all, but didn’t feel claustrophobic or panicky. It’s just the MRI that makes me anxious. Any tips? I’m not actually worried about the results. I believe, and my doctor believes, this is probably long-Covid. He’s wants to rule everything out before that diagnosis.

I feel like an expert on giving MRI tips. There is already a lot of good suggestions.

is it one of the open mri's? that used to help me to an extent (very claustrophobic). the last couple i've had my doctor arranged for some light sedation. if there's not time to arrange that perhaps the doctor could call in a scrip for something like valium (if you have someone to drive you).

It sounds like a head mri if it’s for neuro..you can’t have an open MRI for that.

I understand. I'm a pretty cool cucumber but a cranio-spinal MRI for a neuro work-up was much more difficult for me to get through than I ever expected. In hindsight, one of the things that bothered me most was feeling constructed inside the head cage. If I ever need another one, I will ask and get a very satisfying answer to the question "How do I get out of this thing in case of emergency?". I'm not even prone to anxiety but for some reason, every single worst-case scenario ran through my mind and I had no clue how to get myself out if I had to.

Overall, MRI technology is practically a miracle and I'm grateful for it. I wish you well and hope you get through it as the benefits are certainly worth it.

This is one of my biggest fears too. Every single time, they take the time to show me exactly how to get out of the cage..all you have to do is push up on it from the bottom. It will be a tight fit, obviously, but you can unsnap it from the table.

I have had so many that I have a routine.

Ask the technician to talk you through the test, as in to say, "This part is 3 minutes," or ,"we have a few left to go," it really helps a ton with not feeling isolated. Twice I had oddball techs years ago who claimed to have no idea what I was asking for so I calmly explained it and they accommodated me, but most know precisely.

Have a favorite Pandora or Spotify station in mind you can sing along with when you notice what song is on, last one I asked for Pink but Bee Gees is fun too because I know all the songs. Now you won't be able to hear it very clearly because the machines make a racket but I tend to fill in the noisy spots by following along with the music bast as I remember, this also helps whittle away the time.

I haven't had the thing on my head in a long while but if they give you one do ask for a mirror and stare at the little mirror out into the room. I prefer the head thing with the mirror to be honest, last time I didn't get one and I wished I had it.

As for an emergency, they should he handing you a little buzzer, I have always had a buzzer. Also, the tech should be looking at you during the test, there is a little camera on your face so they can observe you.

Skip coffee to reduce angst.

I wish I had the option to play music in mine. It would make the time go so much more quickly. Like you, I have a routine. I personally don’t like the mirror. I have them tell me how long the next series is. I’ve had so many that I know approximately how many beeps are in each sequence so I just count them.

I also need two Ativan to get through it. It doesn’t knock me out, but it relaxes me enough to where I don’t mind being stuck in a tube with a cage around my head for 75 minutes.

 

[Kitty 34]

I'm good with all the various tests....it's the insurance/bills that give me wayyy more anxiety. You'll be fine.

 

[prairie_girl]

Why on God's good earth would this be the case, and why would they ever make a point of telling anybody that?

***if you don’t want to read why I have my phobia of MRI’s, scroll past. I don’t want to give anyone a new reason***









I’ve never heard that, but then again, I’ve never thought about it. My phobia isn’t that I can’t get out, it’s that someone else could get in. My (irrational, for a lot of reasons) fear is that there will be a mass shooting and I will be stuck inside. I have to be told every year that I am safe because if worse comes to worse, the machine will snatch the gun and the bullets because they’re metal.

I 100% blame the mass shooting episodes of Grey’s Anatomy for my fears. Will it happen here? 99.999999999999999% no. Will I still worry about it? 100000000000% yes.

 

[luv2cheer92]

absolutely-and i remember when they were so cost prohibitive for hospitals to purchase that they were on large trucks and the hospital would only have them for a handful of days per month. i remember waiting 6 months for an appointment.

There are still rural hospitals where that is very much still the case.

 

[Dan Murphy]

When I have an MRI, I take half a Xanax about an hour ahead. Marie drives me there and back. I'll listen to something like spa music, I'll usually doze off. Marie on the other hand, does need to be knocked out, using an IV.

Best wishes for you for a speedy, relaxing MRI, and good results, @lifesavacation. 's

 

[goofyernmost]

I guess I'm lucky that things that don't have sharp edges don't usually bother me. I will admit that some MRI's take forever. Laying in one position that long can get tedious. I've had prostate MRI's that only took a few minutes all the way to a cardiac MRI that I didn't think would ever end, and they threw a stress test section in it as well, which increased my pulse rate by quite a lot. I also have a pacemaker that has to be turned off before they can do the MRI and you go in hoping that the person that was in charge of shutting it off knew what they were doing. Whenever possible I ask for music to be played during the procedure. It comes through on the ear protecting head set. I guess they might not be able to do that if it involves your head.

I never thought about being able to get out. I guess because it is open at least on one end and believe me, if necessary, I will get out of the thing.

 

[RamblingMad]

Unless you went to war and are worried about shrapnel, I wouldn't worry about it. It basically sounds like people are getting it on on top of the machine.

 

[Cheburashka]

I have an MRI coming up on Friday and am feeling pretty anxious about it. I have had one previous failed MRI exam about 7 years ago. I’m having concerning neuro symptoms so I know it’s necessary. I recently had a CT scan, which I was fine with. The contrast portion I did not like at all, but didn’t feel claustrophobic or panicky. It’s just the MRI that makes me anxious. Any tips? I’m not actually worried about the results. I believe, and my doctor believes, this is probably long-Covid. He’s wants to rule everything out before that diagnosis.

If you're having hypersensitivity to sounds as a primary symptom I do not recommend an MRI unless it's for an urgent reason (like looking for a probable tumor or dealing with an injury that can only be visualized with an MRI). For a noise sensitive person, that level of noise exposure could lead to more hypersensitivity and tinnitus. It happened to me when I had my MRI.

If you go through with it, be sure to use good earplugs, AND ask if they have headphones you can use, as well. I used earplugs (only) but they didn't prevent my tinnitus from getting worse after the MRI.

 

[lifesavacation]

If you're having hypersensitivity to sounds as a primary symptom I do not recommend an MRI unless it's for an urgent reason (like looking for a probable tumor or dealing with an injury that can only be visualized with an MRI). For a noise sensitive person, that level of noise exposure could lead to more hypersensitivity and tinnitus. It happened to me when I had my MRI.

If you go through with it, be sure to use good earplugs, AND ask if they have headphones you can use, as well. I used earplugs (only) but they didn't prevent my tinnitus from getting worse after the MRI.

Dizziness is my primary symptom, which triggers nausea.

 

[Cheburashka]

Dizziness is my primary symptom, which triggers nausea.

Are you being treated by an ENT or a primary care physician? If dizziness & sound sensitivity are the big symptoms, you need to be evaluated by an ENT / otoneurologist.

 

[lifesavacation]

Are you being treated by an ENT or a primary care physician?

PCP. My symptoms are dizziness, nausea, hyperacusis, pulsatile tinnitus in left ear, throbbing headache only when sleeping, and I see my pulse in my left eye.

I tend to be a doctor avoider so it's taken me a lot just to see the PCP for this. Should he want to run more tests or refer me on to a specialist, I'm not sure I will pursue it. So far I've had a carotid ultrasound, CT angiogram, head and neck CT and a bunch of blood tests. The MRI is the last test he ordered before I see him for a followup.

 

[Cheburashka]

PCP. My symptoms are dizziness, nausea, hyperacusis, pulsatile tinnitus in left ear, throbbing headache only when sleeping, and I see my pulse in my left eye.

I tend to be a doctor avoider so it's taken me a lot just to see the PCP for this. Should he want to run more tests or refer me on to a specialist, I'm not sure I will pursue it. So far I've had a carotid ultrasound, CT angiogram, head and neck CT and a bunch of blood tests. The MRI is the last test he ordered before I see him for a followup.

I hope everything goes alright. You should absolutely take and use the referral he gives you. These symptoms can be treated. You just have to find out what's causing them, and that usually requires a good specialist. Specialists are nothing to be scared of. It's often comforting to get to them, because they understand unusual symptoms better than the PCP. Their offices have fewer contagious sick people there, too. All in all it's more comfortable to go to them than to a PCP imo.

I think it's better for the specialist to be ordering all of these tests, frankly, because your PCP might not know exactly what he's looking for, so some of the tests might have to be redone later if the specialist thinks it might be something else. I'm surprised you haven't already been referred, with your symptoms.

 

[lifesavacation]

I hope everything goes alright. You should absolutely take and use the referral he gives you. These symptoms can be treated. You just have to find out what's causing them, and that usually requires a good specialist. Specialists are nothing to be scared of. It's often comforting to get to them, because they understand unusual symptoms better than the PCP. Their offices have fewer contagious sick people there, too. All in all it's more comfortable to go to them than to a PCP imo.

I think it's better for the specialist to be ordering all of these tests, frankly, because your PCP might not know exactly what he's looking for, so some of the tests might have to be redone later if the specialist thinks it might be something else. I'm surprised you haven't already been referred, with your symptoms.

I appreciate your response

 

[Cheburashka]

I appreciate your response

May God bless you, comfort you and heal you.

 

[mom2rtk]

Too bad you can't listen to a podcast during the test. Leading up to it, I highly recommend more episodes of "Love Should be Multiplied". If you are caught up, remember they have a Patreon you can subscribe to.

Best of luck. I hope the test goes smoothly for you.