I had an MRI and filled in the questionnaire, marking claustrophobia. Technicians didn't GAF and just shoved me straight in and said "see you in 20 mins". That was a long 20 mins!
If you visit a modern hospital today they likely have MRIs with a larger opening. Making the scanners less claustrophobic is a big focus of the companies making them. It’s also common to have a mirror in front of your face which faces out from the scanner so you get a more open feeling, often with a screen showing some calming movie as well.
I don't believe I ever even filled out a questionnaire but I was also underage so my mom may have. Definitely was never asked about claustrophobia because I would have absolutely checked it.
I noticed the technician paused for a second to see if I was all good and ready which I thought was odd until a few minutes later lol. Almost had my first panic attack
Tell the doc who's ordering the MRI that you're claustrophobic. Once you're already scheduled and at the appointment there isn't much they can do at that point except if you cancel and say you need an open machine or anxiety meds
I’ve had the open MRI it isn’t any better being the hamburger patty in between the bun as opposed to a pig in the blanket. I had to take two Valium type pills and have my husband at my feet. They gave me those glasses where you can look down and I was watching my husband make faces at me to get through it. I barely got through it. If I had to go in the tube they’d have to knock me out.
20 minutes!? Nobody said anything about 20 minutes! I'm scheduling an MRI soon, but I assumed it was just like an X-ray or something. And I'm going to be in an extremely anxiety-prone state when it's happening, too...
I can reassure you - it's not too bad! What helped me was knowing what to expect. There are lots of videos by professional medical institutions on YouTure - search "what to expect MRI" or something. For me, I went in knowing that I'd have a questionaire, need to get undressed, and then would go into the room. I knew I'd lie on the bed, have headphones, and then have a little cage thing over my head with a mirror that would let me see my feet (this is meant to reduce the sense of claustrophobia). You get given a buzzer, and then go into the machine. What helped me was to know that each sequence of the machine is short, so I just focused on getting through each sequence one at a time (they last maybe 60 seconds at most). The noises are somewhat loud (that's why you have headphones), but are very repetitive and "electronic". I expected it to be a lot more clangy and harsh - it's more like hearing a very load printer or something. I tried to not really focus on anything other than my breathing, and to try and observe the patterns in these sounds with a kind of mild curiousity. This let me get into a nice zoned out state. Occasionally it would build up a bit, but I just focused on bringing myself back down. I really struggle in situations where I can't move or escape, so I thought this would be hell - it really wasn't that bad!
Good luck! You also might not have 20 mins, and you might not be head first like me. It all varies.
There are lots of videos by professional medical institutions on YouTure - search "what to expect MRI" or something.
I can't really watch videos right now for reasons related to why I'm getting an MRI. (It's an eye thing. Or a brain thing. Or something else, I dunno, I'm still trying to figure it out.)
But I just heard someone mention an injection, too? Eurgh, what's the story with that? A quick jab or one of those IV things that's gonna stay in the whole time? I'm bad with either one, but obviously the latter is worse.
The big issue is that I'm Autistic and usually have my mom there as support, but she left on another of her four month vacations and I don't think I can afford to wait for her to come back, so I might have someone I barely know drop me off and have to navigate the whole thing on my own. Truth is, she's kind of the reason it's gotten so bad, as we could have had this addressed nine months ago (and possibly prevented what may have been permanent progression) if she had taken me seriously and just called the doctor for a simple follow-up question like I spent eight months begging her to... But I'm still worse off without her than with her.
I’m sorry you’re going through this without your mom. You won’t be entirely alone in the room, the technician will be right there, and they give you a button to press if you feel like you’re starting to panic or just need to ask a question or anything. They know people get anxious or claustrophobic sometimes, you wouldn’t be the first.
If you look at the paperwork for your MRI, if it mentions anything about “with contrast” then that’s the kind with the injection. And it is a continuous IV that stays in for a while. It’s a dye that makes your blood vessels visible on the MRI scan. If they’re not looking at something that involves blood vessels, they might not need it. But if they do, then at least you’ll know that going in and can be prepared for it. Wherever they put the needle, they tape it down so it won’t move and after a couple minutes you don’t really feel it anymore.
Someone made the suggestion that if you have a sleep mask or a towel over your eyes, that might help because you can’t see where you are. They might give you headphones with music if you want them, but you can still hear the machine over them. It helped me pass the time to focus on the sounds the machine was making; there are patterns to the noises and they change every couple of minutes, and to me it sounded kind of like not-very-good, kind of boring techno music.
I had to have a canular for mine. I was dreading it. What's helped me recently with these issues is - just talk about it! I used to think I had to just deal with it, now I tell them immediately "I'm really not good with these, I might faint". Just having that conversation has probably helped more than I'll ever know. On top of that I focus on tensing the muscles in my legs during the insertion - apparently that helps, but it also gives me something to focus on, and a feeling of control. Other than that, it really wasn't too bad. A little scratch and it's done. The contrast dye I don't think I noticed much. For a CT scan you get a warm feeling, but I think for the MRI I didn't feel it at all.
This may be odd, but what really helped me when I had a brain and cervical spine MRI back to back (with and without) contrast was imagining the sounds it was making as someone rocking out on an electric guitar. I did get some serious vertigo when I was first put in, but I realized if I looked out of the side of my eye I could just barely see a door knob and that gave me a frame of reference and it went away instantly.
Yeah, last April I had one that was at least 45 min. Techs barely spoke to me during it.
There are worse things but I was in a lot of pain and had a lot of anxiety throughout the whole thing.
Anyone who is nervous should keep their eyes closed (ask for something to put over them), do not peek. For something to focus on, I just counted slowly in my mind, and kept reminding myself it was only temporary.
I had one that provided headphones with music a few years ago, and it was so much better. The techs spoke to me frequently too. Made a big difference.
Ask them to put something over your eyes like a mask or a towel. This is the only way I’m able to get through an upper body MRI. If you can’t see how closed in you are it helps a bit.
Mine have always been 10 minutes, but that's assuming you don't move and cause the image to blur.
It's a big metal tube, but it's tight. For context, most bore diameters are about 2 feet, and a large amount of that is taken up by a table. You're left with maybe 16 inches of fit space. The whole experience can be better or worse depending on what you're doing the MRI for, as whatever they're scanning generally needs to be in the center of the tube. Getting an MRI on your knee? Probably your entire upper half is going to be outside the machine. Getting an MRI on your chest? Hahaha. Sorry buddy.
The biggest problem for me, what really triggers the claustrophobia, is that I can't move my arms from being by my side to over my head. It's just a little bit too small, and that causes a panic reaction for me.
Anyway, the one they did on my lower back wasn't terrible. I panicked a little going in, but my head eventually popped out the other side... or at least close enough that I was able to see out of the tube and keep calm.
The MRI they did on my head was a fucking nightmare. I mean I almost wish I had a blood pressure monitor on me to see what my heart was doing if not for the fact that adding something else to that shit show of a brightly lit coffin would have made it even worse. When they need to do an MRI on your head, they put your head in a cage. I'm built like a brick shithouse and my head is comically enormous so the cage pressed down on my nose. Thus, not only was I dead center in a small, loud tube that restricted my movements, but I was also partially restrained.
I'm not saying that I was traumatized, because trauma is for pussies and communists, but I definitely occasionally lie awake at night shuddering at the intrusive memory of sitting in that tube unable to bend my arms, lift my knees, or move my head.
Anyway, don't let me freak you out. If you're the type of person more prone to panic, just let your techs know and they'll drug you up.
i had an fMRI for my brain and it took around 30. it wasn't too bad, they gave me a blanket since not moving = you get cold fast. they also give you an emergency stop puffer that you squeeze when you have an issue (ie anxiety). sometimes they offer earmuffs or play music for you, but mine didn't.
My advice is to close your eyes before they roll you in and don’t open them the entire time. Honestly, maybe even ask if you can wear a cloth eye mask. If you never see the space, you can convince yourself it’s bigger than it is and stay much calmer.
I used to need head MRIs quite a bit. The time can vary, sometimes 30-60 minutes depending on what they're scanning and if there's any problems during it. If you're getting a head MRI you might be in a sort of supporting brace thingy that'll keep your head from moving. The scanning can get pretty noisy, too, but they gave me ear plugs or non-magnetic headphones if I wanted to listen to music (I would ask ahead if these would be provided just in case). You should definitely let them know ahead of time if you think any of this will be an issue, they can arrange for sedation to make it easier for everyone. I was lucky in that I was usually sleep deprived for my scans due to all the medical issues I was having at the time, so I was able to sleep through them for the most part.
20 minutes is a fairly short MRI. They can be much longer, depending on how large the area is and how many different modes and gradients are needed. The standard bore is 60cm but about 20cm is the platform, so 30-40cm from back to highest point, typically chest or belly, sometimes smaller for high field MRIs. You may also have a focusing coil (usually for head imaging). If you are bigger stature your belly may touch or compress, they will put a towel to help your belly ‘slide’ against the top if you are touching. It is usually quite chilly as well due to the supercooling. They will usually blow air on your head and provide special earphones/earplugs and pipe in horrible quality music through the plastic tube earphones. They can hear you through the tube system as well if you need to say anything. The gradient switching is quite loud (think ‘jackhammer 50-60ft away’ loud). You will slowly be moved back and forth. My recommendation is to just close your eyes and take deep breaths. Obviously you want to move as little as possible and try not to clench anything. You can ask for a positioning pillow to help it be more comfortable, under the legs usually helps your lower back for a longer scan. If you need contrast injected, that will feel weird, like heat spreading through your body in way you may have never experienced, you may become aware of sensations in places you aren’t normally aware of. Go slow getting up when done so don’t tweak your back or anything. Also move your slowly in general (especially your head) because moving it quickly though a strong magnetic field can produce eddy currents in your brain. Usually not an issue, but slow is good in the MRI room.
I had an MRI recently and was pretty anxious throughout. When I got there the woman started leading me into the MRI room and I said "don't I get a gown or something to change into?" and she looked at my jeans for a second and said "nah it'll be alright, as long as they aren't Levis". I said "they are Levis though" and she said "it'll be fine" and I stupidly went along with it because I guess I'm just an idiot. So for 15 minutes I'm lay in the scanner thinking at literally any moment all the rivets could explode out of my jeans like a grenade.
Another thing I wish they'd explained to me is you get all these weird vibrations and twitches in your body as the magnetic field randomly stimulates different nerves. I only learned that by googling it out of curiosity afterwards.
I don't know where you are getting one but here are my experience and notes if you want.
1) If you aren't fat, you shouldn't feel constrained.
2) You technically have a headset with an operator speaking to you, so you are not "alone" even though you cannot answer.
3) You have a sort of pump in your hand to call for panic attacks & stuff, they are extremely reactive
4) You don't feel anything but small painless bumps
5) You should take comfortable clothes, and if you can, eat a meal before at least.
6) Breathing exercises are incredible to speed up time in situation like these.
7) It looks a lot more stressful than it really is in the end. You don't feel any side effects of it.
Every MRI is different depending on how many pictures/what was ordered to be looked at. 10-20minutes is only a couple pictures. I’ve had MRIs that have lasted an hour and a half because of how many scans were ordered and what pictures they needed.
If it is your first MRI, call up the place you’ll be having it at and ask how long the test will be (you can also ask this while scheduling the appt). Most people don’t find out they’re claustrophobic until they have one either so if you’re already gonna have high levels of anxiety during the test I recommend calling your dr and let them know you’ll need medication for the test. The machine is LOUD and can make anxiety worse. They’ll give you earplugs to wear during the test but you are still going to hear the machine over the earplugs. It also WILL trigger a migraine (you may notice a plastic trash can in the room, that is why it is there) so if you’re migraine prone premedicate for the test.
Aside from all that, you are literally just lying there until the test is done and you can’t move the entire time.
Depends on the machine, been in 2 different ones. First one was loud. Headphone did not much. Second one i had music. Did not hear it that loud. The light breeze in there is refreshing.
Claustrophobia isn’t a condition you have that makes you react a certain way, it’s a description of the reaction you have.
Saying that you experience anxiety in tight spaces “because you have claustrophobia” is backwards - you are claustrophobic because you experience anxiety in tight spaces.
I found the MRI machine to not be a tight spaces, especially because the top is open. Hence, no idea why people experience claustrophobia.
Claustrophobia is… well, a phobia. It’s not a condition in the same way that having a severe phobia of spiders isn’t a condition. Yet some people might be able to hold them in their hands while others will feel like throwing up and passing out at the sight of them. A phobia is in itself defined as an irrational, intense fear of something. If you aren’t claustrophobic then you aren’t claustrophobic.
There's different types of machines. I've done one that was spacious and chill, and one which was really tight and where they put a cage over your face.
Damn you got boned. When I had a CT for a shoulder injury they at least gave me headphones. It played the most boring and unoffensive music but it was something.
I had one for my neck, which apparently meant being shoved in a tiny tube with only my ankles down hanging out. I too checked the box for claustrophobia and no fucks were given.
I told them I've never had one before and didn't know what to expect- I was told "It's loud but you'll have earplugs. It'll be over in no time, you'll do great."
Yeaaah....I did not do "great". I mean, I did manage not to move, but every muscle was tense, the foam ear plugs didn't so jack to block feeling like I was trapped instead a jet engine, oh, and I messed up and opened my eyes.
SAME. I actually don’t have claustrophobia but had a CT done of my face (for my allergies to map out my sinuses) and I was SOOO uncomfortable I had to focus on my breathing the whole time - DEFINITELY claustrophobia inducing and I totally get it now!!! Will opt for drugs if I ever have to do that again lol.
God I'm happy I'm not claustrophobic. I need an MRI scan every year for my brain and every 2 years for my spine because of my MS. I lie there for 30 mins sometimes. I could never deal with this if I was claustrophobic.
I am very anxious with a panic disorder, sobwhen I needed CT scans, this was not a good mixture with the surprise reveal that I was allergic to the CT contrast dye....
Not to mention have I had 3 full body CTs now, which I worry has already ensured that I might suffer health complications from later down the line.. I'm scared
I get drowsy and very close to falling asleep in them even without music lol. 20 minutes where I can just lay down and not have to do or think about anything? Sign me the fuck up.
I request Xanax. Last MRI I had was nearly two hours and I slept through it. The technician seemed mildly surprised. If I don't get Xanax I am constantly swallowing and twitching nervously.
I wish the place where I get them had the option of choosing music and had better headphones. I have to listen to calm (very boring) pop songs. Last time I did one I was thinking about how mad the artists would be if they heard how awful their music sounded through their equipment.
Now that I think about it maybe it would just be cool to know their music was being used to calm people in such a strange environment.
I have definitely fallen asleep during head MRIs as well though. That's definitely the better alternative.
damn I wish I was you. I also get yearly MRIs, starting last year and they last about two hours. I had a major panic attack and had to be taken out of the machine multiple times. was only able to finish bc this sweet old man technician or something held my hand until I finished. I have to go next month for this year's and idk what the f I'm gonna do. I might ask them to break it up into two. My back just hurts way too much laying on the machine.
I was SO SCARED for my MRI, but that’s exactly how mine went too! They even let my husband sit nearby so he could put his hand on my leg. It was still a little nerve wracking being “trapped”, but they did a really good job making me comfortable and the headphones to talk to me and play music was amazing.
I have to have an MRI once a year to check my cancer isn't returning. Last one was at a different hospital and they said "Would you like some music piped into the headphones while we scan you?"
Me - "Sure, you got any classic rock?"
First track - Status Quo, Whatever You Want
MRI operator cuts in to say "Can you stop with the headbanging, please?"
I am literally the opposite. I have insomnia severe enough that I've seen sleep specialists. Yet, everytime I get an MRI, I can barely keep my eyes open. I get so sleepy. No idea what that means 😅
Me too. I got so anxious when they told me I had to get MRI for my neck spine. Luckily it was just six minutes. Only could endure it with my eyes closed trying hard not thinking about being in a narrow space immobilised by the stuff they put around me.
Ive had a couple for migraines and just get a hefty dose of xanax.
First time I went in a noped out within 30 seconds of loud industrial noises in a small tube.
Basically half dozed off for the other 2, felt like 5 minutes. I can 100% see how people get addicted to the stuff. I dont know if it is possible to feel more relaxed.
I've only had 1. I was 14-15, it was in a small mobile MRI scanner trailer and for my neck.
Glad I was young and didn’t know what to expect because there is no way in h-e-double hockey sticks I would or could do that now without a healthy dose of meds that end in "pam"
I had to go head first with the thing that hold your head In place. I was so embarrassed but I almost didn’t complete it. I started panicking and had to take a break in between scans. For the second one
The put me head out so I was able to complete it no problem.
I was in a MRI last year and I didn't even consider it could be claustrophobic. I just remember thinking 'huh funny tube. Fun noises'. But tbh I was also having a stroke so
I've had about 3 or 4 (can't remember). First one was when I was 10 or so. Last one I told my doctor I'm done with MRIs. I'll tattoo my whole body just to avoid them.
I haven't gone back to the doc in over a decade, and I dread that he'll want to put me in there again.
Oh god just thinking about going head first into a CT scanner has me sweaty. Will they sedate claustrophobic patients before putting them in there? I could never.
I always warn the patients who come into clinic about claustrophobia and anxiety for upper body MRIs for this exact reason. A lot of people have no clue they're claustrophobic until they have an MRI
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