MRI scans and claustrophobia

I haven't ever been claustrophobic, but my first MRI made me think differently. I ended up closing my eyes & all was good. Some of the MRIs was head first & others wasn't. The headphones helped with the noise level. My kid asked me if I listened to AD/DC & I said no because you can't move & I wouldn't have been able to not bob my head.
 

hollydolly said:
I've had sevral MRI's.. I'm not claustrophobic...however I do panic a little bit internally if I open my eyes and see the roof or the scanner just inches from my face...so I keep my eyes closed.

Here they used to tell us to bring our own favourite music with us, and they would play it through the headphones to keep us relaxed, but they stopped doin that...
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so you get no music at all now?
 
They used to make me get MRI's as a kid and my problem wasn't claustrophobia, it was the sitting still part. I had Tourette's and was unable to sit still and the tech's would get mad at me and yell at me to sit still cuz they kept having to restart it and I would just cry.
 
Lilac said:
I haven't ever been claustrophobic, but my first MRI made me think differently. I ended up closing my eyes & all was good. Some of the MRIs was head first & others wasn't. The headphones helped with the noise level. My kid asked me if I listened to AD/DC & I said no because you can't move & I wouldn't have been able to not bob my head.
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I've only ever had MRI and CT scans head first....
 
ricmic said:
Once a year I have to put my head into an MRI scanner for about 10 minutes, and being quite claustrophobic that's 10 minutes too long! I mostly find that the MRI staff are surprisingly unhelpful, and wondered how others manage to deal with that?
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What is the reason for your annual MRI? Unless there is a specific reason, I don't see a need for MRI every year just to see if they can find something wrong.
 
So far, I have never had an MRI scan and hopefully never will have to. It has come up in conversations and as I am claustrophobic, I have said that I would have to refuse one. I was very happy to read that there is such a thing as an open MRI which would be more tolerable. This forum is a wealth of information.
 
ricmic said:
I think that is an interesting point actually. So many tests and scans etc. are done, but the treatment is no different or even none at all, which we may already have been aware of. Perhaps they just enjoy torturing us?
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I think more tests is for two reasons. Well, maybe more.

1) More detail should mean less chance for lawsuit.
2) Money. I would bet if the patient had no way to pay, no insurance, etc., that test may not be ordered.

Of course, it may be that the test, whatever it may be, will also help with a diagnosis, then treatment.

I do know that they push every year for the "free, Medicare pays for it", "low dose" chest x-ray. I always say no. There are a number of tests that are for screening. I refuse them, mostly because if certain problems are found, there is a good chance I would refuse treatment.
 
I smoked for years so I get a voluntary annual low-dose CT Scan. Medicare pays for it, so why not? I can see how it might bother some but I consider it the cost for maintaining my health.

And I know this may be a stretch, but I listen to music from my IPhone via AirPods. I got through a whole root canal at the dentist's this way.
 
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I have had to have several full body 30 minute MRIs, I don't have claustrophobia, but I still I hate them.

One time we were almost done when I coughed. They were all so mad at me.
 
The problem I have with those MRI scanners is you have to lay flat on your back. I've had back surgery with a plate in my back. Laying on my back hurts a lot. On a pain scale, we're talking 10. I can tolerate the pain so only so long. I've had problems with staff not ending the scan when I'm in agony.
 
Personally, I have found that the MRI staff are really not helpful at all - which surprises me really. Mind you, if these scans really have to be done, perhaps there is not much they can say.
 
Wasn't there a recent incident where a husband's metal chain pulled him into the machine after going to machine to calm his panicking wife?

I just tried to sleep during the only one I had-whew
 
Find an Imaging Lab that has an Open MRI machine. They also make vertical machines now also.

I get an MRI each year that takes about 50 minutes. The first 40 minutes is the usual type and then I get a shot of dye for the last 10 minutes. I use the headphones for music and have the technician lay a towel across my eyes.
 

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