Hey everyone,

Just wanted to say hi! I'm new to this site and have joined as my neuro thinks I have TLE. I'm awaiting my first ever MRI and I'm really scared!

I discovered I'm claustrophobic years ago when my mum tried to make me go on a tour of a mine shaft...pretty much I ran out screaming and felt the most afraid I ever have in my life! Also I once crawled into my sleeping bag head first (not sure why now! ) and a similar thing occured.

So...I'm thinking an MRI is going to be a bit scary for me! My anxiety levels have gone through the roof these last few months as well, possibly just a natural response to the sudden increase in simple partial seizures (we think they're the only type I have at present) or the anxiety center in my brain could be effected by the epilepsy.

I'm going to be sedated, but I'm scared I'll be too dopey to tell them I want to get out if I need too...and I've never been sedated before so I'm worried I could react unpredictably or something.

Pretty much I'm just terrified!

Anyone have any suggestions???
What should I expect to happen?
How did you cope?

I'm allowed to bring some music, and it's at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne MRI Imaging Center (Australia), if anyone on here has by some chance had an MRI there...I'd love to know just how claustrophobic their machines are, it said on the website they have newer ones which are fairly wide and short.

Sorry to make my first post a giant whinge! I really respect what a great technology MRIs are, and I want to do all I can to make sure I don't chicken out. At the moment I'm worried I won't be able to go through with it...

Thanks for the great site, and I look forward to chatting with you all,

Luna.

Hi Luna,

I am not claustrophobic, but I have had several mri's. It's not quite as tight in there as some folks make it out to be, so try not to worry. There will be a tech close by that can talk to you throughout the test, and hear every word you say or noise you make, as well.... if you started freaking out in any way, they'll be able to tell... you won't get stuck in there terrified, no matter what drugs they give you for the anxiety. (BTW... there are some pretty fun drugs they give you to reduce anxiety, lol... you might actually find yourself not caring at all)

It's way too important for you to have this test, you must NOT "chicken out" as you put it. I have never been offered the chance to use music as a distraction, I think it'd be cool! Just don't pick anything that might make you hyper or jittery, that would make the test seem like it lasts forever.

There are different types of machines, as you pointed out, so I wanted to warn you that some make more noise than others. There is a metallic clanging that goes on during the test, not continually but just one clang every few minutes. I'm not sure if it's related to the actual taking of the pics, or if it's got to do with them moving things around in the machine. It's not too loud or too annoying, but it's nice to know beforehand that you'll hear it. Sometimes the techs forget to mention it.

So relax, you'll do just fine. It's the way things go, though... we patients stress over things beforehand, and afterwards say "That wasn't so bad".

Hi Luna -- I'msorry this is happening to you but I'm certainly glad you've found us..... We all help each other because we've been through the same "stuff" .

I had my first MRI in 1990 and was so terrified it took two of the aides to help me into the MRI. Now I understand it's nothing but a fine machine making noise.

It sounds like you're going to be in a truly great hospital if you're being offered sedation (never happened to me !!) and taking music (I am offered music). Tell the people, the techs working the machine, how frightened you are ... they WILL help you.
They care .. they want and need you to be OK.
They will be watching you very, very closely. The slightest move you make will be very visible to them.
They can hear anything you say because you will be given a microphone.

I promise you'll be OK .... I know, honest. In 2005 I started having an MRI of my head every 3 months and it hasn't stopped yet.

Thanks guys.

You've made me feel quite a bit braver...I know I can do this.
The whole things seems less scary now I've heard your experiences, and you're absolutely right about this being an important test I need to do.

Hey, it might even cure me of claustrophobia!

Cheers

Wonderful, Luna, just WONDERFUL. You're taking a giant step
But when you take it, dont hesitate for one minute to THINK OF YOURSELF FIRST.
Tell the MRI people about your fear and claustrophobia ... make certain they know. (But I bet they ask you first ) Don't try to "act" brave or anything like that. Remember they asked you about claustrophobia. It's a common fear with MRIs.
Since it's a center devoted to MRIs it's very possible they have an "open" machine.
.............................
But the most important thing will still be happening long after you leave that machine, right? It's possible you'll be dealing with TLE and that sure takes longer We're wishing you well.

Luna, I Have Claustrophobia Now(at Age63) And Epilepsy.had The Same Problem.thought I Was Going To Die In There.looked Around At Other Facilities And Found An"open Mri''.dying Is The Worst Thing That Can Happen.take The Sedative(did That)and Relax.count The Minutes Off To Yourself.see How Close You Can Get To The Time They Say You Will Be In There.close Your Eyes The Whole Time . Tryout Your Counting Technique Before Hand.concetrate On That. .....you Can Do This..........don't Let The Bastards Get The Best Of You..........."you Can Do This" Is Your Mantra Till It Is Over ... And.......it Will Be Over ........life Will Go On Again...when You Get Past This.
Best Of Luck...you Are Not Alone.

Hi Luna,

I am not usually claustrophobic but discovered I was when having my MRI. I made a mistake after they put me in the "tunnel" and opened my eyes: I had to get out of there really fast. After calming down and walking to slow my breathing and getting a grip on myself, I realised I was so ill I had to have the MRI at any cost.

My MRI team was so supportive and understanding of my fear. They suggested I try it with a blindfold: it worked wonders for me. I was able to open my eyes if I wanted too but did not get that terrifying "panic" feeling during the entire procedure.


Becky

Sorry I don't have much time to give tips (I use my ipod), the place I get mine usually offer valium. If you call them to express your level of stress/anxiety they may tell you to come 30 minutes early and get to take a valium. A friend of mine takes Tylenol PM and sleeps through them. I just use my ipod and turn it up really loud so I don't hear the machine (its the machine sound that freaks me out).

Hi Luna,
Take my word I have had many MRI's over the yrs. I also have TLE with absence, cp sz., and simple partial sz. Having an MRI made a world of difference in finding what caused my sz. You will hear a lot of banging going on but that's just the machine getting the pictures and if you like the medical field you can see the detail of your pictures like you won't believe. Also if the Dr. gives you a shot which will make you hot for a couple of minutes that will show even more detail. The shot is a type of dye going through your system to show more detail. I never have been chlostropobic (sp?) but take my word the test will be well worth it and they often play music to help relax you when your having this test done. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Thanks for all your advice!
I'll do my best.

I did try and find an open mri, but I can't find any listed anywhere in Australia (where I am). And I'm in the public hospital system, so don't think I'd really get a say.

I'm thinking I should try the blindfold thing too, so thanks for that.

The place where I'll have my MRI I also had a CAT scan and even that freaked me out. Mostly as the doctor said it would be 3 minutes or something, so i counted, and I was actually lying there for ten minutes (I confirmed this afterwards incase I was speed counting!). I'm not sure if the machine was on the whole time (I'm sure it wasn't if that's not safe), but apparently they had to go and get someone else to have a look at my results so they just left me there. Maybe incase they needed to do one with contrast or something.

But I was terrified! I irrationally imagined everyone had gone and I'd been left in this room by myself until the radiation melted my brain!

I'm afraid i'll get in the MRI and that's what will freak me out (even though I know it's not using radiation), that I've been left alone. I'll make sure I tell them my specific fears so they know to keep talking to me when they can.

I opened my eyes once in the CAT scan and felt claustrophobic, I'm not even sure if your head goes in anything or not for that as they weren't open long enough! But that experience has kind of added to my paranoia.

Thanks again everyone! I'll make sure to read over all of your responses again and take action to create an environment in which I'll be as calm as is possible. I just wish the tube was big enough i could bring a friend in with me!