How can I keep claustrophobia at bay in an MRI tube without drugs?

I think they have new open MRI machines. I hope whatever they think is the matter with you is okay.

The open MRIs just aren’t as good as the closed ones. I would suggest bringing some relaxing music to listen to. Ask ahead as they may allow you to bring in a disc or MP3 player to play music while you go through the machine.

I went for an MRI on my back years ago and they let you bring a CD and they piped it into the room… you can ask if they do that.

Can I ask why you don’t want to take medication? You can get a prescription for one or two Valiums to help with the procedure.

I’ve gone and they usually have music playing.

What I do is shut my eyes before they roll me in and then not open them no matter what until they roll me out again. And I do a lot of Zen concentrating on my breathing. I made it through a 40-minute session (the longest stretch among several intervals) that way. Drugs would make me feel even more helpless.

They also gave me my choice of music. I picked some really intense classical music that I could completely focus on. Relaxing music would have had the same effect as drugs and excite my resistance and paranoia.

I am very claustrophobic, and would not be able to manage an MRI without medication. Do you mind my asking your objection to a single dose of a benzodiazapene? That, as was suggested above, is what they are likely to offer you. It shouldn’t have any lasting effects.

Don’t they give you video glasses?

@XOIIO Don’t they give you video glasses?

You can’t have metal in an MRI. They do provide headsets for communication and distraction.

I have more tests scheduled and don’t want to skew any results. I am in in considerable discomfort by not taking 8 other medications ‘cold turkey’

The Tube today was a bit small, I am not real tall, at 5’9”, but my shoulders were too wide so I had to smunch into an uncomfortible position while my head was locked in a cage like thing to keep my head from moving. Thankfully my belly compounded the problems, I could fold my arms down and after a couple minutes was reasonibly comfortable. but then, it happened…. My nose started itching. It blew me clear out of my happy place strategy. When I lost focus, it was all over for me making it all the way through the test.
The folks at Cleveland Clinic where my next tests are going to be are really nice, but out of necessity, I understand they can’t get emotionally attached to any patient, no matter the suffering. So they have to be a lot more clinical, and not as sympathetic.

Ugh, I’m glad it’s not I.

My mother had the same problem, and could not make it through after several tries. The next time, I came with her and sat in a chair just outside of the ‘head-end’ of the machine. I talked to her the entire time, and she made it. Maybe you’d have a similar result if you had someone you trust nearby and engaging your mind. Good luck!

A lot of the MRI machines are those open ones now. Could you find a place that has that? I had an MRI on my knee and it was ok in the open MRI.

I’ll say it again. The images that are obtained from an open MRI are inferior compared to a closed machine. Crappy images = crappy results = crappy interpretation = waste of time and money = no new diagnostic information.

@shilolo It seemed to work for me and my knee…but I know nothing about it. That’s just where I was told to go, so I did.

@shilolo Why did they make them then? I’m curious. I’ve never done an open MRI, it’s always been the giant monster machine. Cat Scans freak me out more, because of the contrast crap.

Did they ever warn you about that you shouldn’t try to pass gas until you get home?

@majorrich What? For an MRI? No, nothing about passing gas. That’s weird.

@casheroo There is contrast given for many MRIs as well (just a different kind). The open MRIs were made for kids and for convenience, but talk to any experienced radiologist and they will tell you the images from open MRIs are not nearly as useful as the ones from a standard, closed MRI.

@shilolo Ah, I’ve probably had that and don’t remember. I haven’t had an mri in forever. Does it cause that same warm, peeing sensation?

up, lucky I had a magazine to sit on for the hour or st drive home

I think get some xanax or ativan and like @augustlan said bring someone to be with you and talk you through. And, keep your eyes closed.

I cannot believe they won’t give you a tranquilizer first. My H and my MIL both had to be taken out of a CT scan from claustrophobia. The technicians are used to it; maybe they’re pretending they’re not but they are.