Claustrophobia and MRI: How to Minimize your Fears?

Being in the confined space of an MRI scanner for an extended period can be unsettling for certain people, especially those with claustrophobia. Knowing what the process involves and how it can help you take control of your health despite your fears can help you go through the scan without anxiety. Contact Manhattan MRI today to speak to our specialists and find out how you can deal with MRI claustrophobia. Our specialists answer all questions regarding the procedure and give you the support and confidence to go through this exam and seek the best medical care you need as soon as possible.

An MRI is an amazing imaging tool that uses a large magnet, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body, which helps doctors make or rule out medical diagnoses. It helps to visualize soft tissue structures within the body in a non-invasive way.

A traditional closed MRI unit is a long, tube-shaped machine, 60 cm or 23.6 inches wide. You will lie on a table that moves inside the machine for MRIs of the brain, neck, back, and shoulder. As this machine is small and only leaves a few inches on either side of the shoulder, some patients will likely struggle to be calm and stay still during the procedure.

Read on to learn what MRI claustrophobia is, what you can do to minimize your fears, and how to get through an MRI with claustrophobia smoothly.

What Is Claustrophobia?

Claustrophobia is a very common condition, characterized as a fear of dark or confined spaces. It has been described as a fear of being trapped without a way out. There is also a fear of suffocation or restriction associated with this phobia as well. Claustrophobia affects a lot of people, and though many live without being formally diagnosed, they go to great lengths to avoid confined spaces.

Sometimes, an MRI is unavoidable when it comes to diagnostic and treatment purposes. However, some people may experience claustrophobia before and during the MRI imaging. This is because being in the confined space of an MRI scanner for an extended time can be overwhelming and even scary for some individuals. The idea of lying in a tube for an extended amount of time is too much for them, and it may lead to a full-blown anxiety attack.

If you are claustrophobic or prone to panic attacks, it is essential to discuss this issue with your doctor before scheduling an MRI. Planning ahead will enable the imaging professionals and your doctor to work together to ease your fears and make the diagnostic procedure as comfortable as possible.

How to Minimize Your Fear of Claustrophobia?

Here are a few steps to avoid claustrophobia during MRI, relieve anxiety, and make your scanning experience as comfortable as possible.

Bring a Friend or Family Member to Your Appointment

Turn your MRI appointment into a new experience with a friend or a family member. They can wait outside the room while you are having the procedure. Knowing someone is there for you is a comforting thought. You can go for a meal or movie as a reward to yourself afterward.

Listen to Some Music

MRI machines are loud. You will hear thumping, whirring, and clanking noises as the machine works, which can be unsettling. While you will get earplugs to block these noises, the best thing is to opt for headphones and listen to your favorite tunes during this time. Focusing on music can distract you from the procedure.

Breathe and Meditate

Meditation and other mindfulness techniques can soothe your nerves and calm you down during the exam. By focusing on breathing deep, calming breaths, you can stop yourself from hyperventilating and keep an anxiety attack from derailing the test. Meditation and prayer can make people focus on positive energy when faced with fear.

Cover Your Face and Close Your Eyes

Cover your face and close your eyes once you are in the scanner. If you have a sleep mask, bring it with you for the procedure, or you can also ask for a towel and cover your face with it. This way, you will not see yourself in an enclosed space and feel anxious. The technologist will talk to you all the time and let you know how much longer it will be.

Take Medication

If no other strategies work and your anxiety is extreme, you can ask your doctor to prescribe an anti-anxiety pill. This pill is taken the night before and one hour before the procedure and ensures you are sleepy and relaxed during the scanning process. You will need someone to drive you home after the procedure.

Ask Questions Beforehand

The more educated and informed you are on the specifics of the test, the less stressful it will be for you. If you are concerned about how you will tolerate your MRI, talk to your doctor. Ask them to explain the details of the MRI procedure, what to expect, and how things can go, and it may become easy for you.

Sedation

If you suffer from extreme claustrophobia or severe pain that could prevent you from completing the MRI, and if you are over 18 years old and in good health, your doctor may recommend intravenous (IV) conscious sedation.

The radiology staff will be monitoring you closely and quickly respond to any adverse reaction from sedation. Also, you will need someone to drive you home afterward.

If you are scared of undergoing an MRI because of your fear of being in an enclosed space based on other people’s experiences, remember that every experience is different. Older MRI machines had narrower tunnels than the modern MRI equipment. Talk to your healthcare provider, and they will explain the procedure, machine specifications, and what to expect during the MRI procedure to ease your fears.

ll have to take off eWhat to expect during the MRI procedure?

MRI does not require special preparation, but you should follow your doctor’s instructions so that everything goes efficiently and nothing interrupts the scanning process.

• Before heading for the scanning room, you will be asked to take off your clothes and change into a loose gown for the test, depending on which area of the body is being examined.
• You will have to take off everything else, including a watch, eyeglasses, hairpins, and even a hearing aid or removable denture work if you are wearing any.
• You will be taken to the scanning room, where the MRI machines are located for the test. You will lie down on a motorized table that slides into the MRI machine.
• If it is a brain, head, or shoulder scan, you will go head-first. If it is a leg or foot scan, your lower body will go first. This is typically the time when people with claustrophobia begin to feel uneasy as the MRI machine is narrow and tunnel-like.
• The technologist will be in another room where the scanner controls are located. However, they will see you through a window and communicate through speakers in the scanner. You will also have a bell or a call button that you can use in case you don’t feel well and want them to pause.
• MRI machines are loud and make a lot of noise during the test. You will hear clicking or banging noises as the magnetic field is altered as a part of the normal scanning process. You will get earplugs to block this noise, or you can also get headphones and listen to music if you prefer.
• You will have to remain very still during the scanning process. The technologist may ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds. This is important if they are looking at something in particular and want a clear image.
• You may also be given a contrast agent which enhances the image quality. It is injected into your arm or hand through an IV line.
• The time duration for the MRI exam depends on what your technologist is looking for and the number of images requested by the radiologist. You can expect anything from 30 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the area of the body being examined.

Understanding more about MRI and how the process takes place can help you overcome claustrophobia in MRI, relieve some of your anxiety, and make sure you go through it smoothly.

Still uneasy about having an MRI exam – here is what you need to know

• You will be asked to complete an MRI screening form before your exam so the MRI staff, technologist, and radiologist have essential information about your medical condition, including claustrophobia and any implants in your body. This helps them do the best for you.
• Most scanners are fully lit, ventilated, and open at both ends. Modern machines have wider openings and better lighting in the scanner tunnel, which improves patient comfort during the exam and yields a higher resolution to ensure clearer images.
• Technologists strive to complete the scanning process as soon as possible so you are in the scanner for a shorter time and do not have to suffer anxiety. They find the most comfortable and easiest methods that ensure you complete your MRI successfully.
• For some MRI exams, depending on the body part being examined, you may not need to have your head inside the scanner at all. This lowers the expectation or experience of claustrophobia and helps you stay relaxed.

If you still feel that you will be unable to control your fears or that you will be uncomfortable due to back pain, breathing issues, or something else, talk to your doctor. They will develop a plan to help you and suggest the best ways to minimize your anxiety.

With the right preparation and management tools, going through an MRI when you have claustrophobia does not have to be stressful. At Manhattan MRI, our trained and experienced staff is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of patient care and safety. They understand the anxiety patients may experience during the procedure and take all measures to ensure maximum comfort. Call today to schedule your scan. The sooner you have your test, the sooner you will have the critical information needed for your treatment.