Feel like a failure

I’ve just done session 18 of 30 , I find the actual treatment is the easiest part all I have to do is be there on time a lay down , don’t over think it is the best advice I could give

Hi, you are not a failure, many people get very anxious when having MRIs.  I suffer from claustrophobia and when I had my first MRI, I had a wobble but did just about manage to get through it.  Also the fact I was having medical investigations made my anxiety levels go through the roof and this did not help. I thought about it later and had a plan for my next MRI as I knew I may need more in the future.  If I closed my eyes before they put the headpiece on and started gently breathing in and out to calm me.  Keeping my eyes closed before they put me through the scanner,  then to only open when the scan was finished and was out of the scanner, and to  see how this went.  I was still  a bit anxious and just breathed gently in and out through the scan  keeping my eyes closed and I  did manage to take my mind away from the situation. This way I got through the scan much more easily. We are all different  and this was my way to get me through.  With help  and support and talking we can find a way through these procedures.   Overtime I have gotten better at managing MRIs. The suggestions of a sedative is good, all these things can help us get us through. 

Wishing you all the best 

Nicky

Thankyou that sounds like a good idea I will give that a try next time . I'm so annoyed with myself but can't turn back time so will have to be more prepared for future scans

Hi Like Nicky I get my head in another place I do yoga breathing and mentally take my head on holiday ir a bike ride ir favourite walk. Try lying on your bed at home stay still and practice breathe in hold fir count if 3 then slowly  breath out count if 7 and let your mind go on a walk. 

Hazel 

I will give all these tips a practice , thanyou all so much . I feel less stressed xxx

Sorry to hear you found the MRI uncomfortable - you are not a failure that is normal to feel like that. I have had to do underwater escape training for over 20 years as part of my job which involves being strapped into a metal tube and dropped upside down into swimming pools, Despite my many years of experience in claustrophobic situations I found the MRI very uncomfortable too and must admit I almost panicked a few times. I am a pilot for a living and what helped me was not thinking about it too much and I went through the full memory checklist for how to walkround and start up my helicopter I fly. Just as an example that worked for me totally and I was quite calm when I just put myself somewhere else, doing something else. Good luck.

Wow thats amazing and sounds terrifying at the same time . Nice to know that we all have difficulties at times and get through them. Gives me thoughts on what to think about 

Yes a sedative and a visualisation of a kind must be the way to go. Try Hazel’s trick of lying on the bed maybe with a pillow each side of your head and close your eyes. 
MRIs are noisy. Although they give you headphones you can still hear. You can ask for music through the phones but I found the clanging banging and whirring quite hypnotic and almost drifted off a few times. 

I do feel for you, but you really mustn’t feel a failure. The very fact they give us all a panic button to hold during the scan speaks volumes - ie it’s very, very common! 

Interestingly, at my hospital at least one of the machines has a small mirror just above your head which means you can see beyond your feet and into the room. I’m claustrophobic too and found this simple little addition made a huge, huge difference. It might be worth asking if one of your hospital’s machines has this? 

All the best,

M 

Hi also did airline three letter I a t a codes starting with LSI strangely enough then worked my way east ti west across the U.K. ( LSI  is Lerwick Shetland isles for those not in travel  ) 

We use anything that helps. 
Hazel x