I'm due to have my Radioactive Iodine treatnent and then the scan soon after having my thyroid taken out earlier this year because of follicular cancer.
My problem is that I'm very prone to claustrophobia and when I was given the chance of a dummy run of the scan experience last week I couldn't cope and felt blind panic with the scanner above me but not yet lowered as close to my face as it needs to be for 7 minutes during the real scan.
Has any one else experienced this and how did you cope? I've been prescribed a tranquilliser tablet to take on the day of the scan but doubt it'll be enough to help me. I've asked if they could use general anaesthetic and they can't. Does anyone know if a scan could be done with the head tilted back with no pillow underneath as I think I could cope if I could see the ceiling? It's the overwhelming feeling of suffocation when an object is very close to my face and blocking out all of my vision that's the problem. How important are these scans for helping with decisions about treatment afterwards?
