How to Get an MRI If You're Claustrophobic

How to get an MRI if you have claustrophobia: 4 easy ways

Today, magnetic resonance and computed tomography are some of the most informative methods for examining patients.
Sometimes there is simply no alternative to them when it comes to non-invasively obtaining information.

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There are several different options for this research method, for example, 3D modeling, which can either replace angiography or narrow down the search area for problems before this intervention.

Doctors have long been armed with tomographic examinations of the abdominal organs, brain and other areas. They are regarded as standard techniques. However, there are several contraindications to their implementation, which include:

• Artificial pacemaker - pacemaker;
• Installed all kinds of metal structures, magnetic implants;
• Claustrophobia.

It is important to understand that true claustrophobia, as a clear manifestation of the fear of closed spaces with obvious clinical manifestations, as a diagnosis established by a psychiatrist, is a very rare phenomenon.

That is, it is almost impossible to encounter such a pathology. But such a situation, when a person begins to have a panic attack when entering a confined space, is considered quite common.

In this case, varying degrees of severity may be noted.

Therefore, the occurrence of fear, discomfort, and tachycardia when entering the tube of the device are quite normal.

Hysteria will not lead to anything good, because the doctor will not receive the necessary data about your health status, and you will simply be ashamed. Under no circumstances should you imagine yourself in this apparatus as if you were in a coffin.

How to Perform an MRI

First of all, before undergoing an MRI, you should establish contact with the employees of the institution where the study will be conducted. It is important to indicate your preferences regarding the procedure:

• How bright he wants the lighting;
• Does it need a fan inside;
• Does he want to have his eyes open or closed?

Psychological

It is considered the most preferable for all participants. The patient must notify the doctor that he has such a problem. Medical workers show that the device is not closed on all sides; on one of them it is completely open. That is, if there is strong fear, you can leave it on your own.

It must be said that during the manipulation with the patient there will be verbal contact through internal communication at all times. That is, nothing bad should happen, no one will forget about him.

Experienced tomographers can tell you how to deal with panic. Sometimes they resort to the help of Corvalol, which has some sedative effect. It is important for the patient to understand that it is quite acceptable to move around inside, and you can calmly look around inside the device.

Hardware

The doctor also warns the patient that the tomograph is equipped with a so-called panic button. It can be pressed when it is no longer possible to be inside. She interrupts the study.

If you cannot overcome your fear, then it is possible to perform the study on another device. There are tomographs that are not made as a solid pipe, but with cut holes. There are also devices that resemble a ring or even completely open ones.

Pharmaceutical

If psychological adjustment does not help in any way or the patient does not fight his panic attacks in any way, then it is possible to use pharmaceuticals that will allow the patient to be put into so-called medicated sleep. It is with its help that MRI is performed on infants or small children, who cannot be forced to lie practically motionless for such a long period of time.

If all of the above options do not work, and the question of how to do an MRI remains open, then you should look for other methods. For example, computed tomography may be a good alternative.

It is important to understand that it is a less informative technique, but it may well be preferable in this particular case. It does not require the patient to remain motionless for a long time inside the device.

Patients should prepare themselves psychologically for the procedure in advance. Fight manifestations of claustrophobia. Sometimes you may need the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist, which you should never refuse. It will be much safer for you to overcome this condition without the use of medications, since any drug leaves a trace in the body.

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How to get an MRI with claustrophobia

Fear of closed spaces makes it impossible to conduct MRI in closed-type machines, where the patient is completely immersed in the scanning tube. Therefore, for people suffering from this phobia, an open-type MRI machine, in which the scanner sheet is placed above the subject and there are no side walls, will be an excellent alternative.

Open MRI will solve the problem

With this diagnosis, patients do not experience a feeling of enclosed space, and the procedure proceeds calmly. But there are very few clinics using open MRI, so doctors and patients themselves have to resort to certain methods that reduce fear during examination. In order to perform an MRI with claustrophobia, action will be required on the part of both medical personnel and the patient.

MRI room medical personnel should:

• turn on the light and fan inside the device - this will provide a fresh and bright environment;
• recommend that the patient lie on his stomach during the procedure in order to see what is happening outside;
• remove the pillow from under the head, which will increase the space from the wall of the apparatus to the patient’s face;
• explain to the subject that the tunnel is open at both ends - sometimes this is enough to calm him down;
• be sure to warn about the presence of an emergency button, which he can always press if necessary and interrupt the examination.

For the procedure to be successful, it is worth notifying the patient that he can leave the device at any time without causing harm to himself, the medical staff, or the equipment. During the procedure, inform about each manipulation using internal communication. If the device has a mirror, then take care to turn it so that the patient can see what is happening outside.

If possible, the subject is not completely immersed in the tunnel.

To facilitate the examination, the patient can do the following:

• Bring a blindfold with you or just lie with your eyes closed. The bandage will protect you from realizing the presence of a closed space if the patient accidentally opens his eyes.
• Take earplugs, which will eliminate the noise of the operating device.
• Ask your loved one to stay in the scanning room during the procedure.

If all measures have been tried and found to be ineffective, then the patient should take a sedative and undergo an examination under its influence. In any case, you need to find an opportunity and undergo this study, since its result can be very important for making the correct diagnosis.

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most advanced diagnostic methods at the moment.

MRI has no analogues, and therefore there are situations when it is impossible to diagnose a disease using other equipment. Although it is a technology that has recently entered the market, MRI has several disadvantages.

Important

And the first among others is the closed space in the device itself. How to do an MRI if the patient is claustrophobic?

The feeling of threat literally eats into the subconscious. And then the person begins to experience fear in a similar situation. Each of us can exist calmly and not even suspect that he is susceptible to this phobia until an event occurs that gives impetus to the development of the disease. And it’s not a fact that the disease will not manifest itself when you first undergo an MRI.

Symptoms

As a rule, a person develops an increasing feeling of anxiety in small confined spaces. Especially when there are no windows in the room and the door is closed.

People prone to claustrophobia always try to stay close to the exit and leave the room at the first opportunity. The feeling of anxiety is significantly aggravated when you cannot leave the room.

Such situations happen quite often:

• elevator cabin; Claustrophobia is a limitation to performing MRI in tunnel-type machines.
• airplane;
• train carriage;
• bus;
• toilet;
• dense crowd;
• closed halls (cinemas, clubs, etc.);
• Exhibitions;
• shopping centers, supermarkets.

Situations of claustrophobia can be listed almost endlessly. But what unites them all is the enclosed space. There are several symptoms of claustrophobia that every person should be aware of.

1. Anxiety. A person with claustrophobia feels as if an inexplicable and insurmountable threat is approaching him.
2. Due to the release of appropriate hormones into the blood, the heart begins to beat much faster.
3. Dizziness.
4. Dyspnea.
5. Tingling or numbness in the arms and legs.
6. My throat is dry.
7. Sweating.

Along with claustrophobia, several other fears appear: losing consciousness, death, loss of self-control. Together, this is a truly explosive mixture that haunts the patient.

There are several situations when MRI is contraindicated:

• pregnant women;
• while intoxicated;
• children;
• patients with implants;
• in serious condition.

Claustrophobia is also a limitation to performing MRI in tunnel-type machines. And here lies the solution to the question of how to do an MRI if you are claustrophobic. In total, you have two options: get rid of claustrophobia or undergo an MRI in an open-type machine.

Here you will need all your courage and special preparation for MRI. To reduce the risk of an acute condition due to claustrophobia to a minimum, it is necessary to take a number of measures:

1. Remove the pillow. This way you will expand the space around you a little.
2. Lie on your stomach during the MRI scan. This way, you can observe what is happening in the office, distracting you from your fears.
3. You need to turn on the ventilation in the MRI machine. This will improve access to fresh air.
4. The lighting should be at its best so that you can clearly assess your surroundings.
5. You can close your eyes to avoid seeing the enclosed space in the MRI machine.
6. Understand that there are holes on both sides of the MRI scanner tunnel through which you can escape if something happens.
7. Ask your doctor to talk to you as much as possible. For this purpose, each tomograph is equipped with a special microphone.

If all these measures do not help, your doctor may prescribe sedatives or medicated sleep. In this case, the research process will take place in such a way that you will not even notice that you were in a closed space.

Home » MRI » MRI for claustrophobia: diagnostic features

For the second decade now, a diagnostic test procedure called MRI has occupied a leading position among progressive methods for examining patients in order to identify and define diseases.

Magnetic resonance imaging has no analogues, therefore, if there are contraindications to its implementation, it is necessary to look for diagnostic options. The highly effective diagnostic MRI technology has many advantages, as well as disadvantages.

A significant drawback is the limitation of MRI in the presence of signs of claustrophobia.

Claustrophobia is a psychological disease of a person that manifests itself in the form of fear when being in confined and cramped spaces. This disease is the most common not only among children, but also among adults. Many people do not even know about their psychological disorders until the right moment arises to find out about it.

The reasons for the development of claustrophobia have not yet been precisely established. Scientists and doctors have only come to a consensus that the main impetus for the occurrence of pathology is stress and nervous disorders. Claustrophobia manifests itself when a person finds himself in a closed or limited space.

If a ride in an elevator turns out to be a whole ordeal, then the person really has signs of claustrophobia.

Fear of closed spaces limits the patient's ability to undergo magnetic resonance imaging. Claustrophobia has different degrees of manifestation: some are terrified of going into elevators, while others discover psychological disorders only when they are placed in a fairly confined space.

Fear of confined spaces manifests itself not only in the elevator car, but also in the following situations:

• in airplane;
• in the bus;
• in a crowd of people;
• in closed halls;
• in supermarkets.

Patients suffering from claustrophobia are characterized by the following symptoms of the disease:

1. Anxiety. The first signs of the disease appear precisely with the onset of anxiety.
2. Accelerated heart rate. This is due to the fact that the corresponding hormones are released in the blood.
3. Dizziness and loss of orientation in space.
4. Increased breathing.
5. Excessive sweating.
6. Dry throat.

For a healthy person, fear of closed spaces may seem trivial, but in reality it is a very dangerous and even fatal disease. If you do not protect a person from a confined space in a timely manner, death may result.

How to successfully undergo an MRI

Experts studying how to get an MRI if a person has signs of claustrophobia use several simple methods to help the patient control fear, cope with panic and feel much more free. It is not at all necessary to fight fear and overcome yourself. There are quite simple psychological tricks. For example:

1. Full mutual understanding with the medical staff performing magnetic resonance imaging is important. Let the specialist know how you would feel more comfortable. For example, if your eyes are closed or open.
2. Sometimes the patient wants the procedure to be carried out with the lights on or, conversely, with the lights off, with or without a fan running. The patient needs to understand that he may be asked to do certain things, such as not breathing for a while.

The tomograph examination is safe. In case of unforeseen circumstances, if there is a power outage, the patient will be able to get out of the device on his own.

Use of special diagnostic equipment or adaptation of conventional

The preferable option is to choose a clinic where there are open tomographs. They are intended for patients who are claustrophobic or overweight.

An open device is made in the form of a table, above which a large scanner is placed. In this case, there simply won’t be any enclosed space, which means there’s nothing to be afraid of either. A specialist will be nearby, providing moral support. He explains what the device is currently doing. Such research usually does not cause problems.

If the clinic does not have an open-type device, the patient is offered additional assistance to undergo an MRI procedure for claustrophobia in a closed device.

How to get an MRI if you suffer from claustrophobia - fear of closed spaces is not a death sentence at all!

For patients with fear of closed spaces, diagnosis using a tomograph is not always acceptable. After all, how to do an MRI if claustrophobia does not allow you to stay inside the machine for a long time and provokes panic attacks.

Today, medicine offers a lot of methods for examining the body, but magnetic resonance imaging stands out among them for a number of reasons. This method is universal due to the fact that it is safe and highly informative. Despite a number of advantages, MRI still has its disadvantages.

Among them is that the patient is placed in a closed machine for scanning. This means that those who are afraid of confined spaces will find the procedure difficult. However, it is possible to do it!

The scanning procedure is carried out in a special room, where the patient is placed horizontally on the table, laid flat and comfortable, if necessary, pads and bolsters are placed under the limbs, then the legs and arms are secured with belts, and the table slides into the machine.

A tomograph is a large capsule in which magnets are placed; under their influence, particles in the human body are aligned in a certain way, which makes it possible to read information about an organ in each layer, almost cell by cell, after which the computer converts the information into a picture, displaying a three-dimensional image on the diagnostician’s monitor. several projections. You can take pictures of blood vessels and nerve endings.

Despite the fact that the tomograph has good ventilation, fresh air supply and a comfortable temperature, it is still not an easy task to stay in a closed space for a long time. And for those suffering from claustrophobia it is simply real torture. In addition, examination rules require immobility throughout the entire tomography procedure.

If you are afraid of confined spaces, MRI is done under general anesthesia or using sedatives.

Claustrophobia is considered to be one of the most common phobias on the planet. Statistics show that about 40 million people on the planet suffer from it, and this is only data from recorded attacks among patients.

Fear of enclosed spaces is a real psychological problem. It occurs most often after a stressful situation in which a person has been.

It is noted that a number of patients did not even imagine the presence of such fear, but discovered it only when they found themselves in a closed room:

• stuck in an elevator;
• woke up in a closed ship cabin;
• traveled in a closed train carriage;
• were in a dark cinema;
• did not have access to the apartment doors.

The symptoms of the disease are simple: a person is overcome by anxiety in places where there are no windows and doors, where there is too little space, and he cannot do anything about it. Anxiety intensifies every minute, and at its peak reaches hysteria. It is impossible to overcome fear without drug intervention, as the patient begins to feel unwell and the following symptoms appear:

• cardiopalmus;
• shortness of breath;
• a feeling that something very terrible is approaching;
• dizziness;
• dry mouth;
• numbness of the limbs;
• sometimes a convulsive symptom appears.

All this together makes the patient refuse to undergo an MRI, although this should not be done, since there are solutions and the procedure must be done.

Once in the tomograph, the claustrophobic patient feels as if the walls are pressing on him, that he will be forgotten and abandoned. But it is still necessary to undergo an MRI, so the attitude of the patient and his loved ones is important. If you have claustrophobia, there are no contraindications to the procedure, but this disease is a recommended limitation.

It will be easier to make a diagnosis if one of the relatives or friends came with the patient to provide psychological assistance that may be needed. Scanning is possible provided:

• The MRI will be performed under general anesthesia;
• the patient will be given an injection of a sedative sedative;
• an open type apparatus will be used;
• the patient will get rid of claustrophobia (the disease has passed, been cured).

Open tomographs are relatively new equipment; they radically solve the problem of claustrophobia; however, such devices are not available in every large clinic, and certainly not in all regional medical centers. Therefore, in case of a mild form of phobia, it is necessary to use sedatives or scan under anesthesia - an MRI must be done as prescribed by the doctor.

Most often, the patient learns about his claustrophobia when he first gets into a tomograph, where his body is scanned under the influence of magnetic rays. Magnetic resonance imaging is carried out from 20 minutes to an hour, this forces the patient to tune in psychologically to the examination.

If he does not know about the disease, then after 5-7 minutes of diagnosis, the patient informs the doctor via a special connection that is in any device that “I’m afraid, I’m suffering, I can’t be here.”

Advice

The doctor offers sedatives and, as a rule, the session is completed, so that an MRI can be done.

With a mild degree of phobia, the patient endures the procedure with fear and anxiety. As they say, “I was afraid, but I did it,” because the patient is able to control his growing fear. In severe cases of claustrophobia, the patient will not even approach the machine, so in such cases anesthesia will be used, otherwise an MRI will not be possible.

It is important to remember that there are two exits from the tomograph and you can stop the procedure at any time. But you should understand that diagnostics are prescribed for a reason and it is necessary to do it. Otherwise, the doctor will not be able to make a correct diagnosis and will not develop the most effective treatment method.

MRI for claustrophobia: open type machines

MRI is the most progressive and highly accurate type of instrumental diagnostics, which has no alternative in identifying many severe pathologies, including neoplasms and some severe diseases of the central nervous system. Therefore, there are cases when undergoing this procedure is vital for a patient with claustrophobia. What to do in this case?

The best way out is to find a clinic equipped with an open-type device. Such tomographs are produced specifically for comfortable examination of people with phobias and heavy weights. They are a table with a large scanner placed above it. During the procedure, the patient remains outside, and the doctor is constantly nearby, supporting and explaining what is happening and how. Such an MRI examination should not cause any fear.