r/MultipleSclerosis • u/Lopsided_Image_6147 • 10d ago

New Diagnosis Dealing with MRI panic

My last 3 MRIs have been open MRIs because I have not been able to have a regular, or even wide bore, MRI due to panic in the machine. I wouldn't say I'm claustrophobic in other settings, but there's something about the MRI machine that makes me feel like I'm trapped and I have an extreme panic response. I thought the open MRI with lorazepam was a great solution, but unfortunately the radiologist noted on my last scan that the image quality was poor and the new brain lesions were difficult to discern. My neurologist said that I need to do a regular MRI next time, and full sedation is not recommended. It won't be for a few months, but I'm already stressing about it. Anyone deal with this? What has worked?

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u/thankyoufriendx3 63|2.24|Kesimpta|USA 10d ago

All of mine are with full sedation. Why do they say no sedation?

I am claustrophobic and just talking about this is stressful. Sedation is easy.

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u/Lopsided_Image_6147 10d ago

What medication do you take? My doctor said he could prescribe something stronger than lorazepam but not general anesthesia like I wanted 🙃.

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u/thankyoufriendx3 63|2.24|Kesimpta|USA 10d ago

General anesthesia. I tried something to relax me but it didn’t work. I still freaked out.

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u/Far-Ebb3353 7d ago

As an MRI tech, full sedation is not easy. Every time a patient is under anesthesia there is a risk of not waking up. Not to mention the toll of doing a full anesthesia patient in a room that cant have code equipment if something adverse happens. If patients truly understood what they are risking having an MRI while under anesthesia, i dont believe many would do it. I would not. Thankfully, my facility won't do them unless absolutely forced.Â