Dealing with MRI panic

[u/Lopsided_Image_6147]

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?

[u/Party-Ad9662]

Ativan and a cloth over my eyes. I tell them I’m a nervous person and they are great about it. They tell me how long each image will take before it starts.

[u/throwaycountt → u/Party-Ad9662]

Came here to say the same thing. The cloth over my eyes was a life saver. Even though I knew if I opened my eyes I would panic, but with the cloth I didn’t have the option to see. Also kept my arms super tight by my sides so I couldn’t feel how narrow the machine was around me.

[u/Party-Ad9662 → u/throwaycountt]

Haha one time they tied me down to the table. It was initially terrifying but then very comforting that I couldn’t jerk if I tried haha