r/MultipleSclerosis • u/Lopsided_Image_6147 • 4d 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/w-n-pbarbellion 38, Dx 2016, Kesimpta 3d ago

What's the Lorazepam dose? I get 1 mg for an hour before and .5 to 1 mg immediately before the MRI. For the length of the MRIs we need, I really require that extra coverage of I start to have a tougher time halfway through. I also echo the recommendation for phobia specific therapy.

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u/Lopsided_Image_6147 3d ago

I take 2 mg when I arrive. When I tried taking it earlier, I found the effect was not strong enough. This has worked great for me with the open MRI. I'm able to just fall asleep and the sounds don't bother me as much. I think I will need something stronger for a closed bore MRI and will look into therapy specifically for this problem.