How can I be less anxious about my MRI with contrast?

Thank you. I am very nervous of being on my neck for a length of time. I have xanax which l guess will do the job.

@cookiepic
I have never taken xanax, but think it would work.

You should tell them you have a neck problem. .. they will then take the extra precautions needed. Here they try to help you feel comfortable. My neck hurts a lot and they aligned me well and being it was of my neck they stabilized it with a piece of foam and I think it was like hand towel or similar between my head and the side of the foam.

I reminisced of a trip we took in 2008 … from Georgia up the Oregon Coast to see my brother ,,, through Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and on … lots of beauty for me to remember and keep me calm and pass the time during the MRI.

I did well during my MRI .. I think you will too.

I have panic attacks in crowds … I ran out of Walmart one day this past spring…. all of a sudden a lot of people around me… crowding and noise got to me .. could not breathe through the mask either. I did not need whatever I was looking for that bad. I did better a few months later going in there with my husband.

I have no idea where my panic attacks come from… I deal better with them than I used to, but sometimes like that time in Walmart I don't. I am not on any medication for it other than the occasional valium for an MRI. I practice breathing and relaxing my mind.

I am sure all will go well with your MRI .. most of it is just your mindset. You can do it. 🎉

ZeeGee

Thank you for telling me of your experience with your neck and the mri. I pray that they will do the same. I've been learning how to meditate with the Calm app. It's difficult to learn to meditate but each day is getting better. I'm hoping that what l am learning to do will keep me calm during the mri. I have bad anxiety and take the xanax when l need it. I don't take everyday as l don't want to get addicted. At 66 it's not what l want lol.

@cookiepic I just got back from my MRI and all went well. I think 1/2 of the solution is having friendly, helpful techs, they make such a huge difference! That got me to thinking—maybe you could make an appointment ahead of time to meet the technicians and discuss your fears. It will make a big difference for them to know of your anxiety and how you can work together. Do you think this might work for you?

I could try and call them. With this covid virus alot of restrictions happening. If l can ask what kind of mri did you have? Was it on your head,?

I had a cervical spine MRI recently. Came time to sign papers…the tech told me he would recommend I not take the contrast dye. He said it was on the order but I probably didn’t really need it. He expressed some concern with the dye, stating it stays in your system and can potentially cause problems. You may want to call and ask if they specifically need the contrast or if it is just standard on all orders.

If the MRI without contrast would show what they need to see, maybe you don’t need it. Sorry to cause any further anxiety, but I opted to not have it and the doctor never mentioned it, the MRI showed what they needed to see.

If you are scheduled for surgery, that is another matter and they may need the extra detail the contrast would provide.

You’ll do fine because you have been preparing! Hang in there…

As for lying there on your back. They put pads all around you and everything is well supported. Bolster under knees, nice big neck shaped soft pads around your neck, pads on your sides, so you feel snug as a bug in a rug!

I called the mri placed this morning and l can't go ahead do to restrictions right now of keeping not there for testing coming in. I also told them l don't feel comfortable getting the contrast as I'm nervous enough and have read about some side effects. One being dizziness which concerns me. When l was going for a neck mri which l couldn't complete it was for purpose of in time if l needed surgery. Yet l didn't need contrast and from what I've read that when contrast could be needed. I also had to go for bloodwork now to check my kidney and liver. MRI place said kidney number was a little low so talk to my pc about it but it's ok to get contrast. That concerned me too.

Thank you. I called mri placed and told them l didn't feel comfortable getting dye. They told me l needed a new referral. I called doctor. She wasn't happen but I'm sure it's because it's extra work for her as she is overwhelmed. I'm thinking of seriously changing doctors. She's very good but lacking office help so she's doing her doctor stuff plus answering phones and doing paper work.

@cookiepic I have the MRI on my head to check the status of lesions on my brain. I felt so comfortable during the exam and then came home and slept for 2 hours. You mentioned Covid—I was able to take the mask off during the scan. Since I was the only person in the room. That helped a lot!
Im going to be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts for Monday!