Do you have a coping mechanism to get through an MRI?

I took Benadryl to calm me down per my oncologist's recommendation. She said try Benadryl first, if it didn't work, she'd prescrib Aventi. It worked for me. My sister had one with new machine. She said it's big and not so loud. If you open your eyes you can see fish swim and hear music.

Breast MRI’s are tge worst and the loudest. Make sure they give you ear plugs and classical music. You have to transport self with your mind to another place I always imagine I’m on a cruise ship floating on the water looking at the bright sun and I can feel the boat going up and down and up and down and then I imagine myself going to shore on the beach and lying on the beach and hearing the sounds of the seagulls and I literally transport myself somewhere else that works the best is better than any tranquilizer because the tranquilize just make your groggy especially if you have to drive home it’s a form of self hypnosis and works with practice also if you could take deep breath‘s and listen to your breathing and the dude the 479deep breath count for 4,holder to the count of six ,and let it out slowly like blowing through a straw and imagine yourself as a rag doll as you are blowing the air out lips it’s a great relaxation technique and itMakes your mind focus on some thing other than the MRI and the classical music helps with that tune with practice you can become very good at it

I had my first MRI 30 years ago. It felt like being in a tight cigar tube- nowadays it’s more space. I wasn’t prepared for the loud noise either. Any music playing in the tube was impossible to hear. I was near panic- decided to distract myself by planning dinner. Started by finding the recipe and reading it in my mind. Next off to the supermarket to buy the ingredients. Then home to start cooking. I included every minute detail in the preparation and it saved me from freaking out. MRIs nowadys are so much more tolerable.

I was given Ativan (Lorazepam). It really helped!! 6 years ago they gave me Valium. All it did was make me a sobbing mess!! I could not go through with it. Lucky nothing serious came up. I've used Lorazepam 3x so far and fell like I slept through it!! Best of luck to you. Do whatever it takes to help with the MRI.

Beforehand, tell them to turn up the music volume.

I ask for earplugs to go along with the ear phones. I also keep my eyes closed and remind myself that MRIs are far safer than other tests that involve radiation!

Take 5 mg of Ativan 20 minutes before the actual procedure. You'll do fine

If a friend is allowed to be with you, perhaps talking with them the entire time would help.

We all close our eyes before falling asleep, perhaps keeping them closed the entire time, while concentrating only on falling asleep might help.

Hi!!

I keep my eyes closed entire time. When the noise starts with all the clicking, buzzing and tapping It is so rhythmic, i think of a drum beating and focus on that. It helps.

I asked for classic rock on my headphones. That worked for me.

All was well until Neil Diamond popped up singing, "Sweet Caroline." That's not ANY kind of rock. I thought about hitting the panic button, but John Fogerty came up next, followed by Led Zepplin. Whew!