Patient with hypertension uses music in MRI
Who Wants to be in an MRI machine?
Recently I was hospitalized for hypertension (high blood pressure) and dizziness. It’s a miserable way to feel but of course I submitted to their testing in hopes of finding out what the problem was. One of the ways they go about trying to determine the problem is to do MRIs and CT scans of relevant parts, like head and neck.
If you’ve ever had an MRI you know that it is not a pleasant test. Because I was there for evaluation, they did lots of test in a short period of time. Two MRIs and a CT scan as well as 5 or 6 vials of blood. I really don’t like any of it but I understand it’s necessary.
My Personal Experience
The first MRI was not bad at all and it was quiet in the MRI suite with just me and one technician. Of course he asked me what music I’d like and of course I said something like Chopin or Brahms. He talked to me throughout and even though I had a painful IV it really wasn’t that bad. Despite periodic advertisements for tires and fast food, I was able to be calm and tolerate it.
But then, the next afternoon, I was told that I needed a different MRI that would take about 40-50 minutes. Unfortunately, this time, the music was not enough to keep me from suddenly experiencing a miserable attack of claustrophobia. By then, I had been in the hospital over a day with continuous tests and blood drawn and my back and leg were really hurting, in addition to my blood pressure rising more and more depite lots of hydralazine. Another factor I now understand was that the MRI tech did not break the different segments down for me like the others had done. It helps so much when they say “ok, now you’re going to have 7 minutes of this particular sound” and after 7 minutes they actually check in with me and ask how I’m doing. Assuming I’m OK, then they’ll say “now you’re going to have 6 minutes of this specific sound.” That helps me a lot, but this technician just went directly from one sound to the next with no conversation with me.
After about 30-40 minutes I pressed the botton he had given me to hold and said “I can’t stay in here any more!!” He brought me out and said there’s only about 12-15 minutes left, but I said “I’m sorry, I can’t do it anymore!!” It was really a horrible experience and I’m not sure I can ever tolerate an MRI machine again.
Is taking a pill as good as music?
I finally did go for an outpatient MRI of head and neck about two weeks later and they gave me an Ativan to calm me before hand. In that case, I fell asleep repeatedly in the machine and there was too much artifact for them to see what they needed to see.
So NO, taking a pill is even worse than having no music or the wrong music. This picture shows headphones that have been created specifically for use inside of an MRI machine and plug into the wall of the OR. I believe a certain brand of MRI machines offers them as an add-on, but I was told that they’re expensive. Our calming, therapeutic playlists can be licensed for the entire MRI suite very reasonably and played through the speakers in the machine. To find out more about this click here.
Having soothing music in an MRI machine definitely helps and of course, all MRIs are not the same in terms of the sounds they have to create to make various parts of your body vibrate. And now there are so-called “open” MRI machines. But an MRI is just not pleasant for people who are already in pain or have a tendency towards claustrophobia. My message is to the MRI technicians. “Pay attention to the patient in the machine and talk them through it. Don’t just put it on automatic and walk away or start scrolling on your phone. Also, PLEASE don’t play Spotify for the patient if it has advertisements periodically. It totally takes away the benefit of the calming music when a tire advertisement comes up! And besides, it’s illegal to use a personal, free Spotify account in a hospital.
Thank you from a patient who had a terrible experience.
www.surgicalserenitysolutions.com/contact-us.
Please share this with any friends and family who either have had an MRI or might be a candidate in the near future!
I’ve had similar unpleasantries with MRI, going into that big doughnut. The machine looks like something from Star Trek. I’m very claustrophobic, so I closed my eyes so I couldn’t see the big doughnut as I went into it. That took the edge off but when they had me stretch my arms high over my head it was painful and seemed to last forever. Like you, I finally told them I couldn’t take it anymore. They took me by ambulance to another hospital with a more tolerable machine. No Ativan and no choice of any music. Next time I’ll make a few demands.
Yes, Derrick, we must advocate for ourselves. It sounds to me like you were in a CT scan machine but neither is pleasant. At least the MRI machine usually has speakers built in, through which they can play music either that you bring or they play Spotify through those speakers. The problem is that they use their own free Spotify account and it is peppered with ads for tires and other sundry items!!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope you’re feeling better!