There is a high proportion of people in the community that have significant and overwhelming fears and anxieties when it comes to any form of medical treatment. The challenge, of course, is that at some time in their lives they may find themselves needing to have a procedure.
If you fall into this category, and you are fearful of procedures such as x-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs, then there is good news. Some providers now offer MRI sedation.
What Does This Mean for You?
MRI sedation is exactly as it sounds. In order for you to have the MRI according to your prescribing doctor’s requirements, the practice that is undertaking the MRI will sedate you before the procedure commences.
Sedating you before the MRI can help you to have the procedure without suffering further emotional distress or trauma caused by feelings that the procedure will trigger for you. These feelings may have occurred as a result of a history of procedures, or the fear associated with being asleep.
Sedation usually comes in the form of an intravenously injected sedative medication, and it provides you with a temporary sleep state just long enough for the MRI to be completed. You are free to go home afterwards. It is not a full day or overnight procedure.
Why is Being Calm and Composed Important?
Making sure that you are calm, relaxed and ready to have a procedure is important. While some people can experience mild anxiety and still have a procedure, other people experience more significant nervous system reactions, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. This can present a risk to the patient that is outside an acceptable level of risk for the procedure.
Accordingly, ensuring that the patient is sedated can mean that the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and serious complications are mitigated.
Reactions on the Day
Some people who have never had a predisposition to anxiety find themselves overwhelmed by the size and claustrophobic nature of the MRI machine. That is perfectly understandable. In the event that you are scheduled for and attend the clinic for an MRI, but find that you cannot lay inside the MRI machine, you should talk to the clinician about what arrangements can be made for sedation or other support to be present to help you to relax sufficiently to have the procedure.
Conclusion
If you suffer from anxiety about having a medical procedure such as an MRI, it is always best that you talk to your referring doctor. However, in the event that you need to have the procedure, and the only way to proceed is with sedation, then a provider that offers MRI sedation is your best option!
