"Compassion and care"

I was referred to an MRI due to some neck and dizziness issues. The scanner was in a mobile unit out the back. The technician came to collect me from the meeting point. They asked why I chose a faraway scanner (I'm not local). I needed a more open MRI due to claustrophobia which for me turns to a panic attack. Having a panic attack just means the procedure is stopped and can't be continued. This has happened to me before at Pilgrim and I was treated as an annoyance and time-waster. So I was really reluctant to go back here.

I told the technician that I get anxious but they made no comment. One of the technicians did offer to place a pad under my neck to add some comfort and this really helped. Fortunately, this time they didn't give me the headphones piping screeching music that was more painful than the MRI sounds. The procedure wasn't great and momentarily I did feel like I was being buried alive.

The technicians advised me of every different sound, scan movement and length of time I would hear/feel the scanner moving. I was really grateful for this and told them so. It made such a difference to my anxiety levels. Fortunately, it wasn't too noisy and very strangely I started to nod off! I managed 15 minutes in that scanner and owe it to the compassionate technicians. Thank you so much :-)