Open MRI in DMV

[Anonymous]

I am extremely claustrophobic and needs to have a brain MRI done. Any recommendations for a place where I can get open MRI done?

Open MRI in DMV doesn't answer phone calls. It's so annoying

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I have brain MRI's a lot OP and I've never found a place that does an open one. But at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore they have some of the larger ones (for bigger bodied patients) and that is helpful.

The other thing I'd recommend is taking a small dose of Xanax to alleviate anxiety, wear wax ear plugs because they are noisy and the rubber ones they give you aren't that effective and if you can, wear a mask without any metal on it - like a silk eye mask, something that will encourage you to keep your eyes shut.

I hope wherever you end up it goes well and that you get whatever help you need. The technicians are usually extremely kind and helpful in the hospital MRI places. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have brain MRI's a lot OP and I've never found a place that does an open one. But at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore they have some of the larger ones (for bigger bodied patients) and that is helpful.

The other thing I'd recommend is taking a small dose of Xanax to alleviate anxiety, wear wax ear plugs because they are noisy and the rubber ones they give you aren't that effective and if you can, wear a mask without any metal on it - like a silk eye mask, something that will encourage you to keep your eyes shut.

I hope wherever you end up it goes well and that you get whatever help you need. The technicians are usually extremely kind and helpful in the hospital MRI places. Good luck.

Not pp but the eye mask is a good idea. I've just forced myself not to open my eyes. I've been tempted to peek but worry I'd panic.

[Anonymous]

“Do not use open MRI ever” - words of a hopkins nurse to live by. Quality of images are sub par. You can be sedated, and have it done right the first time.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone. Wish me luck.

[Anonymous]

There's one in Chevy Chase. They were lovely.

[Anonymous]

I was told to avoid open mri too. There are wide bore mri options that are somewhat less claustrophobic.

[Anonymous]

There is a place in Reston that does MRIs. Sorry it is open for me. Unless and until the healthcare industry can get its stuff together and make that process better for people with claustrophobia. A few MG of Valium won’t get me through one. It just won’t. So thank your lucky stars if you’re not claustrophobic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a place in Reston that does MRIs. Sorry it is open for me. Unless and until the healthcare industry can get its stuff together and make that process better for people with claustrophobia. A few MG of Valium won’t get me through one. It just won’t. So thank your lucky stars if you’re not claustrophobic.

^open MRIs

[Anonymous]

I was surprised that the MRI machine at Washington radiology in Potomac was wider than I had expected.

[Anonymous]

I am claustrophobic and have had two MRIs. One was at a private place that had on open MRI (it was in south Arlington somewhere). More recently I was told I had to have a closed MRI but my doctor said to go to the new imaging center at Virginia hospital center in north Arlington (on George mason drive). I was really nervous and thought I would freak out. They have new machines that are wide and open on both end. When they led me to the room I almost asked where the MRI machine was. It was actually better than the “open” MRI.

I found them to be really nice too. I think I had to send them the doctors order via email first, and then call and make an appointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am claustrophobic and have had two MRIs. One was at a private place that had on open MRI (it was in south Arlington somewhere). More recently I was told I had to have a closed MRI but my doctor said to go to the new imaging center at Virginia hospital center in north Arlington (on George mason drive). I was really nervous and thought I would freak out. They have new machines that are wide and open on both end. When they led me to the room I almost asked where the MRI machine was. It was actually better than the “open” MRI.

I found them to be really nice too. I think I had to send them the doctors order via email first, and then call and make an appointment.

Back with a link to the place i went with the wider machine. https://www.vhchealth.org/medical-services/imaging-radiology/

[Anonymous]

Both VHC and Fairfax Radiology have wide bore machines that aren’t claustrophobic. The Fairfax Radiology location in Ballston has a screen above you that plays peaceful scenes.