Oxford Community Diagnostic Centre
“I’ve had great experience when I came here for an MRI scan. I have claustrophobia which can sometimes get severe. But it went like a breeze and I was not frightened at any point. So, this is a review for fellow sufferers: I think it is manageable, but you might need a little preparation. The diagnostic centre is lovely and new, and so is their MRI scan (GE Signa Voyager I think - I don’t know if they have several). It is situated in a kind of outbuliding, but you wait before the process in a very nice space where there is water, toilet, comfortable chairs and sofas, beautiful environment etc. The scanner itself is quite wide, actually a bit like an open scanner, not a narrow tube. It is also white and looks like a friendly spaceship. Actually, this is what I was imagining: that I was flying to another planet, and it would be a pity to miss it just because of feeling afraid. I took a small doze of tranquillizer in advance (discussed this with my doctor of course). My husband was allowed to be near me in the room, so it greatly helped too. Can be a good idea to ask your significant other or a friend to be near you. I told the doctors that I could get claustrophobic, and everyone was very nice and gentle to me, so many thanks for this! They also put me into the scanner with my feet forward, meaning that my head was not fully inside, I could see around a bit, could see my husband etc. (won’t work of course if you have to have a head scan). There is also a lovely picture with green forest on the wall which is also very calming. The process itself goes in stages: I had 40 seconds of scan first, then 2 minutes, then 6 and 6 minutes, and then again 2 minutes. I think, as it is not one long strech, it is more manageable. You have headphones and the doctor tells you what to expect next. You can also ask to have a break or stop it at any point, and you have a button for this in one hand. So at no point you are alone or isolated. It is a bit noisy and you have to lie still, but it is sort of OK and the headphones make it quiter. On the whole, it went much better than I had expected! Around the centre there is much greenery and a generously spaced parking. Good luck to everyone!”