Get me through the MRI

pebee

I am doing chemo before, so know I need a pre-surgery MRI.. and I need some help.  I have dense breasts, so I will be doing MRI from now on out.....

I have had two MRI - first one - fine while in the machine, but something happened with the dye and I ended up with a huge lump on my arm.... Great.  Then came the MRI biopsy- that was hellacious.  I was in the machine going in and out and then the biopsy, and again - the dye in the arm.

Then, this Monday, I tried again.  Unfortunately it was day 4 after Chemo.  They could not use the port - placement in the breast, and between the digging for the vein, the rearranging of the needle in the vein - it got bad and then I threw up all over the machine - I had not made it in.

They cleaned me up and sent me off and said don't come back until you can handle it....

So - any thoughts?  Anything?  I tend to faint when someone puts in an IV- especially digging around.... I am not claustophopic and tend to cooperate when asked, but this is just not happening right now.

I need something to make me think this is no worse than peeing on a stick.

Help....

TifJ

Wow- what a difficult time you have had! I had the IV issues too- my vein blew the first time and I had to go back the next day and the tech stood beside me and put some mild pressure on the vein to keep it open while the dye went in. The only thing I can suggest is maybe a mild sedative to help relax you?

zoey1

 I too had a terrible time with the MRI IV; I am a very hard stick and the tech. exploded several veins. I nearly passed out. Finally, one of the techs decided to proceed without an IV and shoot the dye into a vein towards the end of the MRI. This worked. She simply walked into the room, did it and left during the remaining MRI!

DesignerMom

I haven't had an MRI, but will say that my PET scan was one of the worst experiences of this entire BC adventure.  Did I say that the two patients prior to me panicked and were banging and kicking and had to be removed and I heard all this?  Once it was my turn, I asked if they could hear me at all times.  When I called out a question....no answer...for about 10 minutes, till I hollered.  It seems their microphone was broken!  They are lucky I didn't throw up on their machine!  Since that incident I have had a few very claustrophobic mini panick feelings when enclosed in spaces like subways.  I know several women who swear by Ativan (an anti anxiety med) and say it takes the edge off of things to get through procedures.  I actually just got a prescription as I will be taking a 6 hours flight soon and worried about being enclosed.  I don't think I will have to take it, but feel safer having something just in case.  I'm so sorry you didn't have more caring staff helping you through this.  I hope the next one is better...or that you sleep through it!

zap

Go with a sedative and ask someone to drive you to and from.  You are learning a negative reaction to this mri and you need to "unlearn" it with an okay experience which you can have if your are sedated.  Any doctor would prescribe a sedative and tell you how to take it if you explained your experience.  I have annual mri's and I am claustrophobic so I have to get a prescription for two xanax pills each year.  One time I didn't and the technicians told me to always take the meds before coming as it makes it easier on everyone.  They are not being rude; they, like you, just want to get the thing done as efficiently as possible.  Good luck and get those two pills! My sil panics with needles and passed out at the dentist.  I told him to do the same thing.

Annabella58

Hey PeeBee:

something about your post caught my eye and I'll tell you what worked for me.

I used anti anxiety meds, yes, but first, I made sure that I had access to an open MRI.  If there is not one in your area, I tried to remember that :

1.  You are not enclosed.  Your head is sticking out and you can tell yourself you can always get out if you need to.

2.  The anti anxiety meds will work.  You might still get nervous, but you won't throw up.  Take them 1 1/2 hours before, have someone drive you to and fro, also.

3.  If there is anyone (lover, husband, friend, sister, etc) who can hold your hand thru this, this is allowed.  They can talk even if you can't.  You can tell them things that will help you to get thru it.  Also ask those techs if they could give you encouraging time frames such as "just one more", "this one is a short one", etc.  There is no reason they should refuse this very reasonable request.

4.  Do it a little bit further from chemo.  Chemo tummies tend to be icky and touchy, so a little further away and you'll be just fine.

When in doubt, I used humor.  Yes.  I wish I were kidding on this, but I am not.  Something about the whole thing struck my funny bone...I'm inside this metal ring with my head sticking out and my hooters hanging thru the holes in the table like a milking stool.  I have a godawful neck cramp, and these idiots ask "are you comfortable?"  Really?  Well, if you can't stop yourself giggling (a no no) using humor to pokes holes in the anxiety worked like a charm for me. 

Also try counting the bangs.  Make up rhymes to the bangs.  See if there's a rhythm.  This distracts a person, temporarily stuck in a metal clanging tube.

In the end, try to remember that you WANT this test.  It saved my life and I get one yearly now.

It ends.  It doesn't hurt.  It's boring, but you can get out if you need to.  Also, ask your onc if you can do without the dye.  It may have upset your stomach and could be why you threw up.

Now....let's try to visualize asking the maroons running this thing if "they could handle it".....how exquisitely sensitive of them to say such a thing.  Lordy.  Too bad you missed them when you threw up. 

good luck hon.  It's completely do able.  You can do this!

jyg

I am truly sorry for the horrific MRI experiences. Get something like clonazepam (yes, I'm a doc but don't take this as medical advice) and get them to allow a friend in the room with you. Download some relaxation mp3s you enjoy (some make me more nervous so try them out ahead of time!), and have them play them for you during the procedure.

 I had a panic attack my first time in a MRI machine. Now with meds, music, and knowing my very old mother used to get them without problems - heck, I learned to tolerate MRIs also.

pebee

Thank you - I appreciate it... I think that day 4 of chemo is not a good day for laying on my stomach and anniealso- yes, my hooters are hanging.....

I didn't know that someone can come in or I can listen to music.  I will have to call the MRI to confirm.

Has anyone done an Open MRI?  There is one in town - but what is the difference?  Maybe if my arm can be in a more natural position, I won't have the egg and digging......

DesignerMom

anniealso-  Excellent advice!  I will use all of it when I have my first MRI in the Autumn as I sort of panicked in my PET scan.  I got out of that tube and remarked "what kind of fresh hell is this!"  I am still laughing at your hooters through the holes and "are you comfortable?" remark.  Isn't it a blessing we can actually laugh at some of this absurdity!  Today I was finally fitted for an LE sleeve.  The bloody thing was so tight, when I was pulling it on, my grip let go and I socked myself in the mouth.  The fitter and I had a very good laugh.  Yes, laughter is the best revenge!

zap

I am the girl with the claustrophia who takes the xanax the night before and the morning of the mri.  I asked my doctor if I could do an open mri and he said that it doesn't work for what we are doing.  Perhaps he is mistaken, but he said I could not use the open mri. Doesn't hurt for you to ask,

pebee

I got through it.....

I take an anxiety med now for sleep, so I took a half a pill this morning.  That help.  What else helped is having the IV line in the hand, not elbow.  That helped as the vein did not blow.  I also asked them not to dicuss IV issues - to simply move to the next vein without telling me.  That was a big help.... And, yes, I waited until the day before chemo, not like last time when I had a bad tummy......

They would not allow someone in the room.  They did give me two balls to squeeze when they were dealing with the IV and the scan.

So, I got through it - I have three bandaids and one wrist band, but I am done!

dogsandjogs

I have had two brain scans, a parathyroid scan, MRI on wrist and knee and last a breast MRI.  It was a piece of cake compared to the others.

pebee

I forgot - thank you everyone for the tips!

Chemo brain