MRI

Summer1987

Hello all,

I am scheduled to have an MRI with contrast in a week and after reading just a little bit about it I’m concerned for several reasons one I am a little claustrophobic and two I have spinal stenosis and I also have osteoporosis in my spine so when I lay on my tummy for any period of time it feels as though my back could literally break so I do have a concern about laying on my tummy. if someone could explain to me a little bit more about the MRI process what it’s like what I should expect how long it takes and if they had about the contrast I would appreciate it. I would also like to know if you can have your arms above your head or do they have to be at your waist.

Moderators

Hi Summer and welcome to Breastcancer.org,

We're sorry for the worry that brings you here, but we're so glad you've decided to join and reach out. You're sure to get some helpful responses here soon, but in the meantime, you may find it helpful to read this page from the main Breastcancer.org site on How Breast MRI Is Performed. You'll see it's note that "If you're claustrophobic, being confined within an MRI machine for a long period of time can be difficult. Some facilities have an open MRI machine to avoid this problem, or you may be given a mild sedative."

We hope this helps and that you get some support soon!

--The Mods

Spookiesmom

I also have a funky spine, and couldn’t lay face down for that one. I’ve heard there is an opening for your face, so it’s more or less in the open. I’ve had numerous mri flat on my back, they make you as comfortable as they can. I close my eyes and keep them closed.

They are LOUD. Lots of clanging and banging. Sounds like it’s gonna crash on you. It won’t.

Contrast, have had for pet/ct, assume it’s the same. Sometimes it’s IV, otherwise it’s a drink. You could ask your imaging center. There may be food restrictions too. Ask abut arm placement too.

MelissaDallas

Contrast material for a breast MRI is IV. They run the first half of the MRI without contrast, then the pump or whatever device you are hooked to releases the contrast material into the IV already started for the second half of the test.

edj3

Hi--I had two last week. At my hospital, you lie on your tummy and as Spookie says, there's an opening for your face. It's not a flat table, it's curved just a bit so fairly comfortable with two openings for your breasts. You'll have an IV inserted before you ever get in there, and they'll give you ear plugs to protect your hearing. Usually they'll offer music through the ear plugs but I personally like the sound of the magnets, I find it soothing.

I did have my arms above my head and the techs took care to make sure I was well covered (for warmth, it's cold in there) and supported. The first pass is without the contrast dye and they'll tell you what they're doing through the ear plugs (this scan takes XX minutes and so on), and they'll tell you when they're injecting the contrast into your IV.

You may or may not taste something metallic in your mouth or feel a warm flush up your arm or feel like you have to pee. All of those go away pretty quickly. For the first MRI last week, I had none of those and the second one, I had the warm flush up my arm. In previous MRIs, I've had that feeling that I had to pee (I didn't).

Hope that helps.

Anonymous

Im assuming you mean a breast MRI?

For that one, yeah its tough with stenosis, I'm not gonna lie. I have some at L5/S1 and when I went through staging I was also having (up to then) other issues in the lower back which turned out to be mets. Had I not been going to a chiropractor at the time there is no way I would have made it through staging. I also almost never lay on my stomach because I find it very uncomfortable.

However, the process was - first I was encannulated (someone inserted a little thing into my arm vein, so they could inject the dye during the process). Then I was called into the machine room, where a lady nurse helped me take off the hospital gown to the waist. The MRI is set quite high up, so I had a little step stool to help get on the bed. Then you lay face down, breasts into two little hole bits, and your breastbone is resting on this bit of plastic. Its sort of like an uncomfortable massage table. Arms go over the head like superman. I had big earmuff headphones for ear protection. The machine then clanks about for a while, they inject the dye, it clanks some more and then you are done. Its not the longest MRI but its a good 15 mins at least I seem to recall.

Getting up off the machine was tough, but take your time, the nurse was very patient and helpful with me. There are all sorts of bolsters and pillows and things they can use to help make it more comfortable. I indicated I had low back problems, and I seem to recall something was stuffed under my pelvis/stomach to straighten out the spine a bit and relieve pressure.

MinusTwo

Summer - This is one of only two times I ever take one Xanax. I can't lie still long enough - even though I'm not claustrophobic. The other time is for the PET/CT where you have to lie w/o moving for 45 minutes. Ask your doc to call in a prescription for just a couple of pills.

AliceBastable

I made it through the breast MRI but it was the worst part of the whole process, including surgery and radiation. I have a painful crumbly back and rotten knees, so I have similar physical problems. If I ever need another one, I will ask my doctor for a one-time prescription for the strongest tranquilizer I can get, and arrange for transportation. It didn't actually hurt my back to lay there, but assuming the position was extremely difficult, as was getting up afterwards. I've had other MRIs, CTs, and PET scans and I'm okay with the ones on my back. The technicians always prop up my knees, which helps them AND me.