Breast MRI in the morning; plastic surg consult Thursday. Tips?

Jen2957

Hi, all! I find myself being drawn back to this community any time I need to regain a bit of sanity and to hear from people “in the trenches." How did anyone function when this kind of support wasn't available? I meant to get this post up earlier- certainly before the night before my breast MRI, but life tends to get in the way sometimes- my dad in Colorado had an emergency spinal surgery this week to attempt to repair damage from a severe impingement of his spinal cord; he is 76 and active, but was suddenly not able to use his hands or legs properly. Thankfully, he got home from the hospital and is recovering well, but the extra anxiety and scrambling to assist from Kentucky as I enter breast cancer-palooza has made me useless in just about every other area that required brain power!

I have been trying to find the tips about making the breast MRI more tolerable. I have seen them while reading other posts, but can't seem to track down the ones I recall seeing. I remember there were some suggestions on how to position yourself and maybe something about bringing your own type of padding for the breast bone. Do any of you have tips that helped you get through what I'm told is one of the most uncomfortable tests we get? I'm very familiar with MRI (history of stroke and of cervical spine disk herniation), but I've never done this kind and I've never been face down. I would love to hear any tips or tricks to avoid being miserable.

I am also seeing my plastic surgeon this week for the first time. After that consult, I will be able to schedule surgery. Currently, the plan is to do a unilateral nipple and skin sparing MX to remove my two multicentric masses with associated DCIS. I may need to do something on the other side to add symmetry at some point as well. The breast surgeon anticipated that I would get tissue expanders, but that will be the plastic surgeon's call. I felt pretty competent when meeting my MO and my SO, but I just don't feel nearly as prepared to meet with my plastic surgeon. I will continue to research and read the posts here, but any recommendations of things I need to be sure I ask or tell him would be welcomed as I prepare.

Thanks so much!

Veeder14

Hi Jen2957

I’ve had several breast MRIs. I don’t eat or drink anything several hours before because of the position they place you in puts pressure right on your upper stomach. I have spine issues also and the position is bad for that but ask that they get started right away once in position and get me ASAP at the end. I usually take a muscle relaxant too.I bring pieces of memory foam to line the frame thing that your ribs are up against for extra cushioning. Good luck tomorrow

Rah2464

Jen I remember the breast MRI being just a little bit uncomfortable, but not too bad for me.

As for the plastic surgery consult - this from my experience only. I had nipple sparing direct to implant, going up just a wee bit in size. My breast surgeon did a great job in getting rid of breast tissue as the resulting skin is very thin now. I had a lot of nerve hypersensitivity and pain post operatively which culminated in a revision surgery last November. My (completely un medically trained) theory is that amount of surgery was too much trauma for my particular nervous system to handle. I watched a sister undergo a double mastectomy a year and a half later with expanders then exchange surgery and she didn't experience the hypersensitivity. So the question I would ask the PS, what path reduces risk of PMPS (post mast pain syndrome) if either, and find out if they use a nerve calming protocol (Gabapentin) either pre or post surgery. I also bet there are a lot of women who go direct to implant who breeze through it.

My first surgery the Gabapentin wasn't used, I was also very anxious so that could have added to. Revision surgery where she removed the scar tissue, etc I was given Gabapentin pre and post operatively.

Wishing you all the best, and for the test today to be tolerable.

ctmbsikia

Not a huge fan of MRI. I had several. The techs usually always check that you are as comfortable as possible. I keep my arms down by my sides. Did it once with them over my head and the test is long enough that they fall asleep and had lots of pins and needles. I also get bruised at times from the IV contrast, but it doesn't hurt. I just try to do what they say and take my mind somewhere else. I wish I could actually hear the music through the head phones. The machine is loud, they will give you ear plugs. Best wishes for a quick comfortable test.

Jen2957

Thanks, all! Your suggestions and insight helped me prepare better and I made sure I adjusted myself to the most comfortable position before they ever started. I cannot say enough about the tech who performed mine; she was super efficient, but took extra time to be sure my body and the headphones were positioned well. The machine at the facility I am going to is newer and it only took 18 minutes and the contrast is auto-pushed through the IV, so no extra time waiting for them to do that. It was much easier than I expected; however, my ribs on one side are kind of bruised feeling this afternoon bc the cushioning slid down a bit and we didn’t realize it.

Now it’s that delightful waiting period between the test and “the phone call”. My surgeon said he would call me tomorrow with results, so at least this wait time shouldn’t be as bad as the biopsy wait time. I’m just so afraid they are going to say, “Gee. We underestimated by a LOT; that cancer is everywhere!”

Thanks so much as always!!!