MRI-Never had one .... what to expect?

It's not bad, but cold. My cousin's 12 yr old son told me it was just like being in a spaceship. I wore 2 pajama bottoms and 2 pairs of socks. I also told the techs that I get cramps in my feet when cold. They piled warm blankets on me and I think I even dozed some. It does make some loud strange noises, but as long as you are expecting some of that, it doesn't startle you.

You will lay on your stomach then you are slowly backed into the machine, the whole process for me was about 45 minutes, I am a little claustrophobic but I could see out and so I was okay.  The machine is very noisy, lots of clack clack clacking and you have to hold still for different intervals of time.  I was offered something to calm me if I needed it (I ordered it beforehand) but then they told me if I took it I couldn't exercise for 24 hours and so I asked could I try it without and if I panicked could I have it later and they said yes but I didn't need it at all, a part of the way through they bring you out and add a contrast dye I had a bit of a tingle when they did that but it was nothing.  Wear pants with no zippers. You'll be okay it's just the fear of the unknown.  Best wishes for tuesday.

Ditto with the ativan, it calmed me and nobody said anything about not exercising.

It's a cold, hospital lab with a giagantic machine and a little bed for you. The tech usually asks a few questions, like do you have any metal in your body?. I heard they said not to wear your rings but .I did, cause mostly they never come off, it was not an issue. It's all very clinical, and just another day at work for the technicians, so tell them if you feel nervous, or cold they have heated blankets, or want a little pillow under any body part, like for your ankles. The hardest part is lying motionless for the duration, then its done.

I always want a copy of the report and I ask for a copy of the disk. Just in case. I don't recommend reading report yet though, especially on the DCIS side, it's language is an acquired taste. YES.... baby steps. wish I'd taken some smaller steps in the first few days, weeks after dx. Good for you. Consider the treatments that are offered, before you say OK.  read about others experiences with that tx (treatment) and ask about the side effects.

GOOD LUCK   let us know how it goes,

~Connie

The first MRI I was so nervous about having a panic attack that I;took two ativan sublingual. Not a good idea, I fell asleep in the machine and my head was bobbing around and they could get a good reading. So the next time I only took one; just enough to take the edge off. I also asked for a CD copy of it plus a written copy of the report. The CD is fun to watch; not that I understand 90 percent of what I'm seeing.

I had mine about a month ago, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Very noisy, kind of like a jackhammer right beside your head.  I tried to imagine myself lying on a beach, and was able to cope with the small space and the lying perfectly still for the 45 minutes that it took. The tech suggested I ask the doctor for atavan if I was claustrophobic, but I didn't and found that I was fine without it.  I don't like to take anything unless its absolutely necessary.  Anyway, my scan was done early in the morning, so I limited my liquid intake at breakfast.  Nothing worse than having to lie still and then feeling the urge to pee.  At the hospital, they put in an IV, so that they could administer the contrast solution partway through the MRI.  The tech was great, kept me informed throughout the procedure as to what would be happening next, and it was over before I knew it. 

Good luck.

My blog post about my breast MRI!  http://brittaboob.blogspot.com/2009/11/day-10-mri.html

dsj, glad your MRI wasn't too bad!

I blogged about the wire, too, which for me was probably the most traumatic procedure I've experienced yet, although I can't compare it to a stereotactic biopsy because I only had a core biopsy.  That said, the main reason the wire was so traumatic for me was because the procedure was performed by two male doctors I had never met and no one else (i.e. my mom) was allowed to be in the room with me, and I am extremely uncomfortable with men touching my breasts, due to related traumas in my childhood.  So my MAIN problem with it was the fact that the doctors were male strangers.  I do remember the procedure being physically painful as well, but I suspect it would have been much LESS painful (for me!!) if the doctor was female.  So if you do read my blog about my wire + lumpectomy experience, keep all that in mind.  The wire and dye injection is probably not as horrible as how I described it.