Scanxiety

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carcharm
carcharm Member Posts: 486
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I am 1 1/2 years out from treatment and have been having bad pain in my only breast. It is in one specific spot. The surgeon did not feel a lump but I have to go for an MRI on my breast. Can anyone tell me about this? I've had MRI's but not of the breast. How long does it take? I know you lay on your stomach and drop your breasts thru a hole but is the machine? I guess I want to know if it will make me as clausterphobic as a regular MRI did? Does anyone else have pain in breast post chemopause? Thanks!

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2011

    Carcharm, for a breast MRI you're lying on your stomach. Usually your forehead rests on a headrest and you're looking down. I was worried about stuffiness since that could set off my asthma but they reassured me that there was plenty of air flow & there was. Some people have said that they have a system of mirrors so they can see into the room but I didn't have that so I don't know how it would work.

    I'm not claustrophobic so I don't know how it would affect you. I do know that when I had a pelvic MRI (lying on my back) I kept my eyes closed most of the time because I didn't like seeing the tube so close to my face. When I had the breast MRI sometimes my eyes were open & sometimes closed but there wasn't anything of interest to see....

    Best of luck.

    Leah

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2011

    my breast MRIs (yearly) generally take less than an hour (including the set-up and IV insertion). I don't find them claustrophobic since you are on your stomach and  not looking up at the tube around you. The mirror allows you to see out a bit at the floor as well. I just try to relax, do some deep breathing, and let my mind go elsewhere.

    Anne 

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  • 4EqltyMom
    4EqltyMom Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2011

    My wife has them yearly and finds them extremely claustrophobic. She takes a Klonopin before going and she does just fine. You might want to talk to your doc about your scanxiety and see if they can Rx something for you.

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  • machfowler
    machfowler Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2011

    My Dr. gave me something for the MRI.

     I am not claustrophobic but it was confining to me and I had a little trouble the first time. With the perscription I was much better for my second MRI. For mine there was air flowing over the back of my neck, which did give you a feeling of openess.

     I'd ask the doctor for a pill if I were you. The tech told me they give meds to help people relax all the time, it's no big deal to ask.

    Good luck

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  • tamtam
    tamtam Member Posts: 70
    edited August 2011

    I will be going for my MRI tomorrow and I asked for a little pill to relax me since I am claustrophobic and didn't think I would make it through this time without a little help. I find no shame is asking for one either LOL its better than having them stop half way through the exam with me freaking out. 

    Good luck and I hope you get the answers your looking for Smile

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  • amanda1116
    amanda1116 Member Posts: 127
    edited August 2011

    I'd defintely request Klonopin if I were you: it works very well in stress reduction in a high stress situaton and is pretty short acting.

    Be careful of some of the anti anxiety meds: Ativan is like the wonder drug but it is so addictive it's not funny and Valium can be so weird for some not all people. I took it only once right before I had all four wisdom teeth out.  First I kept seeing the dancing hippos from the Walt Disney movie FANTASIA and then I must have been looking very weirdly at the periodontist before he started and he said, laughing "Wow, Amanda, do you even know who I am?"  I said sure I do, you're Jim Cramer from "Mad Money" on CNBC -- do you still love Apple stock?  He was like "Um no that's not right."  I said "Okay -- are you Uncle Dave?" Uh, nope.   It was a real scene evidently.  He asked me to never ever ever take Valium again and would not let me leave after the teeth were out until I promised five times. Believe me I haven't. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2011

    carcharm- The hardest part of the breast MRI for me was them trying to get my breast into the right position.  Being small breasted it took a little manuvering to get me (them) where they wanted.  Kind of bizarre having 2 women trying to wrestle what little tissue I had.  The whole thing became quite comical after awhile.  Once they got me in the middle it wasn't too bad.  Good luck with your scan.  Hope it all turns out fine!

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited August 2011

    Thank you all and Klonopin it is!! I'll think about my NY vacation coming up!

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  • ScaredInSnoqualmie
    ScaredInSnoqualmie Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2011

    I just had my MRI done today.  I am not claustrophobic, so I wouldn't begin to understand how people with the phobia would feel, but for me, it was almost a humorous experience:  I had my headphones with Vivaldi playing (note for the future: do NOT choose Vivaldi:)), and when the "noises" started, and I couldn't hear any music, I started playing mental game with myself, trying to pretend the noises were actually the same word, repeated over and over; I picked  different words, depending on the type of noise, and oddly, this greatly distracted me and calmed me - the whole 20 minute procedure went by pretty quickly:)  I wish you the best of luck with this and other steps towards your recovery...

    Tatiana

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  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited August 2011

    Klonopin definitely helped me get through my MRI ordeal... plus, I developed a little mantra to say to myself for the duration:  "I will not cry in the MRI, I will not cry in the MRI".  I was very anxious, but  got through it relatively unscathed.

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited August 2011

    It wasn't so bad. They kept me informed... 4 minutes this scan, 5 for this etc... My face was flushed when done and know of course i wait for the results...i did really well.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2011

    carcharm- Glad it all went well.  Wishing you good luck on your MRI results.  Hope it turns out to be completely benign and you can move forward!  

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