Breast MRI

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kelliek41
kelliek41 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hello Ladies,

I am an MRI tech and my facility has just purchased a new MRI machine and we have a brand new breast coil.  I am looking for any tips and/or suggestions on how to make you all more comfortable!  We would like to make the experience as pleasant as possible and I was wondering if you could share your experiences with me so we could improve on some of complaints that we have been getting (discomfort between the breasts, discomfort laying on your tummies ect....) Any suggestions you would have about what made you more comfortable, things that YOU feel would make it better, ANYTHING!!    This is a very important issue for me and again, I would really appreciate any information that you could offer. Smile 
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  • cycle-path
    cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
    edited October 2011

    When I had my breast MRI, I could feel some sort of bar running down my breastbone (in the chin to navel direction). This bothered me a lot. I really needed something under my shoulders that would have allowed me to keep from touching the bar. 

    Having had a few other MRIs and similar "hold still for 2 decades" procedures, I'd say there are two things sorely needed: more padding for various body parts, and music on the headphones. At one place I went they had a collection of CDs you could listen to.

    The other thing that's good to do, not equipment related, is to tell the patients to hydrate the day before. Some of us have good strong veins and it's not a problem, but many of us don't and we need the reminder to hydrate! For me, the placement of the IV is the worst part of any procedure. About one out of 10 is accomplished with a single needle stick, and about 3 out of 10 require more than 2 sticks. With hydration it's much better, but it's rarely explained to me in advance that I'm going to have an IV, so I don't hydrate. I feel like a voodoo doll. 

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited October 2011

    I second the padding comment - especially under the abdomen and hip area.  I am on the slender side, and my hip bones were pressed against the hard plastic of the coil.  Also, do whatever you can to make sure there is adequate air circulation to the patient's face - it got stuffy after just a few minutes.  Thanks for asking!

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  • JanS
    JanS Member Posts: 20
    edited October 2011

    Good thing about my MRI experience:  There was a mirror placed in such a way that it gave the feeling of not being "closed in".  I was worried that I would get claustrophobic, so for my first MRI, I took a valium before hand.  But that little mirror made such a difference that I didn't bother with the valium for my second MRI.  I don't know if all MRIs are equipped with this type of mirror.

     Not so good thing about my MRI experience: It whirred and clicked and made a lot of noise.  That is very distracting when you're trying to stay still and calm.  The facility I went to did not have headphones or music.  They gave me some earplugs, but that didn't really do the trick for me.

    Good luck with your new MRI and thanks for asking about our concerns.

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