MRI for the first time
Hi, I hope this is the right place to post, I am new here, not even sure where to begin so I guess I will begin at the beginning.
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She opted for a lumpectomy, then chemo and radiation. After treatment she was diagnosed good health. Four years later in 2006 the breast cancer returned but on the outside lining of her lungs and after testing the cancer it came back triple negative. After a long battle of chemo every week for 4 years she passed away 6 years ago this September. Truth is I am still having a very difficult time, she wasn't just my mother she was my best friend.
In January I found a very large painful lump that came out of nowhere. Doctors put me on antibiotics immediately and did a mammogram and sonogram which came back with the results of mastitis, but they can see something there on the sonogram but they don't think at this point it was anything more then the mastitis. During the 4 weeks of antibiotics up until the last week I spent most of it in a great deal of pain. Doctors decided to do a genetic test on me and I came back positive for the same gene (chek 2) that can cause this triple negative breast cancer, the risk is low, so surgery is not an option at this point but have put me in a high risk category with a mammogram to be done at 6 months and then an MRI done 6 months later, for the rest of my life.
Today I had my first MRI. I have to say it was humiliating and the worst experience..I don't know how I am going to do this every year. The place felt dirty. The technician was a grumpy man and even seemed mad that he couldn't find a vein. When he finally found one in my hand he chased it causing a lot of pain. Then they had me get on the table on my chest on this thing and the pain was bad, I kept saying it hurt but they didn't seem to care too much. Once inside the tube it took all I had to not freak out and between the excruciating pain in my chest and the claustrophobia I barely made it through it. I kept thinking of my mom and the one person that means more to me than anything, even then I ended up having to push the button I couldn't take it anymore, he came in and was just need 30 more seconds. I lasted those 30 seconds but I can't do that again. When he took the IV out of my hand the guy didn't even put gloves on. I spent most of the drive home in tears, my hand killing me and unable to get comfortable in the seat because of my chest. It has now been 5 hours since I got out of the torture chamber and my chest is still killing me and my hand is swollen and already bruising.
Is the pain from the MRI normal? Is there another way it can be done without me having to be on my chest? With all the technology we have today it is beyond me why they haven't come up with suit we can wear that can do the same thing...or even a chamber that we can just stand in that moves around our bodies...something has got to be better than this.
Thank you for reading this and letting me ramble
Comments
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skpamd,
I've had three MRIs since beginning my cancer journey, and I've never been in pain. Sounds like your techs didn't do much to make you feel comfortable or to get you into a position that was tolerable to you. I'm not sure if you have scanning options, but you could request a different scanning site. My hospital has two MRI machines at two separate locations.
You can also request sedatives to make your MRIs more bearable. Lots of people freak out in the MRI machines. My nephew gets an MRI every six months because of a benign brain tumor (they check to see whether it's grown), and he's usually sedated during the process.
Alas, yes, breast MRIs are done lying on your chest. CT and PET scans are more soothing. You can lie on your back, and there aren't any crazy sounds. Also, you're not encased in some chamber, so you feel less claustrophobic. Maybe, you could ask your doctor if you can get a CT or PET scan instead.
Best wishes!
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I'm so sorry you had a bad experience. Is it possible to go to another clinic? Is doesn't sound like the tech has any bedside manner or professionalism. Could you at least go on a day another tech is working?
I wasn't prepared for the claustrophobia the first time. Since then I have brought a driver and taken the Valium they offer. That does make it a lot better. I don't have pain in my chest but one year my shoulder was injured so the operator braced it with extra towels. When I'm in there I go to my happy place in my head, and I also sing songs in my head the whole time. It has gotten progressively better each time. So far I've had six.
I'll bet it is a bit easier next time. Hang in there. So sorry about your mom. That makes things even harder.
Gentle hug.
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"It has now been 5 hours since I got out of the torture chamber and my chest is still killing me and my hand is swollen and already bruising."
I just saw your post, and I'm so sorry your experience was bad. Let me add "ditto" to the previous responses. Find a different facility, it shouldn't be like that.
I realize that it was yesterday that you had your MRI...how is your hand? You can have serious problems from an IV that infiltrates or has other problems. If the pain/swelling hasn't gotten better, or it's worse (or getting worse!) go your your PCP immediately, or an urgent care clinic, or an ER.
HTH,
LisaAlissa
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