Anyone experienced a breast MRI (with intravenous dye)?

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renbird
renbird Member Posts: 110

What was it like?

Thanks! -Renbird

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited July 2020

    long and boring.

    In my facility they have you lie face down and your breasts kind of dangle in a gap in the bed. Your shoulders and head are supported and there's a cutout for your face so you're not suffocating. They took a long time positioning me. Make sure you speak up if you want more pillows for your legs or arms or want a slight shift because small bit of discomfort will be a lot of discomfort when you have to lie still for 30+ minutes. MRI is loud and the noise is random which annoys my brain which tries to find a pattern. They give earplugs and music headphones but the noise is so loud you can still hear it.

  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited July 2020

    Yup and I have one tomorrow also.

    My first one and presumably tomorrow's were as moth described--face down with the gaps for your breasts. I'm an odd one, I find the sound of the magnets soothing so I always refuse music (but never ear plugs, I'm not stupid).

  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited July 2020

    Hi. I have had several. Face down (prone) boobs hanging down. The magnets or whatever they are holding your boobs are not painful at all. Agree please speak up if your chest bone -forehead-shoulders or legs are un comfortable. Let them re position you. Arms are by your side usually. I’m always afraid they will fall asleep but better there than over your head. I use the ear plugs , music, and yes it is noisey! I also follow the pattern of 3 different sounds. Then the contrast goes in, same pattern of noise and done. You will have a sqeezey thing in your hand to squeeze if you need anything they will stop and pull you out. I so far have not had to. I keep my eyes closed the entire time and try to go someplace else. Like remember when I first heard that song? Once you get used to the noise it isan opportune time to take a nap! Good luck to you!

  • Luckynumber47
    Luckynumber47 Member Posts: 397
    edited July 2020

    Aaaarrrggghh. The noise made me crazy!! It felt like I was in a nuclear reactor that was imploding. I’m usually pretty laid back but I really struggled with this. And wouldn’t you know it, they found something, so I had to do it all over again for a biopsy. This time they gave me an Xanax (you need a driver to go home) and 2 sets of ear plugs/headphones. Much better experience!

    So happy I did it since they found the dcis that the mammogram missed. Glad I got rid of everything at once

  • KBL
    KBL Member Posts: 2,521
    edited July 2020

    I had a different MRI a few weeks ago, and just to let you know, they piped in the music to the room because they weren’t giving headphones during the pandemic. I did have ear plugs, though. Just wanted to let you know just in case your facility does that.

  • mtspacekace
    mtspacekace Member Posts: 157
    edited July 2020

    Yes. On your knees boobs dangle through a hole..face on a thing, eyes closed, arms above head...not very comfy position to be in for the 30 minutes. When they ask if the music is loud enough...say no. The tech talked to me too, but I feel like my headphones weren’t loud enough to hear exactly what she was saying. It would have been a better experience if my music was louder and I could hear it during the scans...the banging and clicking is loud! Turn the music up and rip the knob off!!

  • renbird
    renbird Member Posts: 110
    edited July 2020

    Oh my gosh! Wow!

    Thank you all so much. This helps a lot. : )

    One last question: does the dye feel creepy when it goes in?

    Thank you! -Renbird

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited July 2020

    My advice: the most uncomfortable part is lying on the metal bar on your sternum. If it hurts when you try to get positioned, it will hurt a lot more in thirty minutes. Ask them to help with this.

    Some people experience a “wet pants or need to pee” sensation when the contrast is injected. Weird feeling, but harmless

  • Mangosan99
    Mangosan99 Member Posts: 60
    edited July 2020

    My tech was really good at letting me know what to expect. For my scan, she said she would let me know when she was going to inject the dye (done remotely) and said then it would be 9 more minutes until the scan was over. I tasted a slight metallic taste in my mouth which is also a known side effect. The dye and the machine made me a little warm though.

    She also warned me that I might feel dizzy right after entering the machine. Later she asked me if that happened and when I said it did she explained that is because the magnets are lining up the cells in your body. I thought that was interesting because I assumed the dizziness was just from the motion of being moved.

    Later in the day, I still had trouble regulating my own body temp; it took me longer to cool off from my dog walk. And, I was still clearly a little fuzzy or 'off' the next day but back to normal the second day after but I'm sensitive to most medications/treatments.


  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited July 2020

    I'm the world's biggest wimp with needles and drugs that get injected. I barely felt the dye, did experience the slight metallic taste in my mouth and had the initial "OMG I need to pee!" sensation (I didn't need to pee).

  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited July 2020

    id agree., long and boring. Trying to lay still face down just doesnt work well for me. When they injected dye I just felt the rushing sensation right straight through to the groin. Otherwise,,,uneventful.

  • LynnVB
    LynnVB Member Posts: 24
    edited July 2020

    I have a dx of ALH and have had 4 MRI's with the most recent a couple weeks ago. Some things I have found helpful.

    I take a couple Motrin the morning of my appointment.

    I have a light breakfast with no coffee-keeps the jitters/nerves at bay.

    Ask the technician for extra padding/washcloth for your sternum.

    I've had no issues with the dye, just a metal taste. But, I don't drink a lot of liquid just in case I have to pee.

    Head phones are helpful, but I prefer no music since you can't hear anyway with the machine. Seems annoying to me.

    The technician will talk to you and tell you how long the next scan is. At that point I tell myself I can do anything for how ever long she says ex-7 minutes or whatever.

    But, THE most important thing on my mind during the MRI is reminding myself that I cannot control the fact that it may find something but I am just so thankful for the technology.



  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited July 2020

    I fell asleep three or four times during my MRI yesterday. Those magnets are hypnotic to me.

  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited July 2020

    And it's a good thing I like MRIs OK because the images didn't line up and it needs to be redone on Friday. Yay? Hope my vein heals enough for another IV. On the positive side, I don't have to pay for this one so that's good.

  • Jettie
    Jettie Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2020

    EDJ3, I feel alseep in mine last week too even with all that noise, but its is kinda rythmic :D

    Renbird, depending on what type of MRI machine it is, i think the extra wide one I went in feet first, and the normal head first, I must admit i preferred the extra wide.

  • renbird
    renbird Member Posts: 110
    edited July 2020

    Thanks, LynnVB!

    Those all sound like great tips. Much appreciated! : ) -Renbird

  • renbird
    renbird Member Posts: 110
    edited July 2020

    Hi Jettie -

    Thanks for your post... huh, I guess I can look at it as a chance to catch a few winks... : ) I tend to be a bit anxious about these things. You have a far better attitude! : ) -Renbird

  • renbird
    renbird Member Posts: 110
    edited July 2020

    Hi edj3-

    Sorry you've had to got through all this stuff. An MRI re-do! Ugh!

    I think your diagnosis and mine are similar, except my tumor is 1.3 cm and only in the right breast. I am just starting the process of trying to decide between a uni-mastectomy and lumpectomy (with rad, like you had). I see you disliked the Tamoxifen. That's also in my future. Any other wisdom to offer? -Renbird

  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited July 2020

    I had concerns about long term side effects from tamoxifen (which was indicated for me because turns out I have osteoporosis). But I did give it a try.

    I'm an avid runner and within 10 days of starting tamoxifen, I experienced dangerously high heart rates within about 30 seconds of starting my runs (over 180 bpm). I've run all my life and so I know what my heart rate does on all sorts of runs, and those numbers were not at all normal for me, not to mention unsafe.

    Everyone is different though. As someone on the care team told me, others might also have that same side effect but not be runners so not have that be a showstopping side effect. I urge to you to carefully consider all your options and at least give your doctor's recommendation a try. You can always stop if you do have any issues.

    I'm good with my decision, and should a recurrence happen I will not beat myself up with shoulds and oughts. I did try it, it greatly interfered with things that make my life very enjoyable and I made the conscious decision to stop.

  • renbird
    renbird Member Posts: 110
    edited July 2020

    Hi edj3-

    Thanks for this follow up. I hear you... it'll be a tough decision to stop Tamoxifen if my system doesn't handle it well. I'm glad you've found comfort with your decision. Sounds like you take good care of yourself too. Thanks again. -Renbird

  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited August 2020

    I've had two and my twin sister has had several. Just as described. For my sister, she had painful positioning/sternum pain. For me, I had zero issues. THe machine broke down and had to be repaired while I was in it so I spent an extra 40 minutes tacked on to the procedure. Slept through all of it mostly.

    I will say that I worked at GE when they were first building MRI machines and I often volunteered to be a guinea pig for scans (no dye with those) and even then, I slept through it all (great way to get paid!).

    I had no reaction to the dye.
    Best to you.

  • Ladyc2020
    Ladyc2020 Member Posts: 197
    edited August 2020

    i must be a scardy cat for sure, cos I can’t imagine falling asleep! I had to focus very deep to remain calm. Ha mine today.

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