Hi All
I’m in need of a little help, has anyone ever had a Breast MRI? For those of you who know me, you will know that I suffer from claustrophobia and the last time I had an MRI (Pelvis) it had to be open. I am hoping to have a sedative but I wondered if anyone had had a Breast MRI performed. If so, did you go in head first or feet first? I am waiting on the appointment coming through but I am started to try and gear myself up for it. Can anyone help?
Take care all of you.
Claire xx
Claire, having had neck, low back and 2 breast MRIs (I know - I’m greedy!!)I found the breast ones the least claustraphobic.
You lie face down, with arms resting on pillows above your head. Your breasts sort of suspended in two holes (well odd!!), and your head turned to the best side for you. You move in feet first.
They put a drip in your arm so they can give you an injection of contrast medium (sort of colourless dye that shows up on the scan)This happens halfway through the scan time, you don’t notice anything much, maybe a slight cold feeling.
The staff really go out of their way to make you feel as comfy as possible, as you know it IS noisy!
Hope it goes OK, Claire, let me know if you have any more questions, I try and answer!
Lizzie XX
Hi LizzyM
Thanks for that, it makes me feel a little better knowing my feet go in first…strange I know but that way I feel I have more control. I will let you know, hopefully everything will be okay. They are doing this as an extra precaution as I have a very strong family history yet I have no gene.
Thanks again and I will let you know how I get on.
Take care
Claire xx
Hi Claire
I have had several breast mri’s as mammograms didn’t show up anything despite there being a palpable mass. I was also face down on the table with my breasts in cups under the table which they tighten up to stop you moving around. My arms were then strapped to my side and i went in head first, although i couldn’t see anything as i was face down all the time. I also had the contrast dye half way through. I am not claustrophobic but i did find the fact my arms were strapped to my side quite difficult. I have a friend who got sedation for her mri and found it much more manageable.
Best of luck, any more questions ask away.
Take care
F X
Hi Claire
I’m also claustrophobic and have to have an MRI on Monday. I feel panicked every time I think about it, especially having read the last post about having your arms strapped down?! I’m more worried than ever now!! I did go to the GP yesterday and he prescribed me some Diazapam to take before, which apparently makes you feel drowsy, but I’m worried it won’t be enough! Claustrophobia’s so stupid and irrational isn’t it: I mean, what the heck can happen?! I really wish I could get over it. When’s your MRI? Good luck and let me know how it goes.
Caro xx
Hi Fuzzyface
The thought of my arms being strapped is a little off putting, I think what I will do, when the appointment comes through (should be any day now) I will call the Radiology Department and speak to someone there and ask if they can talk me through what is going to happen. It is a worry that mammograms don’t show everything up which is why I am having the MRI just to make sure.
Caro111 - Have you spoken to the Department asking what they are going to do? It might be a good idea as I have had mixed replies as you can see, some strap down the arms and other don’t. Please call them and put your mind at rest, thats what I’ll be doing. Clautrophobia is awful, I never realised how bad I was until last year when I had to have an MRI on the hip/pelvis area, I couldn’t go in and was hysterical. I was lucky enough to have an open MRI the following month. I never used to be like this but it is since my treatment. I will definitely be visitng the GP asking for sedation, I need all the help I can get.
Let me know how it goes and thanks for your replies.
Take care
Claire xxx
Hi both
Yes, my arms were definately not strapped by my sides, but just resting on pillows - really hope it goes OK for you both,
Lizzie
Hi
I have just received a phone call from the radiology department and I will be going in head first…I am gutted, i think I woul dhave been better going in feet first. They are going to call me back with a time to go and visit the scanner (I know that sounds mad, its as if we are going to be friends). I really hope I can do this.
I will keep you updated.
Claire xx
I had a breast MRI last July, and I am th most claustrophobic person you could imagine, I even hate it if someone is stood in a doorway to a room blocking my escape route!
I went in head first but had my arms above me on a pillow, but because I was laying on my front I was able to see out of the end of the machine, having had an MRI of my brain in the past where I had to lay on my back, I can categorically state that being on your front is so much easier and less scary than being on your back, on your back you can only look up at the top of the machine which is quite close to your face, but on your front you can only see out of the end of the machine so it doesnt feel so bad, so whichever way you go in, feet or head first, your head will always be near an opening, they played some music through headphones and I kept reminding myself that it it would only take 4 or 5 songs until it was over, best of luck
Hi again Claire
I phoned my radiology department and it sounds similar to the scan Lizzie had - lying on my front with arms above my head, BUT I will be going in head first. It’s funny how that makes a difference isn’t it?! I also have had a brain scan before, which was awful, as I had to have this brace thing placed over my head and face; I felt a bit like Hannibal Lecter! I kept my eyes closed the whole time and listened to music and tried to pretend I was lying on a beach (yeah, right!). Fortunately, that scan only lasted about 15 minutes, which was lucky because I don’t think I could have stood it any longer! Yesterday I crawled under my desk on my tummy and tried to imagine being in the scanner, but it wasn’t quite the same, lol!! Anyway, I’ll let you know how it goes.
Caro xx
Got me wondering now! Sure I went in feet first!!!
One thing that I found much easier than my neck scan, was the keeping still. When I had my neck done, they said “try not to swallow” - yeah, right! YOU try not to swallow, mate, for about 20 minutes! With the way they sort of suspend your breasts (they kind of used the material of the gown I was wearing - hard to explain)in the holes in the table, they are kept as still as possible without you having to think about it too much.
On the claustrophobia front, it does feel as if just the chest area is “in the machine” - I really hope it goes OK for both of you. When are your appts?
Lizzie
Hi Caro-I had an MRI yesterday on my chest and neck and had to have the frame over my head with my chin supported so I couldn’t move.I’m not usually claustrophobic but that was awful!I had something pressing on my chest and felt suffocated-I was very close to pressing the buzzer but I persevered with it.Never again!
Alli x
Hi Claire
Well I have just literally got back from having my dreaded MRI and, weirdly enough, it just was not what I was expecting! I didn’t feel an ounce of claustrophobia at all!! What I wasn’t expecting was how uncomfortable I would be. I had my left arm above my head and my right arm down by my side with my head turned to the left (venflon in my right arm), which felt fairly comfortable at the beginning. However, about a quarter of the way through my left arm was going numb with pins and needles, and I wasn’t able to move it much so I just had to grin and bear it for the duration. Perhaps this took my mind off the claustrophobia aspect?! When they injected the dye half way through it felt very weird; like a warmth travelling around my whole body. Anyway, I’m so glad it’s over, and not nearly as bad as I was anticipating. Waiting for the results is going to be a million times harder!
Do you have an appointment for yours yet? Try not to worry, it really isn’t a big deal. Let me know how you get on. Good luck!
Caro x
Hi Caro
I am so pleased you managed to do it, well done you !!! I am at the department tomorrow to see it all set up and so they can talk me through what will happen. I will more than likely get the appointment date tomorrow so I can plan my visit to GP for some medication. I feel a a litte better after reading your post, I will keep you updated and let you know how it goes tomorrow.
congrats to you again, I hope the results are good, please let me know.
Take care and lots of love
Claire xxx
I also got some drugs from my GP (Diazapam, 2mg) but he couldn’t really advise how many I’d need to take. So, when I woke up in the morning I took 2 pills, after 45 mins no effect so I took another pill, STILL no effect! So, I thought bugger it, as I didn’t really like the prospect of being drugged up anyway. So I had my scan without the help of drugs, and I’m so glad I did as I feel I’m on my way to conquering another fear or two! If you think you can do it drug-free, try and give it a go; it really wasn’t claustrophobic at all. However, if you really do want drugs to help, just make sure you take enough!! I think realistically I should have taken double the dose I did take.
Good luck with it! Will keep you posted. xx
I’m not sure but I think they did my whole body(?). I seem to recall I went in feet first, but then they actually started scanning at the head end and finished at my feet.
It’s all a bit blurry now since it was a couple of years ago and I might be getting confused with the nuclear one.
Two things though:
mousy
Hi All
I have been to the department this morning and completely freaked out. Poor man who showed me the machine all set up, I couldn’t stop crying and he didn’t know what to do. the team were lovely though and I feel better seeing it but there not much room for movement at all. I am a rather big girl you see and that has its restrictions. I am hoping to receive some hypnotherapy in time and I will be asking for some help from my GP. I shall let you know how I get on. Caro - le tme know how things go for you with your results?
Take care all of you.
Love and best wishes
Claire x
Mousy-I think that’s a bone scan you’re talking about.It would be really expensive to get a whole body MRI scan.
Alli x
Oh Claire, I’m really sorry you feel freaked out. I know there’s not much room inside the scanner, but it really isn’t that bad once you’re in there (as long as you make sure you’re comfortable beforehand!). Believe me, I am the world’s biggest whimp and really suffer from claustrophobia, so it couldn’t have been that bad! Get some tablets from your GP that’ll zonk you out a bit.
As for my MRI results; I thought I’d have to wait until Friday to get them back. BUT, my husband got home yesterday and admitted he looked my results up at work (he’s a consultant neurosurgeon); very naughty of him, but pleased to report that MRI shows no further lumps lurking in either breast, and no signs of axillary lymphadenopathy! Very pleased to know I’ll only need a lumpectomy but won’t breath easy until I know there’s definitely no lymph node involvement. One more step forward…
Hang in there Claire; it’s only 30 minutes and then it’s all over!
Let me know how you get on.
Caro xx
Thanks Caro
When are you due to go in for your lumpectomy? I hope everything goes okay and so what if your hubby looked them up, I am sure I would have done the same if I had the authority to do so. I am really pleased the results were good.
you take care and I hope everything will go smoothly for you. It is coming up to my 3 years since diagnosis at the end of this month. At the time you never think of 6 months ahead, I just took one step at a time and jumped every obstacle put in front of me. This site is fantastic for support and I have met some really nice people on here. I like it as you can be as honest as you like.
You take care and I shall let you know how it goes. Did I mention I was going to try hypnotherapy?
Take care
Claire xx