Getting really anxious about my MRI scan tomorrow, I still have an open wound which I have to have packed and dressing changed every other day following an infection after my WLE and SNB at the beginning of May. Have been told I will need to lie on my front so am worried how painful this will be with my wound, as well as just being scared about having to have an mri anyway and also really worried about the results. Thankfully I had clear margins and no lymph nodes involved, but tumour was lobular, so am worried there may still be more nasties lurking around. I know that I will also have another week or so wait for the results of the MRI and to find out what further treatment I will need and it is driving me mad!!
I was hoping by now I would’ve finished my radiotherapy and this nightmare would be over, but it just seems to be never ending now. I seem to be on the long bumpy path to recovery so far so feeling very low.
sorry to be so negative, I am normally quite positive and despite all the setbacks I have had so far I have stayed really strong, but having a meltdown moment now!
Hi Loulabell
I have had MRI and although very noisy it was ok Yes you lie on your front but your boobs dangle through two holes (Lovely) so you wont be uncomfortable lying on them!!
Wear some warm pants and socks as it is quite cold in the room.
I was given headphones with music but to be honest asked them to turn it off halfway through as the machine noise just fought with the music and made it worse (for me!)
Make sure your head is comfy before they start as you have to stay still once they start I think I had tensed when machine started and felt couldnt relax until it was over so got crick in neck.
The people are/were really lovely and do everything to make you feel at ease
Take care
Jill xxx
Hi Loulabell
Sorry you’re having to go through this added worry. I too had an MRI and I agree with Jill about the socks and pants! If you phone ahead they may be able to give you a mild sedative to calm you however if your scan is this morning this maybe too late. I found Bach Rescue remedy helped calm my nerves. Once in the machine it is very noisy but if you close your eyes and make up songs or hum along in your head to the different beats it does pass quiet quickly. Worked for me 
They also give you a button to press if you need to them to stop for any reason.
I hope you get your results quickly. The ‘waiting room’ is the worse place to be, but as you say, you have clear margins and no lymph involvement so the MRI is an extra insurance which is a good thing.
Take care and deep breaths
Emma xx
Hi Loulabell
I too have had a recent MRI and am awaiting the results!!! I had WLE and SNB to left breast on 15/5. They got clear margins and no lymph node involvement but found it was a mixed invasive ductal and lobular tumour 3.3cm so had the MRI to make sure there are no more surprises. I was also found to have DCIS in the right breast 1.7cm and they didn’t get clear margins on that one so i need to have a further operation. I can understand them not wanting to operate before they get the MRI results in case it changes the treatment but the waiting is horrible. I have to wait another 10 days before I go back to the hospital to find out what the next steps are. Even if I have surgery 2 weeks later I need to wait a further 2 weeks before referral to the oncologist before finding out what further treatment I might need. It is driving me nuts as I am quite an organised type of person and like to have plans in place etc etc.
Good luck with your results
Sharon
Dear loulabell,
Sorry to hear your recovery is being drawn out by the infection. I’m sure it will heal well as you are clearly looking after it. I have had one MRI and another next week for radiotherapy planning. The MRI machine is not the most comfortable but there are two holes designed for the breasts to go into so hopefully you will not feel too much pressure on them. My forehead was the most uncomfortable!
I had a WLE and SNL removal 5 weeks ago and had been healing beautifully until yesterday when I noticed a raised red, weaping area at the edge of a scar so covering it in sudocream and tea tree in the hope it will heal and not delay radiotherapy. Can’t bring myself to go to GP as I’m sure they will start to think I’m hysterical! Does anybody have any other tips for helping post surgical infections??
Good luck Loulabell
Deborah
Thankyou everyone for the lovely positive comments! The MRI scan was fine, and no pain to the wound at all, actually found it quite amusing to get my boobs into the holes! The worst bit of it all was the bodged first attempt at getting the cannula into my arm because of my rubbish veins!! I agree about getting your head in a comfy position though Jill and Deborah, and I found I had a really dry mouth! I also agree Jill about the music! I had been warned about the noise and it does seem sort of pointless to have music playing that you cant actually hear! But despite all my worry and anxiety it was actually fine.
Sharon - sounds like we have had similar experience, I agree the waiting is the worst, and with 3 young children and the summer holidays looming I am desperate to know what the next step is so I can start planning and sorting things out! Sorry to hear they didn’t get clear margins, good luck with your surgery and I really hope that the next 10 days go quickly for you and you get your treatment plan sorted out soon.
Deborah - I wouldn’t worry about being paranoid, I am a regular at my doctors surgery now and because of my infection am totally paranoid about everything, if the skin around the wound is slightly red I am worried, every itch or shooting pain sends me into free fall!! The infection has definetly slowed things down for me, but one wound is officially healed (hooray!!), and the other one is healing well, so things are going in the right direction now, Good luck with your radiotherapy.
So now I am playing the waiting game yet again! But my gloom and doom has lifted and I am back to being positive. Love the support you get from other people on this forum, it is such a great help!
Thanks again and best wishes to you all,
Amanda
Dear Loulabell,
Glad it went well.
Goood luck with the results. This BC thing is a bit of a ride isn’t it!
Deborah
Just wanted to update to let everyone know that my bcn called today and MRI was all clear! So relieved and have been walking on air all day as I have been in a total state imagining the worst for the past 3 days. Will start hormone therapy soon and radiotherapy once my wound has completely healed (progressing well down by a third now to 2cm wide and 2cm deep). Thanks to you all for your support and good luck with your own journeys xxx
Wonderful news. x