Hi folks:wave:

My friend had bc 5 years ago. She went for her mammogram, they sent her for ultrasound, because they could not see clearly from scar tissue. Now, she is scheduled for MRI of her breast.

She would like to know about the MRI. Do you go in feet first? Is your head in or out of the machine (claustrophobic issues)? I also read one post here that someone laid on her stomach and they had two holes for each breast.
She wanted an open MRI, but the docs told her that they do not "read" the breasts well enough.

Can someone PLEASE let me know the procedure and description of the machine, body/head position, etc..

Thanks a lot!
sobs

It is true about laying on the stomach with your breasts in the holes. You do go feet first and machine is semi-open. But since you are laying face down anyway, you really don't see what is around you. I was very tense in the beginning, because I was afraid of the dye reaction. But I think the main thing is to relax. It is not a very pleasant procedure, but it is not too bad either. Tell your freand not to worry about it.

Hi,

I just had a MRI done this morning on my left breast. I too was very worried about being claustrophobic but it's not that bad. I laid on my stomach with my breasts through these holes. My feet was in first so that means it's in the inside of the machine and my head was towards the outside so I'm facing into the room. I found tilting my head a little to the side with a pillow helped - otherwise, you're neck gets tired. You wear a gown and they gave me a pair of cotton elastic pants to wear too. Have to take off any jewelry, no cell phones, no metals.

The machine is huge - looks like a huge space capsule or the end of a dump truck! LOL! When they are doing the MRI, they tell you not to move and since it's the breast area, you basically can't move from your shoulders down. There is a lot of loud noise going on - hammering, jackhammering, knocking, banging sounds! The tech gave me earplugs but I could still hear it all and can hear her talking to me. She never told me I had to hold my breath - just not reminded me to not move around. She did have this IV thing in me where she later injected some kind of saline solution - said it allows them to read some of the scans with it and without it. The whole laying down lasted about 1/2 hour only.

I usually try to get the very first appointment so I'm not home waiting for my appt. to come plus being the first gets you in and out quicker.

Hope this helps,
molly

Hi folks:wave:

My friend had bc 5 years ago. She went for her mammogram, they sent her for ultrasound, because they could not see clearly from scar tissue. Now, she is scheduled for MRI of her breast.

She would like to know about the MRI. Do you go in feet first? Is your head in or out of the machine (claustrophobic issues)? I also read one post here that someone laid on her stomach and they had two holes for each breast.
She wanted an open MRI, but the docs told her that they do not "read" the breasts well enough.

Can someone PLEASE let me know the procedure and description of the machine, body/head position, etc..

Thanks a lot!
sobs

This is may be too late, but I just had my 2nd breast MRI a couple weeks ago and I went in head first on my stomach. They also tied my arms up on my sides since there really wasn't anywhere to put them - I am borderline claustrophobic and that about did me in the first time I had an MRI so this time valium was prescribed so I could take it before I went to the MRI and it made a world of difference. Have your friend ask for something to relax her if she is worried about the space.

Deb