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@auntieoakley @cmdw2600 @mir123 I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your words and suggestions. I feel better just reading your responses. I found this group yesterday, and spent about an hour before bed going through many of the posts, and for the first time since the diagnosis, I slept almost through the night. Not perfectly, but much better. I already have a journal writing habit—I’m going to write all of your suggestions down. I know there are going to be a lot of ups and downs, but at least now I know that it’s even possible to have some “ups.” Thank you thank you.
Now just keep some positive thoughts for me tomorrow morning when I have to have an MRI. I’m so claustrophobic so right now I can’t imagine there’s enough Xanax in the world to get me through it! I’m actually more afraid of that than surgery. Funny how fears work, huh.
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@janetnd I also keep my eyes closed once getting positioned. Have a plan. When I was told the MRI would take 20 minutes, and they gave me headphones with music, i thought I could relax and listen to 7 songs. Just 7 songs.
I counted the first 3 but realized I was fine and didn’t need to count how many more songs were played.
One MRI I had they didn’t play music. So I sang songs to myself, and also counted backwards from 100 by 3s (a challenge I had to concentrate on).
You could also tell yourself the storyline of your favorite movie or book.
Realize that you’ll probably get distracted and start wondering if the MRI is going okay, and when is it going to be over. That happens. It’s when it happens, reassure yourself it will be over soon, and what was that thing you were going to challenge yourself to think about . . .
I’m pretty sure you’ve done harder things. You can do this!
I’m claustrophobic too. The first time I had to take Benadryl to stay calm. But then I found facing down position with my eyes closed very helpful. I didn’t need any medication for the next 2 times.
Same here so I opted to skip it. I did the rest—CT, bone scan, petscan (took 1/2 Xanax and practiced with board over my face for weeks). I do know at some point as a regular check I may have to do it but I have found places that do the rapid MRI, which is half the time. Honestly I will fly to another state to do the sitting MRI if available for breasts..otherwise I’m going to ask for the new mammogram where they use contrast for dense breast + ultrasound. I did mri one time and never doing it again if I can avoid it. Petscan is golden so opted to bypass MRI for this go around.
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You probably already know this, but if your MRI is like mine (2019) you will be face down with your breasts in two holes. For me, it was way easier in that position with m eyes closed than if I had been face up. My techs were kind and compassionate and I’ll bet yours will be too!
Keep us posted!
Cindy