Breast MRI

     A breast MRI is a lot more involved than I thought it would be. First step was to get the catheter into my vein so I could be injected with dye. I am a "tough stick". This means that they have a hard time getting blood from me. The catheter was even harder.

     One nurse asked me if I was clenching my muscles when they stuck me, subconsciously pushing the needle out. Wow. I am not doing anything. Nice way to blame me for them having a hard time. Another nurse tried. He stuck me several times and nothing happened. Finally they got "Scott" who was the head of the department. He got it done in one try.

     Time for the MRI. First they asked me to pee. Apparently this was going to take about 45 minutes. There was a table that had two openings in it. Two holes cut into the table with netting. It looked like two basketball hoops hanging from the table where my breasts would go and hang from the table. It was kind of awkward getting onto the table. And I don't have a lot to "hang".

     The MRI took as long as they said. The machine makes tons of weird noises, clicks and bangs. It was a bit uncomfortable holding my position for this long period of time. I thought my neck and shoulders were going to be really sore. But it turned out to be fine. Finally that was done. Now had to wait for the results.

     The MRI can pick up things that the mammogram cannot pick up. This can also cause a lot of false positives. It can pick up on things that are not really there and cause fear for no reason. Sure enough mine came back with an area that was a bit "different" than the surrounding  area. Was this something? Was it just the MRI picking up on things that were not really there? To find out I was scheduled for a MRI needle guided biopsy.

     A MRI needle guided biopsy is just what it sounds like. They insert a needle into the area of the breast that is suspicious while you are laying in the MRI machine. In this way they can get to the very specific area a bit easier.

     I needed the catheter again. Great. This time I got Scott. He had not been there for the previous MRI. He got it in one try. Very grateful for that.

     Back into the MRI machine. Another series of pictures. Another 45 minutes. Then came the biopsy. The doctor was great. She very effectively numbed the area. When she inserted the needle I felt some pressure but no pain. Another nurse stayed with me during the biopsy. She talked to me and rubbed my back while making sure that I was calm and didn't move during the procedure. Not that I could go anywhere anyhow. My breast was locked into position with a device similar to a mammogram.

     Finally that was done and I just had to wait for the results. Turns out it was normal tissue. Just a bit thicker. Ok. One more thing done.

     Would it have been better to skip the MRI and save myself the pain and anxiety? Maybe. But what if there had been something there? I wouldn't have known about until a year later. By then it could have been much more advanced.

     Ok, breasts done for a year. May have breast surgery down the road. But good for now.
On to my ovaries.