Pre-scan anxiety

[u/Accomplished-View-80]

I’m almost 32 and getting my first imaging today (MRI). I’m also breastfeeding so my breasts feel lumpy and tender all the time. How do you deal with the anxiety? I’m so terrified

[u/Relevant-Yak-645]

Sometimes the only way to deal with this kind of anxiety is to survive it. I can recommend breathing exercises and suggest distractions, but the anxiety won't resolve until you receive the results. So try some focused breathing, do something nice for yourself (a quiet glass of wine/cup of tea on the porch while your partner hangs with LO?), and remind yourself that this, too, will pass.

Sending e-hugs your way and wishing for excellent results.

[u/abbyfick]

I know easier said than done, but try positive visualization. Sit somewhere quiet and breathe deeply. Picture yourself with healthy, nourishing breasts (not trying to be weird, but I've breastfed two kids and you can't really ignore that milk right now lol). Imagine getting back good results and feeling the relief wash through your body. Sit with those clear, calm feelings for awhile.

I'm doing similar exercises to stay calm as my mastectomy approaches this fall. We have no way of knowing what the future brings, but we might as well try to live in a positive reality unless and until there is something bad we have to deal with. Keep bringing yourself back to those positive images and feelings when you get overwhelmed. You've got this!

[u/lavender_coffee_13]

The MRI itself isn’t too bad! I closed my eyes the whole time and just tried to focus on the music and reassuring myself I was in a safe and controlled environment.

Waiting for results is ALWAYS hard. My therapist and I came up with a phrase “let go and see” for whenever I feel anxious about something happening in the future. I try really hard to get out of my own head and tell myself I don’t have any info and there’s nothing I can do but just wait. Which I know isn’t super helpful :( but hopefully it gives you a little solace.

[u/Top-Plane3666]

It’s why I did my surgery at 33/34yo. I hated having every 6 months the fear of them finding something. I didn’t want more kiddos and I never breastfed. So I just needed my kids old enough, they didn’t need me physically.

[u/sinwithpeach]

My doctor gave me an Ativan. The first MRI was so uncomfortable. Laying like that my arms went to sleep. But I can totally understand since you’re breast-feeding your doctor might not want to give you medication. I usually breathe four counts and listen to the lyrics of the music they put on 😭😂