Will you guys hold my hand?

[chrislmelb]

everything will be great. waiting is the worst. let us know.

[kk1]

Hi Jen;

I too am waiting for my mri results from yesterday. The waiting is the hardest part and yes this is always the scariest test. Try not to worry, in my last couple of MRI's they ended up calling my back to have the contrast, it totally put me over the edge with worry, and both times it was nothing. Just a blood vessel pulsing at the wrong second. This time they just went ahead and gave me the contrast before the radiologist looked so I would not have to come back twice.

Whenever I start to worry I just think of Christine and Steph and the fact that many on this site are doing very well in spite of having had brain mets. Thank goodness for their shinning example and support.

kk1

Hey Jen,

Hope you've had news--and good news--by now.

It's impossible not to overanalyze everything: I went through this recently with my partner Rachel when she had a Brain MRI (and a follow up CAT) that ended up being totally clear...

She too worried about each thing the tech said and I spent hours picking over the words in my mind...

It is probably worth remembering that most techs develop a standard patter that they use to try to keep everything as neutral as possible.

And it is also probably worth remembering that radiologists read film: it's what they do. So, when they want another image, another scan, it's because it's what they know how to do--to be as sure as possible. I have a friend who is a medical oncologist who says radiologists are impossible about saying anything conclusive until they've ordered every scan known to humankind.

Best,
Jeff

[michele u]

Jen, I'm a nurse, and i do EXACTLY the same thing every time i go for tests. I always try and look at the scans thinking i see something on them. Don't think the worst. I know its soooooo hard. Even IF there is something, its not the end of everything. Look at all our memebers. Keeping you in my prayers

Jen,

Don't overanalyze the technicians. It only matters what the doctors say. The technicians are probably asking routine questions. I have been getting all kinds of scans for six years now and still get anxious. Now, I understand that I know more about my case than they do. If they ask questions, it doesn't mean the tecnician "sees" something or would even know if he/she did.

After radiation treatment for brain mets, I have had to get MRIs of my brain to see how I was doing. It took a lot longer than my first brain MRI and I got worried. I said something to the technician who explained that they have to go look at specific spots where there used be lesions. It takes longer now because they do more shots. So, longer does not mean something is wrong. Everyone is trying to be very careful.

Isabelle, CT