I had a PET scan this afternoon. It was fine until they brought in my radiation mask to do a scan with the mask on. I was hyperventilating the entire time, and my back hurt so much from laying on that flat table for nearly a half an hour. When they released me from my trap, I ran to the bathroom and dry heaved and bawled. This is going to be the longest 7 weeks in the history of the world. Please tell me it gets better....

Kellijojo - I'm so sorry you had such a rough time! There are things you can do about this and you should really talk to the doctor about how you are feeling. He/she might recommend something that would help you be a little calmer. My son brought his own CD for them to play while he was tied down with the mask on. Form some, listening to music helps to be able to tell how much longer you have. Or maybe they would play an audio book while the Tx is going on. If you have something else to concentrate on it does help. I'm sure others here will have some good ideas for you. My son told me that it did get easier as time went on.

Panic or anxiety attacks are not mental they are a physical response to stress. I would say you have enough to qualify. Once I realized that I wasn't just being a wimp and that they could assist me medically it became less fearful. It didn't stop them but I knew when I was prone to having one I could take the prescribed med to prevent it. If I had one unexpected the meds worked in 20 minutes and I knew I could hang on. There is no reason to suffer in silence you don't get any awards for it so please get with you doctors and let them know what is going on. This is all hard enough without using whatever we can to get through it.

I agree with everything said above. Tell your doctor how you're feeling and let them help you. I'm in the middle of week four now and I have gotten pretty used to the mask at this point. It will get better but there is no need for you to suffer in the meantime. I was very stressed and scared for my first treatment. Once I saw that it didn't hurt and it didn't last very long, I felt better. The tech give me a little bell to hold so that if I have a problem I can ring it and they will come right away. I've never had to use it, but it calms me to know it's there.

I was also a little panic stricken the first few times. It felt very claustrophobic, and with the swallowing coughing and breathing issues.... yea... made me nervous. But it gets easier. Hang in there.

Kellijojo!!

You are in luck! Your state actually has a medical marijuana law! Yeehaw! Get your Dr to give you a script (demand one if they have issues with it), go buy a vaporizor and hit that ganj right before you have to go in for rads. You'll see your anxiety and fear turn into giggles and the need for Cheetos.

To share a quick story with you. Before cancer I never did drugs other then alcohol (and not that until after I was 21), ever. When I had my first appt with my ENT my mom had went with me and asked him if I could get MJ and I shot that down to my preconcieved notions on that drug.

When going to radiation the gentleman that went in right after me would be there waiting and he was a wreck. He wasn't dealing with the mask well at all (I had no issues with it) but he was so bad he would cry and his wife was there comforting him. It was sad as he was very distraught.

After the my third week I noticed he was there waiting with his wife, laughing and eating snacks and it perplexed me...so I started a conversation. He was from WA state (right across the river from where we were getting rads) and his Dr had given him a script for MJ. He said that he felt fine was in a great mood and was actually hungry. Myself, I wasn't fairing so well after my second round of chemo and really wished my state had medical MJ as I would've loved some Cheetos at that point.

Anyway just my 2cents worth...or dime bag lol

Good luck to you, keep your chin up

Eric

Kelli,

It's very normal to feel trapped as you put it. I'm sure we all had those heart throbs our first time, I know I did. But by the next time they clamped me down I had time to think about it and was prepared for it and even though it wasn't pleasant I got through it. Music helped as I kept it loud to very very loud. You can as others suggest take a relaxant but if you don't like taking pills perhaps give it another try first.

Hey here - sorry you had a rough time of it! but I think you were expecting that - hugs my friend - the advice given here is good the dr can prescribe something for you - take if - everyone is different - everyone handles this differently!! And just remember each and every treatment is working fir you against the cancer -! Take care!