I am terrified of my mask. I had it done friday and could not keep it on to go into ct scan. They were not happy with me and sent me home with prescription for xanax tocome back monday. I cannot breathe in it. I cannot make my mind listen to me. Please does anyone have any thoughts to help me. What will they do if I have this reaction again?

While I had no reaction to wearing the mask many other folks here have, so you are not abnormal at all. I'm sure they will be here to support you soon.

Hopefully the xanax will work for you.

Yes, TAKE THE ZANAX! It is normal to be a little freaked out by being immobilized as this is not a normal situation.

You will quickly get used to the mask and as you lose weight it will loosen up. I slept through many of my treatments.

I did take Zanax throughout treatment and it helped me a great deal to relax and go with it.

My husband took 0.5 mg of Ativan about 30 minutes before each radiation treatment and he said it made all the difference for him! Hope the Xanax works for you.
-Tricia

I personally never had a problem with the mask but I was told by the techs where I underwent treatment that it was not unusual. In fact, I was told that about half of the patients in treatment required medication for the mask and that the number was greater for men than women.

The greatest problem I had was during the last 5 or so treatments when I had more of a phlegm in the throat problem. I would hack and cough and spit totally before getting on the table. Then, by the time I got on the table and the tech clamped me down I would start feeling the phlegm building again and I feared I would not be able to breathe. The tech would then have to come back and unlatch the mask so I could sit up and hack, cough and spit again. This happened multiple times during the last couple of treatments but the techs were very patient and understanding. They told me many times to just raise my hand if I needed to get up before the actual zapping began each time.

Bill D.

You are certainly not alone. I struggled with the mask for seven weeks, but I got through it and you will, too. Anti-anxiety meds are very useful (I used Ativan), but here is another tip. Most of my stress was a feeling that I was not in control of the situation at all - but you CAN be. Ask the techs how to let them know you are in distress. The most common ways are to wave your arms or to kick your feet. You will be monitored on video the entire time you are undergoing treatment, so the team can quickly respond. I never needed to signal, but another patient I met did, and it worked fine for him when he needed it.

As for the staff not being happy with you, it is not your job to keep them happy. It is their job to see that your treatment is successful, and that includes helping you cope with fear.

I'l be sending you good vibes tomorrow.

My husband had HIGH anxiety with the mask. He took 1 mg of Ativan 30 minutes before each treatment which had a calming effect. They also played music for him during his treatment which helped take his mind off the mask. His anxiety lessened with the Ativan and he was able to make it through each and every treatment. The Xanax should help. We will be thinking about you.

Amy and Garron C.

Ditto on the 1 mg of Ativan, Jack would never have gotten into the mask if he didn't take it. Xanax is very similar but if it doesn't work, tell them you want the Ativan. Double up on the xanax if you need to for the first couple of treatments, also take one the night before so you can get a good night sleep and then take it about 30 minutes before your treatments.

Jack said to make sure there is music. If you can't bring in your own CD ask what they have so maybe you can pick something you like.

One thing that was very important for Jack was to tell the techs that he had this issue. You want to make sure that they continuously talk about to you about how you are doing and how much time you have to go. He needed to hear you're halfway thru because he had no concept of time and that provided a focus.

If you need to be zonked into lala land with anxiety meds don't worry about it, get thru the first few treatments and it starts to settle down. Then you can do the visualizing yourself in another place. I think what you are experiencing is perfectly normal.

Jack also said to tell you to ask them to cut out eye holes, nose and mouth openings. It really helped him with that sense of not being able to breathe.

Hang in there and good luck tomorrow. This too shall pass.

Regards JoAnne

I have heard that they may be able to cut small holes where your eyes are. Maybe that would help a bit. My husband was having some irritiation by the tip of his nose, so they made a small hold in that part of his mask.
He also took Valium.

Peace, your story brings back some vivid memories for me. I am a very brave person, very stoic and accepting of things that need to be done to me. When they put that mask on me for the first time, I was like a mass of jello I was so scared and apprehensive. Finally, something had come along that I couldn't handle and it was a tough one for me. I ended up using my mind to control it, I would count in my head, over and over, just kept counting and squeezing my hands. By the second week or so, I had settled down a little. By the last week, I could have fallen asleep with it on, I was so relaxed.

Take the medicine if you need to. Oh, and tell the staff to kiss your rear end...........their job is to keep YOU happy. Report them if they make you feel that way again.

Where in Virginia are you? I'm in Va. Beach.

Rob had a hole round his mouth and nose which i think helped a lot,and like Minnie he counted down his treatments.By the time he had had 14 treatments his mask was so loose he couldnt feel it.

For me the mask and the machine were a challenge in learning how to keep my mind off that which was really bothersome and at times fearful.

I had a few "freak out" moments with the mask (and its companion - the wax coated tongue depressor), especially on the first day when they were adjusting the machine - it took a long, long time. I had to talk myself back to calmness.

During my daily sessions, I would click my feet together and count (one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, ....) every second the machine was "on", and use my fingers to keep track of every 1 minute interval. The rad techs played music which also helped. If I was feeling bad on a given day I would tell them, and they would remind me that they were watching me during the session and would intercede if I indicated I was having a problem.

I could occassionally open my eyes a little, but there was nothing to watch but the machine moving around, and I didn't have much interest in that so I mostly kept them shut.

Best wishes,

Chris

I brought my own (custom made) CD (of thumping Andre Crouch and Michael W. Swith)and played it every day - must have driven the techs crazy. I knew exactly where I was at in treatment by what song and verse was playing. The first day I forgot and they stuck some new age stuff on there and it seemed to take an eternity to get through it (like "Time" by Enya. Go with uptempo is my advice. The techs went all out to make it as comfortable as they humanly could and like others have stated watched my very closely.

Peace4uall,

I hope today went better for you.. I think after you get about 2 or 3 times done it gets better.

Then you will start counting like the rest of us did. When you are all finished with treatment they will give you your mask, and then you really can take all your frustration out on it.. Just think about that.

Take care,
Diane

Thanks to you all,
I made it,took the xanax they told me to and my husband dropped me off at home and went back to work.. I woke up 4 hours later in the chair with my coat still on. HAHA I quess whatever works, now I am a druggie. I am so glad I made it through this first thing. many weeks to go, just one day at a time. I counted, by the way, which I read on here. I hope I will get through the first day with the real machine- just pray for me, and thank you for listening

Peace,

I'm happy you were able to make it through. You have the right attitude. One day at a time, and don't be ashamed about using drugs. This is a very difficult time for you and your family. I was relieved when my husband got medication to calm him down. I hope it will get easier for you as you get more treatments.
Not that I'm comparing MRI with what all of you are going through with the mask...but I am claustrophobic and really had a hard time with an MRI I needed. I ended up taking valium..when back to work..and woke up in a chair at quitting time with no recollection of how I got there. I walked across the street from the hospital to my office.
But I don't remember the MRI and that is the point after all. So do whatever it takes to get through it.
Vicki