Ramblings Only

I had to have an MRI to check for brain aneurysms which is more likely in PKD patients. Normal people have them too, one in ten. I was very hopeful that I did not have it. My appointment was at 7:45pm, a rather odd time, I didn't know radiology was open that late. 

First I was given a questionnaire to fill out.  If I had any metal parts in my body, if I have kidney issues, if I think I may be pregnant etc. I filled out and waited. The waiting area was pretty empty. A kid and his dad came for an x ray, the kid fell down and his shoulders were hurting. 

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is a technique where parts of your body can be seen clearly with magnetic field and radio waves. I double confirmed nothing metallic was on me since it might get pulled out my the magnetic field. I had read a blog by a friend who said she found the machine too claustrophobic. I don't have claustrophobia but I was curious to see how I would feel. 

A very good looking male nurse ( or is it a technician?) came out and called my name. Hmm this totally helped take edge off the anxiety a little. ( sorry DH, I know you are reading this ;--P) he walked me over to the changing room, some awkward moments later I was out in a hospital gown with only glasses and the keys to my locker. I even took out my contacts because well why risk them being pulled out ;--P I was asked to take off my glasses. And there I was totally blind and at the mercy of the technician.

I saw the machine. A large cylindrical tube with a flat bed that slid into it. I lay down on the bed. The technician put some warm blankets on me and gave me instructions. He was actually very nice and warm. 'You can close you eyes when I set you in.' 'I will be talking to you through this headset.' He put the headset on my ears. ' I will put some music for you so the noise of the machine won't be bothersome' 'A lot of people actually fall asleep in there so you can do that too.' He gave me a push button to hold on. ' Press the button of you don't feel good anytime during the process and I will get out in no time ok?' I feel like I was in great hands. So caring and comforting. ;--P 

Just before I was slid into the machine he put this cage like thing on my face. The. The fear actually set in! It was pretty much like the mask on Hannibal to prevent him from chewing his guards. 'Close your eyes now' he said as I opened eyes to see how it actually was. 

Once inside, I dared not open my eyes. I am supposed to be a strong woman, it is just a machine, nothing can do wrong. But I didn't have the guts to open my eyes. Strange patterns of noises surrounded me. 'Tick tick tick' ' cut cut cut' and so on. For all the technological advancements we have, this machine seemed way outdated. For all the technological advancements we have made humans should be immortal by now ;-P but then we will think we are Gods right. There is still lot of room for advancement in medical field, we have come a longb way too. 

So anyway once in a while my sweet technician would talk to me on the headset. ' you are doing great' ' we are halfway done' ' this is the last round' etc. the music inbetween was bad. It could not drown the irritating noises the machine made. I drifted into sleep. I felt rather bored not being able to do anything even for 40minutes. I decided to spend 10minutes a day doing absolutely nothing. 

And just as I was dreaming about gardens and flowers and beautiful sunset, don't know where that came from, something figurative? ;--P, I felt myself being pulled out. I made one last attempt to open my eyes and could not. When I slid in I could feel the machine on my hands it was that narrow, it was narrow on the top too may be just a few inches beyond my nose. 

' you did it!' The technician made me feel like I had accomplished a very difficult task. I should be rewarded! I love the nurturing hospital staff. I went back and dressed and walked back. I saw the technician again just as I was getting out and he helped me find the right exit. He was so nice, almost too nice, I wondered if I had a brain tumor or something big that made him feel sorry for me. When I get my kidney ultrasound done the lady was not nice to me initially and by the end of test she was super nice to me.

The results came the next day. No aneurysm. Phew! But some cyst in the head, as an incidental finding. :--S apparently benign and a little google research tells me sinus related. Doctor didn't seem to be bothered about. It won't kill me, only inconvenience me with headaches at times. I am cursed with minor inconveniences which are too petty for doctors to worry about but which really bother me on an everyday basis. 

I guess no aneurysms is a good reason for celebration!