I had my MRI scan 2 days ago. I’d heard that the machine is really noisy so I asked the Health Care Assistant what I should expect, and he replied with “It’s like being in the worst drum and bass club in the country”, which really made me giggle. Aren’t HCA’s great when they can make you laugh, at your most nervous. 😀
I’d been really careful to avoid wearing any metal, even down to not having underwire in my bra! Naively thinking they’d let me go in the scanner wearing my own dress and leggings. But oh no, out came the scrubs. Thankfully it wasn’t one of them open back gowns. Hospital blue is not really my colour, but at least I got to keep some dignity!.
Between getting ready and actually having the scan, there is quite a long wait, but thankfully I got chatting to another patient, which helped to pass the time and settle my nerves. I’m super shy with people I don’t know, but I smiled at her and she started chatting to me. She has had scans before because she has a long term condition, which I was tempted to ask her more about, because I suspect that the same condition is one of the illnesses my doctor is trying to confirm or rule out with this MRI. Her journey had also started after a trip to the opticians. But, we were trying to keep the chat distracting, so we were discussing everything from work, places we’d lived and husbands. Probably the most effort I’ve made in a long while to chat to someone I don’t know, and it took place in the queue for a drum and bass club, I mean hospital waiting area!. Funny what nerves does to you 😀
The scan itself is weird, but it’s bearable. I kept my eyes shut for the whole 20 minutes because I realised early on that I felt a bit claustrophobic. So my advice to anyone, is keep your eyes shut and distract yourself with calming or happy thoughts as much as possible. Despite the ear plugs and pillows around my ears, the machine was very noisy. All kinds of random images were created in my mind from the noises. Focusing on the pictures in my head actually helped to distract me. I did wonder at one point, can the radiographers see spikes in my brain activity when I’m seeing all these random scenes in my head! Some were quite funny, and definitely random.
Now it’s the waiting game again… Worst case scenario is obviously if they find something sinister in there, (trying not to think of that though). 2nd worst case scenario is they find absolutely nothing, and can’t explain my symptoms, and the cranial nerve palsy and the nystagmus. The best result is that they find something none threatening to life, that can be easily corrected. Everything crossed. (Including my bl**dy eyes in primary gaze!).
Me, Myself and Eye 