Happy New Year...You're Getting an MRI!!

Dec 31, 2009. I have my MRI. My insurance company has sent my a letter notifying me the procedure has been approved, but I still had to be covered at the time of the procedure and the necessity would determine the billing. So, I am even more nervous. I am nervous about the procedure, as a child I had to spend ten days in a hospital and have had a fair amount of procedures done to warrant a dislike of hospitals and complicated diagnostic tests. I also don't enjoy enclosed spaces. And now, I am nervous about the financial implications.

I check in and am nervous about the bright pink financial aid information sheet in my form. I am nervous when I check off the box saying I've been a welder/metal worker, but thankfully it was wood that had to come out of my eye.

The office assistant shows me into the men's changing room, at first he does not realize the mistake and thankfully there is no one undressed. But I get to the women's locker room. I have to change into a gown and special socks, make sure I am not wearing any metal and remember to take my locker key with me. My locker? I didn't even think about that storing my belongings part. I had to sit in a chair and wait for my MRI guy. While I was waiting a woman came back from her MRI...she seemed near the end of a nervous breakdown or in a lot pain....probably both. I didn't know what to do, but smiled at her attempt to make a joke, and tried to not be too intrusive.

Oops, forgot to remove the naval ring. He came with a wheelchair. I was not wearing my glasses and could not see, but he seemed very concerned about my comfort and well-being.

He put me on the table and put my feet and legs the way he needed them for the picture and strapped my legs in position. This MRI was going to be at least 40 minutes, my legs were going to get tired. He put a blanket on my upper torso, explained that only my legs were going to be in the big coffin-like structure and asked me if I would like to listen to music with the (mostly) noise cancelling head-phones, gave me some choices... I chose the Beatles....it was their early hits.

It was really difficult to not move. The position became very uncomfortable, there were loud noises and I felt trapped. As awesome as the Beatles are...even they couldn't keep my mind off the muscular and emotional discomfort. Eventually it was over, I asked him how they looked, and he said the quality was very good but I wouldn't hear the results until next week. he wheeled me back into the room and I saw a posting of who to call to get copies. I took the number down.

I bought some champagne on the way home, and rung in the New Year quietly while my cat slept.