25 Feb Fun with MRIs

I'd been told that having an MRI is really really noisy, like gunfire. I didn't really believe it, but it is so TRUE! Not that I have ever experienced gunfire, I haven't even played paint-ball

You are shown into a small changing room, told to get into a gown, and you're asked the 20 questions again, "Have you ever been shot, do you have any metal in you, have you got a pacemaker, do you get claustrophobic....." Then they shoot you up with a leur for the contrast dye. 

Then you're escorted down the corridor to the MRI room and you get into position. This involves stepping up onto a torpedo shaped machine, getting on your hands and knees and crawling along until you're aligned right, then lying down, face in a hole like a massage table, gown open with your boobs dangling down into an egg poacher shaped slot. The technicians then have to make sure you're in the optimal position for getting their views, "with no wrinkles, so excuse us while we manipulate you a bit" then they each poke a hand in, grab your boob and position it. I already had the giggles at the getting on my hands and knees on the torpedo so this only made it worse. 

Once you're in position, you get headphones put on you and they're tuned to a radio station to try and drown out the noise. The technicians also talk to you from time to time thru them to let you know how much longer it is. The 2 young women I had were excellent. 

You can't see anything but the machine below you, and have to stay still in one position with one hand clasping a squeeze ball alarm thing in case you panic and the other arm with the leur has to be kept straight, there's a pillow below your knees and they also drape a blanket round your legs because it can get cool. Then the torpedo is slid backwards and you feel sponges squeezing you as you're moved in, once it's all on - the gunfire starts. Actually the noise sounds like a cross between gunfire and lasers from Star Wars

The first lot lasts about 6 minutes, then one of the techs comes in and injects the magic stuff in your veins, then it's another 8 minutes. I'm not claustrophobic but I was really glad when they told me they were done and taking me out. It also takes a while to get the headphones and stuff off you so you can then get back on your hand and knees and get off the torpedo, and I was a bit wobbly after being in one position for so long. 

I wonder how many people they lose over the side?

The MRI torpedo - I know I can't draw!