MRI

What a day!  I decided this year to skip scheduling the MRI on my birthday due to that being the stupidest idea I ever came up with.  So this year I decided to schedule my MRI on Saturday and that was stupid too!  All I wanted was someone to go with me.  I just hate getting poked with a needle and being by myself.  The stress of the unknown (what might they find) in the scan just drives up my nerves.  So I thought this year, I'll bring Ken and Cody with me for comfort.  Did it work?  Yes and no. 

We got there at 9am.  My appointment was a 9:15.  Since Cody was with Ken in the waiting room, neither could go back with me which I was somewhat fine with since at least they were there.  The nurse was polite and knew I was nervous so we chatted a bit before she put the IV in.  I really hate IV's.  Anyway, she took me back to the SUPER cold room where the MRI would be done.  I immediately asked for blankets cause there was no way I could hold still while freezing to death.  As I was getting on to the machine (laying face down) I told the nurses that I do get dizzy afterward so I might need help when the procedure was over.

She gave me instructions, a plastic cap to pull back my hair and I laid down on the table with my arms above my head.  With all the pads, it's comfy but does get old real quick.  She then gave me the panic ball to squeeze in case I needed her.  I closed my eyes as she pushed me into the machine and all the sudden the room was spinning.  I said out loud that I'm dizzy.  She acknowledged but there was nothing she could do.  The tests began.

It seemed like forever.  I tried to focus on so many things like summer vacation or playing with Cody later today.  But then thoughts of Virginia popped in my head.  I thought about how she had to go through these types of tests and how her results were devastating.  Then of course I wondered what my results would be.  I didn't cry thank goodness but the worry was there.  How can I get my mind to go elsewhere.  How can I get it off this dark path?  I tried to think about so many other things.  But the time was dragging on and the test seemed to last forever.  She pulled me out of the machine just long enough to put the contrast in.  I hate that so much but I didn't feel a thing.  Maybe a little weird taste in my mouth but nothing like the contrast in the CT scan. 

Back in the machine I went.  UGhhh  dizzy.  Soon thereafter I realized that my arms were falling asleep and that panic ball that I was holding...I couldn't even feel at anymore.  My hands were numb and my fingers were stiff.  How does this happen?  How long have I been here.  The machine stopped and I said how much longer?  The nurse said last one - 2 min.  And seriously that was the longest 2 minutes ever.  I even started counting myself and I went past 2 min to 3 min.  Is this test really only 30 minutes?

IT'S OVER!

She slowly pulled me out but the feeling was overwhelming.  I was immediately dizzy and needed a few minutes to get the room to stop spinning.  I asked the nurse why this happens and she said that there is a magnetic field that I am going through and that some people react to it.  Hummm....I thought it was from you pushing me in to the machine.  So I eventually got up, got changed and went to the bathroom but the room was still spinning a bit which didn't happen last year.  If I remember correctly, I actually drove myself to the MRI which there was no way I could do that this year.  I met up with Ken and Cody in the waiting room and I had to sit for a bit.  I can't believe how jacked up I am.  When we went to the car, I felt nauseous.  This was definitely not normal.

Thanks goodness Ken had a water bottle in the car.  I drank some water to try to get hydrated.  As he drove, I felt like he was doing donuts in the parking lot.  I thought I was going to puke.  My body was so off.  What was going on?  Stress, dehydration, too long in the machine?  Ken was surprised from my reaction but he did mention that I was back there really long.  I left Ken and Cody at 9:15 and didn't come out till 10:15.  I know I was back there for the IV, and getting undressed and of course getting set up on the machine perfectly so I know all this takes time but could I have been in the machine longer than 30 minutes?

The drive home felt like an eternity.  All I wanted to do was get Emetrol and lay down.  I need to just lay down.  We finally got home and I did take a nap.  When I got up, I still felt off.  I wonder now did I have a reaction to the contrast?  I hope I feel better soon.  This is not good!