THE MRI EXPERIENCE

Magnetic resonance imaging is a medical imaging technique used to visualise the structure and function of the body (paraphrased from Wiki! Let it do the work, so You don’t have to!)

Due to me having a k-nackered back, and the physio and Orthopaedic specialist not being 100% sure of what’s actually wrong with it, I got to have my first ever MRI last week. I wasn’t looking forwards to it.

I’ve seen MRIs done on TV before, most noticeably on HOUSE MD., my favourite medical drama. They’re basically a big magnetic tube that they slide you into on a table, make you hold still for fifteen minutes or so, and then tell you all sorts of wonderful things about your internal makeup.

However, you know what they say about TV? That everything looks a little bigger?

The MRI machine was not big. After I kitted up in my incredibly flattering surgical gown, I walked into the room and did some basic maths. I’m quite wide-shouldered, and obviously pretty tall. The MRI machine didn’t look like I would fit in fully either way. I was right. I had to be shunted up halfway through the procedure, and I spent the entire 15 or so minutes I was in there with my shoulders compressed slightly together ‘cos I wouldn’t have fit in otherwise! Yay for modern medicine.

Now I don’t know how many people know this, but as well as being afraid of heights, spiders, and having vertigo and hayfever, I’m also claustrophobic. Not VERY claustrophobic, but enough. Only in REALLY cramped spaces, when I imagine most people would get a little edgy. I have real issues with sleeping bags (I know I know, laugh all you like ><) and have to leave the zips undone so I can stretch. I got very little sleep the night before the MRI, because it’s a big enclosed tube, like a big plastic and metal sleeping bag. But, I told myself, it can’t be TOO bad. They look big enough on TV.

But as I’ve already mentioned, they’re smaller in real life. The top of the tube was about four inches from my nose. I felt like I was in a coffin, and if it wasn’t for the cool breeze drifting over me, I’ve had probably had some kind of panic attack and completely freaked out. In fact, I almost did  It was utterly terrifying. I hated every moment of being in there, but I made sure I barely moved, because I knew that if I did I’d have to go through the whole process again.

As well as being afraid, I was also in a lot of pain. Some days my back is almost okay. Other days its hideously painful. The MRI day it was fine, until they got me laid on the table. They propped my legs up on a cushion about 4 inches thick, and this — unhelpfully — left almost all of the weight on exactly the spot on my back that hurts. I was in UTTER agony for the first ten minutes, until my body started freaking out from everything and went almost completely numb.

Now, when my back spasms in pain, I twitch. Twitching isn’t good for MRIs. So I had to fight that, as well as my claustrophobia.

Add all this up and I think you have a pretty good impression of my MRI experience. I hope, I PRAY, that *something* shows up after this, because I would gladly never go through that whole thing again!!!!

Even if I DID look pretty good in the surgical gown...:P