MRI day!
Oh my goodness. MRI day. Today I went for my cervical and thoracic MRI, so a longer appointment. I am still undiagnosed and waiting for answers, so of course I check my patient portal every 15 minutes knowing that it'll probably be at least Thursday before anything is updated.
I avoided the migraine 😁 took ibuprofen when I got home and rotated through my gel eye masks for about an hour. I took the whole day off and I'm glad I did.
The MRI appointment ended up being at my closest hospital, and they haven't upgraded their imaging in forever. So a closed MRI machine, no pretty pictures projected, a very close machine, and no soundtrack. Trying to keep still was so hard, the sounds from the MRI kept tripping my nerves in my feet and they spasmed and twitched the whole time. But I was able to keep my torso and neck still, so I think that the images will be good.
I hate that we can't wear our clothes for the MRI. I get it, I know why, but it just feels so vulnerable. Especially as a lady. So I picked up some pasties to use on my imaging days to help not feel so vulnerable and exposed. I spoke with the tech before we walked in the room about my tremors. I struggled with the scrub pants that were WAY too large, but I kept them up. And I let myself rest when I got home. It was exhausting trying to hold my muscles still.
Do any of you have MRI hacks to make your day easier? I chugged a body armor an hour before leaving for extra hydration (and with enough time to use the restroom and empty the bladder...took three rounds), took the ibuprofen as soon as I got home and started the gel packs. Anything else to help?
Since we didn't have music, I closed my eyes and tried to remember all of my spoken word poems that I used to perform.
Much love 💜💜
that's wonderful news that your MRI is over and now, as you said, you just wait for the results. I hope that they provide the answers that you're seeking. You raise some great questions here. First on the clothing, yes, I definitely agree that the scrubs are far less comfortable than our normal clothing. I often wear yoga-type clothes like leggings and a tank top or t-shirt so I always wanted to just stay in them because there was no zipper, snaps or belt loops. I was surprised to learn during my last MRI though that lululemon apparently has some level of metal in their clothes so you can't wear it during an MRI. I was shocked for many reasons but grateful that the tech mentioned it to me. So after hearing that I decided to just play by the rules and wear the scrubs. I think the most important thing is that if you do leave anything on that you tell them just incase there is something that they know and we don't.
As for staying calm, I've been in an MRI like you've described before and you're right, it's not fun. There aren't any of the calming frills. I love the approach that you took though of reciting the spoken word poems. I love spoken word, it's beautiful and so powerful!
I also try to drink a lot after a test, I don't have the same level of braveness as you to drink beforehand! 😀 Thanks for opening such a great discussion and good luck with your results. Keep us posted if you feel comfortable doing so.
Best
Alene (team member)so update, no results yet. BUT today has been so hard! Physically and symptom wise. I'm not sure the root cause, but it's so prevalent. I can't even lift my feet when walking, it's more of a skiing motion while relying on anything close by to grab onto. This happened after my last MRI as well.
Could this be a reaction to the contrast? A reaction to the anxiety? Completely unrelated? Uptick from the additional stress of a day off work that I now have to make up?
I have no idea idea. The spasticity is intense. The joint pain is intense. The vertigo is controlling my movement. The tingles, numbness and spasms are increased.
So I'm just attempting to relax tonight, reciting poetry in my mind for the background and watching trash TV for the foreground. Not trash, just... not current 🤣
Much love 💜 💜
