Who knew three-letter words could have such powerful meanings?
When I scheduled MRI I was asked if I wanted to be sedated. Silly me thought that meant I was going under or they would “knock me out” and I would wake up not knowing anything that went on. Nope, this meant mild sedation with a Xanax pill. Ummm yes please! Hopefully this blog will help someone on the morning of their first MRI because boy did I do it all wrong 🤣.
I had to have a driver because I was taking Xanax. My driver was my daughter Lexi and first stop that morning was to pick up my happy pill. I pictured 50 years from now Lexi driving me around but instead of her little brother in the backseat, it will be one her mini sassy pants, who will be goofing off as I am laughing to myself and thinking, having fun Lex? At least they didn’t get a store on lockdown during Christmas time because at four you decided to try on big girl clothes. I wouldn’t trade her for the world now, but God knew one girl named Lexi was enough for me to handle in her younger years.
As we are signing in for my appointments, I figured I would take the Xanax before the EMG and I will be ready for the MRI. Oh no not in my world. Standing at the counter, the receptionist informs me MRI is first….ummm huh? I literally take Xanax as she is talking with no water. So much for taking the Xanax ONE hour before appointment. I took it ONE minute before . My life is never boring that’s for sure.
Tip-Take XANAX ONE HOUR before Appointment.
As my name is called, Lexi says to me, can we hurry this up? Yes, Lexi, I have complete control over how long this is going to take 🙄. After changing into those gowns that I never seem to put on right, the technician takes me from clinic to what looks like a big semi trailer. Great, now I feel like one of the cows we raised growing up, getting loaded into a semi trailer to God only knows where. Technician asks me what kind of music I wanted to listen to. I said anything 80’s. He puts on these humongous headphones and I am wondering how my head is going to fit through this rabbit hole I am about to enter. I lay on table and it’s freezing. He turns on the music and asks me, how is the volume? I say good.
Tip- Crank up music until you think your ears will bleed. You will find out why.
Technician informs me that I will be getting a neck and a spine MRI and it’s like two MRI’s into one. Good thing Lexi doesn’t know this or I could be walking home lol. He starts putting things around my neck. Now I am still waiting for the Xanax to kick in or do something. I have never taken one before and granted I took it probably ten minutes ago, but nothing. He says he will be going in 20 minute increments and gave me an emergency button. Now I am having flash backs 10 years ago having an MRI done pregnant with Braydan. Doctors thought I was having a stroke. You know it’s not good when your blood pressure top number is over 200 and I barely could read bottom number when a siren goes off on the blood pressure machine. Yep ambulance ride….actually two ambulance rides that week. Having my first MRI ten years ago I was pushing the emergency button ever 2 minutes because my oxygen levels were at 72 percent so I was having a lot of difficulties breathing. So now I am really having anxiety to go through this all again.
Technician has me fold my arms in before he slides me in.
TIP: Keep arms folded-in tight the whole time. We all know if we feel the sides, our brain is going to start measuring how much room we DO NOT have.
Then he puts a mirror up in my face and says this is so you can look out and you will see me in the booth. I swear I heard angels singing, okay it was Bon Jovi in my ears, but what a difference a mirror looking out makes.
TIP-When scheduling your MRI, ask if machine has mirror. Silly me once again, found out the hard way, not all of them do.
The machine starts up and it’s going around and getting louder. Wait where did Bon Jovi music go? Technician asks if I am okay. I say yeah, just to get this over with. He asks me if music should be louder. I say yes please. He cranks up music. Yes Bon Jovi is back! But not for long. What sounds like a jack hammer hitting me on top of my head, no the machine wasn’t physically touching me but with the sound and vibration, it sure felt like it! Bon Jovi had no chance. I got to listen to a jackhammer the rest of the time until he pulled me out.
Once he pulled me out, I forgot I wasn’t done yet. Yeah, I had the two-for-one special, remember? But this was no happy hour at a bar and grill. Off went the head objects and all of a sudden he plunks down on my chest what feels like a heavy suitcase filled with bricks. I actually had to catch my breath. Wait, how long is this MRI gonna take, I sheepishly ask. I want to know, but I don’t want to know the answer sort of thing and he nonchalantly replies, same as last one. OMG! I ask for music to be louder. Little did I know that spine MRI’s you can hear music a lot better. Well now my music is so loud my headache is major and I took a Xanax that is doing absolutely nothing or at least I don’t think it is. Maybe extreme anxiety causes it to lose its affect lol Someone find out and let me know lol
I was so relieved to have that MRI done. Little did I know there would be others.
Next post: EMG (Electromyography) or as I call it…Electric Insanity.
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