| Over the past 2 years I have been suffering with | | | | definately worth every cent as it gets very noisy in |
| occasional back problems. Mainly in the lower lumber | | | | there. Once I was comfortable, the trolley/bed was |
| region. After numerous visits to the Doctor he | | | | pushed into the tube with me on board and I was told |
| suggested I should have an MRI scan. | | | | to lay still. The voice over the intercom said I was to |
| MRI Scans are fairly new to the medical world, first | | | | recieve 7 scans on my spine lasting 4 minutes each. |
| appearing in the 1980's. They create a certain amount | | | | She then said lay still as the first scan was about to |
| of a apprehension in patients as you are inserted into a | | | | start. |
| tube and your body is scanned by magnets firing | | | | So there I was led on an uncomforable bed inside a |
| pulses into your body and data is built up based on the | | | | tube, laying as still as possible, bearly beathing, when it |
| response time from fire to receive. | | | | started. To say I was feeling apprehensive was an |
| A lot of people get clostrophobic and are frightened to | | | | understatement. The scan started with a few loud |
| death at the thought of being stuck in a tube for up to | | | | bangs and I almost hit my head on the ceiling of the |
| 30 minutes. | | | | tube, as I was not expecting the level of noise that I |
| Well today I had my first MRI scan. I was a little | | | | was suddenly subjected to. |
| apprehensive, and I tend to suffer a little from | | | | This level of noise continued for the best part of 30 |
| Claustrophobia. After checking in at reception, I was | | | | minutes, with a brief pause between each scan. The |
| told to take a seat which I duely did. There was an | | | | feeling was quite bizarre, as I could hear this banging |
| older lady and her husband sat nearby, she was | | | | noise constantly, combined with a feeling of being |
| crying. It transpired that she was so claustrophobic that | | | | pulled downloads as each magnetic pulse entered my |
| she had refused to have the scan done. I felt sorry for | | | | body. I just closed my eyes and tried to stay as still as |
| her but this didn't help my own situation one little bit. | | | | possible. |
| After a time her scan was rescheduled and she left. | | | | 30 minutes is a long time to stay perfectly still with a |
| My name was called, I was taken to a changing room | | | | constant banging going on in your ears, and my arms |
| and told to put a gown on. You know the ones that | | | | were slowly going numb. Then it was all over as |
| open at the back which you can never tie properly | | | | quickly as it began. I was pulled out of the tube, and |
| and you end up showing your back side to everyone. I | | | | made my way back to the changing room, with my |
| was then led to the MRI Scan Room. | | | | back side on show. I'm sure those gowns are designed |
| I led on the bed of the machine and was given a panic | | | | to embarrass you. |
| button and some ear plugs. The ear plugs are | | | | |