This morning I had my first MRI to get shots of my uterine fibroid. I thought it would be a short ordeal and would not be painful, since someone told me theirs was quick and FORGOT to tell me about their IV line! However, my MRI was long, uncomfortable and a little painful, too.
I got there & had to fill out a bunch of paperwork. Since I was unsure whether a stitch I had in my eye (from a surgery years go) contained metal or not, I needed to have xrays done to make sure (it did not).
I then went into the MRI room. The white tube was very big and quite intimidating -- I also heard a continuous chirping noise in the background. The technician was nice & told me he would have to start an IV line. What? I didn't know about that?! He said that close to the end of the procedure they would need to shoot dye into my system to do some contrast pictures (before & after dye). Oh lovely.
But getting the IV wasn't the worst. The worst was the actual MRI itself. One hour in a tube staying perfectly still with my arms above my head (my IV hurt too much to put my hands in front of me). That explains it in a nutshell! It was freaky, weird and boring, too. I got headphones put on that was tuned to my favorite radio station. Not that it mattered -- I couldn't hear very much anyway -- I mostly just heard varying sounds that resembled house alarm sounds. There was also slight movements of the board I was laying on every one & awhile.
After 50 mins. they put the dye in. That didn't hurt (thank goodness!). Then 10 more minutes of freaky noises and I was done.
When they moved the board out, the technician took my IV out & told me to move my arms down. Only thing was -- I couldn't -- at least not easily! Finally I did. I knew I was in there a while, but he told me it was an hour -- I wondered -- would it have been better or worse for me to know that before I went in???? I still don't know.
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I am concerned that the assistant may not have told me that. She only mentioned it after I said that I have been going to the bathroom more lately. If it because of the fibroid, which it probably is, it just means what i already know -- I need surgery.
June 4, 2009 - 4:54pmThis Comment
Yikes. Here's wishing you the best, and I hope you're feeling alright.
June 4, 2009 - 5:55pmThis Comment
OK - I FINALLY got my results back. The good news is that the fibroid has not really increased in size since my last ultrasound (the measurements have changed slightly, but that may be just because I had a different kind of test at a different facility). The only issue of concern was that they said I have a "collapsed bladder." This may be because of where my fibroid is (my other doctor said the placement of the fibroid is near my bladder). However, the assistant is going to check with the doctor about this and call me back. This does explain why I have to go to the bathroom all the time! Currently, I can't go a whole night before having to go to the bathroom at least once!
June 4, 2009 - 4:26pmThis Comment
Well...how do you feel about your results? What can be done about your "collapsed bladder," has your doctor said?
June 4, 2009 - 4:40pmThis Comment
Thanks so much, Michelle. I appreciate that!!!!!! The technician said I should have the results early next week.
May 22, 2009 - 10:21amThis Comment
Hi Joanna,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us about your MRI. I'm so sorry that it wasn't as easy as you thought it might be. Your description of it as being "freaky, weird, and boring" is a great combination of words, and I can completely understand how this could be the case with an MRI and that long white tube. How long do you have to wait for your results?
I'm glad it's all over for you and I know you are too. You are such a trooper and I'm so proud of you for having this test done. Big hugs, Michelle
May 21, 2009 - 11:39pmThis Comment