I have a brain!

[thewayne]

It cost me $700 to prove it, though.

Today I had three MRIs done.

As a continuing update, I'm still getting some shakes in my torso, my arms and hands seem to still be stable. I'll try and see Andria over the weekend.

The MRI was an interesting experience, definitely not one for claustrophobics. My head was partially immobilized by setting it into a brace and cramming pillows in each side. The table you're on is then slid into the machine.

I don't know exactly when we started, it was pretty close to 8am, but we were done in well under 3 hours. I had originally been told one hour per test. My only problem was that I had to cough during one of the last sets and it ruined the set. I can't say that I slept through the whole thing but I did doze.

The one thing that was kind of freaky is that getting an MRI is NOISY! I did not expect that. They give you earplugs, and you need 'em! There's a constant *thump*, perhaps from an air compressor or something, about one per second. Then there's the buzzing and clicking of the machine itself. I could see it making a nervous person very uneasy.


Now here's the cool part -- I have a CD containing the images from all three scans! I was talking to them afterwards as they were transmitting the images off to (presumably) the radiologist and they were showing them to me and I mentioned that I'd love to have a copy. I definitely did not expect their answer -- no problem. After the transmission was done, they burned a CD for me along with the viewing software. It's pretty cool. It also shows exactly how small the air passage is for my left nostril compared to my right, pretty amazing (I have a deviated septum and get almost no air through my left nostril).


And then there's the bad part, which is actually a good and bad part -- this thing cost over $700, that's my cost, after insurance. It would have been over $3000 without insurance. But it also means that I've made my insurance deductible (3 weeks before I go on Russet's insurance :-) ) and I'll have a heck of a medical deduction for next year maybe!

Comments

The incredibly expensive machine that goes ping

[deborak]

My money says you have an electrolyte imbalance exacerbated by the high level of stress in your life over the past few years.

Re: The incredibly expensive machine that goes ping

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

You may be right. I drink a lot of water, and that can cause an electrolyte imbalance. There was a woman who died a few years back coming up from hiking the Grand Canyon, drank a lot of water but wasn't nibbling on nuts and stuff, literally sweated her salts and life away.

I've been putting a liquid mineral concentrate back in my water bottles to try and correct this, and that's essentially what my doctor gave me, only it was more specifically tuned to the central nervous system.

[cardigirl.livejournal.com]

Interesting perspective! Now we know why they say claustrophobics have a hard time with the machine. When will the radiologists have a report; do you know?

Geegoshgolly, can I have a picture of my brain too? :)

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

Dunno when I'll know more. I have an appointment with the neurologist the week after I return from Ohio, I would guess that if they find something bad they'll get me in sooner, but since I'm leaving in 9 days they're going to have to do it quick!

At first glance, I thought that you wrote "Audrey" ...

[magic-rat.livejournal.com]

Umm, okay, maybe I missed something, but who is Andria? And what relationship does she have with your brain? Is she the zombie that has been chasing you to nibble on your frontal lobes?

Re: At first glance, I thought that you wrote "Audrey" ...

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

Andria is my naturopath. She's the one who stuck me full of needles etc. last Thursday, I thought I'd named her then.

Stuffing

[(Anonymous)]

Immobilizing your head -- and then cramming pillows into each side of it!? Was this to squash your brain to get a good pic, a'la mammography? I wonder how they get the ear wax out of the pillow cases.

--Phil