A Random Chat About A Scan
The other day, I experienced something new. On my doctor’s request, I went to a radiology clinic to get an MRI done. In fact, this MRI was so unusual and new to me, that I feel it’s worth talking about.
For those who don’t know, an MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) is a way of viewing and inspecting inside your body. You basically sit in a giant magnet while radio waves bounce around, generating a view of inside your own body. While X-rays are normally used for bones and the like, an MRI is used to view our more squishy organs.
“It’s scary” everyone warned.
The moment I told someone about needing an MRI done, I was given a stark warning that the MRI is scary and not fun in any way. Everyone mentioned how tight the space was and how scary it was. Being a medical procedure that uses a giant magnet and makes you lie down in a tube, I can understand how people would feel negatively about all of this. However, I was actually 100% fine, not scared or bothered at all about getting an MRI. It was other people’s negative experiences that made me more worried than anything else.
The tight space doesn’t bother me
I like tight spaces and being all snuggled up. The MRI equipment though don’t let you snuggle up. You have to lie flat on your back and not move at all. The inside of the machine is dark and cramped, even more so if you have a special thing to rest your head in. Frankly, I didn’t find the enclosed space troublesome at all. I just spent some time daydreaming and thinking about things to write. Distractions made the whole process feel a lot shorter.
It’s the noise
The MRI machine makes huge amounts of noise. Loud, beeping and chunking noises, regularly on. I don’t know where the sounds come from or what they mean, but the sound is just awful. It’s just the machine doing its job, but it’s still intimidating, especially while inside the machine. I was given ear plugs before I went in, but they didn’t really help much. The sound is all around you and echoes a little. There’s nothing you can do about the array of beeps and clanks and machine stuff going on around you.
Honestly? If it wasn’t for the overbearing noise, I’d have found sitting in a tube on my own quite comfortable.
My non-scientific advice
All the above being said, being in a loud, confined space definitely isn’t in any way fun. While I was completely fine with the MRI, I’m in the very small minority. However, I do feel like I can give a little bit of advice.
The first is putting earplugs in and making sure they’re completely in. The MRI is LOUD. Anything you can do to lessen the noise is good. As for the cramped space, there’s pretty much nothing you can do. But it is worth having something in mind, like counting numbers in your head. It’s easy to sit there and just panic and worry. At least counting sheep or whatever works as a distraction.
My last bit of advice is simple: Wear a bra that is easy to take off. The last thing you need before a stressful examination is even more stress from undoing a bra. Get a bra that you can take off and get back on and you can at least remove some negative thoughts.
In hindsight, it was pretty cool.
At the end of the day, getting an MRI is nowhere near as bad as I managed it to be. I would have been more comfortable if everyone hadn’t told me what an MRI is like in advance, scaring me for no reason.