Last week saw us at Papworth Hospital for my cardiac MRI appointment at 3.25pm. We arrived with 1/2 an hour to spare so just waited rather than risk going for a drink. It was 4pm before I was called through to undress and have a cannula put into my arm in case they wanted to use a contrast dye during the procedure. Although I have had an MRI done on my neck before this one, I wasn't sure what to expect.
1/2 an hour later, due to someone being ill before me, I was brought through and got up onto the table. My legs were put onto a wedge at 90 degrees to take the strain off my back and a blanket put over the lower half of me. ECG leads were attached then a rather heavy cradle put onto my rib cage to hold the leads in place to get a good reading, similar to this picture:
(image courtesty of http://www.fairview.org/healthlibrary/Article/89193)
That was the most uncomfortable bit as it tended to stick into either the ribs or sternum!
Head-phones were put on and a contact clicker given to me to press if I felt unwell.After that, I was fully inserted into the machine for nearly an hour.
This procedure requires you to hold your breath, anywhere from 6 seconds to around 15 seconds - rather more than I anticipated - probably 40 or so times! Halfway through, a nurse came in to give me the contrast dye. By the end I was exhausted.
I can't praise enough, the chap who did the scan, he had such a lovely calm voice.
After the procedure was finished, I was helped to sit up, as some people feel dizzy. Once I was declared fine, I was walked back through to change and have the cannula removed. Did my usual extra bleed for a time. DB was the only one left in the waiting room.
We went off to the cafe to have something to eat before driving home. Despite it being the Thursday before Good Friday, the roads weren't too bad and it only took us 1/2 an hour longer to get back than to drive there.
Now I presumably have to wait for an appointment at my hospital to see what, if anything, they found. Onwards and upwards!
Hope the results are all OK and nothing to report
ReplyDeleteMe too! Glad all is well with you both so far.
DeletePapworth is one of the best cardiac units in the world. Hope all goes well with the results...
ReplyDeleteThey are moving to a bigger new hospital in 2018. I hope the results are good as well.
DeleteBrought back memories having one done there nearly two years ago. Hope yours turns out better than mine did. My heart didn't do what they wanted it to when they put the dye in so I ended up having an angiogram. I don't think you have to wait too long for the result though.
ReplyDeleteAt the end they said all went well so fingers crossed!
DeletePleased the procedure went well. Good luck with the results. I have mine on Monday. We're a right pair aren't we?
ReplyDeleteGood luck for you as well, and yes, we are.
DeleteFingers crossed for you Dc. Lxxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynne, hope you are well.
DeleteI hope your results are ok. You were very brave to undergo the
ReplyDeleteMRI - the thought of being enclosed sounds horrendous to me! I worked in the NHS and the particular scanners at my hospital weren't big enough for some larger patients so they were sent over 100 miles away to Newcastle where a giant scanner was located!
I kept my eyes shut most of the time as the machine is very close to your face, could feel myself trying to drop to sleep!
DeleteI'm sorry I missed this post. I hope all is well for you DC. X
ReplyDelete