Sunday scan

MRI scan on a Sunday afternoon was very different in so many ways:

I was very pleased to get this appointment because travelling to Tameside is very unpredictable during the week and on arrival the most predictable thing is the difficulty in finding a parking place - no such problems this time.

The Hospital car park, almost empty on Sunday is now ANPR and you enter your car registration number to pay when leaving. It worked once I realised it was easy. And on exit the barrier lifted.

The Council car park (before Stamford Park) I used during the week on Tuesday (for blood test) is now first 2 Hours FREE!  - this was news to the others queueing for a ticket on arrival.  Very good but what happens if you are delayed in the hospital and unable to return to buy a ticket - wardens prowling.

We arrived at MRI reception 15 minutes early to an empty waiting room. After a very short wait I was invited to get ready answer all those questions NO, about metal bits hidden around ones person and medical surgery procedure (especially recent). Allergies well yes but none that seem to be a concern.

The new style gown was good, stitched in places at the back so no need to try fasting a knot behind your bank.  Then a couple of minutes wait with the sound of the scanner so someone was still in there. But not for long.

All those questions about metal and surgery repeated, still No from me.  Radiographer was happy with blood test results and also that I had been through a scan with contrast before.  

Hop on the bed and get comfy!

Different from before I am lying flat before I have always had a cushion under the knees so legs were raised slightly. This was OK. An Arch shield was put across the pelvic area and arms were inside this.

Which arm ?  I opted for the same one as the blood test, thinking better one sore arm than 2.  Cannula attached and tested  loop of the wire spun around my thumb to hold in place and a buzzer button places in my other hand.

A pillow under the head for comfort was OK but twice as high would have been better.   Do I want headphones yes please - the noise would be hard to take without.

Different from previously I was not tormented by Commercial radio but just protected from the noise to a great extent - much to my relief.

Off we go on the tunnel of noise.

The whole thing was much shorter than before, around 15 minutes I think with the only clue was being told the contrast media was being injected now and 5 minutes to go.

Afterwards the Radiographer confirmed that the first scan 3 years ago I had would have been around 45 minutes but the next one would have been as short as this one ( I don’t remember being sure about ).

That was their day finished no more patients. Apparently this is very variable sometimes it can be a 12 hour day on a Sunday but today it was a half day for them.