My First MRI and "Results"

So what is it like to get an MRI? I've never had one of those before! Can you believe it? I've been xrayed a bunch, I've had one CT scan of my throat looking for an abscess in my tonsils, I've even had some fancy ultrasound done on my neck looking at my thyroid. But never an MRI! So check that right off the bucket list of things to do!

Okay, not really. That was not my idea of fun. I'm not overly anxious of medical procedures. I mean. I think the normal amount, but I feel like I handle myself well. An MRI had me a little worried. I'm not really claustrophobic, so that wasn't necessarily it, but I've seen video clips on YouTube of how powerful they are! I saw the one where they've tethered a chair and the machine sucks it right in basically. YIKES!!! My husband has mentioned that he wasn't allowed to wear metal in the room! I was not excited about this. I almost canceled, but I had a gut feeling that I needed to see this through, so I went to my appt.

Imagine my surprise  (after checking every single box assuring I had no metal objects on or in me) when they told me to hop up...with my jeans on. And my jacket. And my bra!! They told me to take off my glasses and leave them on the ledge.

BUT WOULDN'T THEY GET SUCKED INTO THE MACHINE JUST BEING IN THE SAME ROOM!!? Wouldn't I get sucked to the top of it and stick by my jacket and pants!!! I won't lie, I was briefly terrified! But the techs were cool as cucumbers, so I practiced my yoga breathing (thank you Liz for taking me to yoga this year!!!) and was able to calm myself down.

After plenty of adjustments and being handed some ear plugs and some little ball thing (think stethoscope pump thingy) to squeeze if I needed them for any reason and told it would take about half an hour, they walked out and I was alone (kinda).

Man is that thing loud!! Thank goodness for the ear plugs! Seriously! I was really lucky. Because my injury is in my leg, my body didn't have to go all the way into the tube. I went in feet first and only up to about my chest at one point. The table got moved about 4 times I think. Each one made my heart race a little, but I would just close my eyes and Savasana ;D myself back down.

It really did last about 30 min. The last 10 or so, I was done. I wanted to wiggle and point my toes and bend my knees. I started looking around more, but because I didn't have my glasses on, it was harder to see, and I knew I couldn't really move much. You can't wiggle when they're scanning you. 

Right about the moment I really had had enough, it was done and they came in to release me from the tube and table. They handed me my films (seriously, let's talk about archaic technology, I thought everyone loaded imaging onto CDs these days) and sent me on my way telling me that the doctor would be calling me in a few days (um, nope. It's Christmas weekend. I'll be lucky if I hear from him by the 23rd). I had already arranged to take my films over to our friend's house and he'd be able to read them for me. Thank goodness for a radiologist living around the corner!

Anyway. I've always wondered what it would be like to have an MRI, and now I know, though I consider myself lucky that I didn't have to go all the way into the tube. I'm grateful to know I will not get sucked in and I won't stick to the top of the machine, never to be released from it ever again!

 Although, I'm hoping to never need one again!!

On the note of results. My friend was shocked to see film, just like I was, but he is pretty dang good at what he does. After looking each one over, and asking a couple of questions, he pinpointed what looks to be a small stress fracture right in the exact spot that hurts the most in my leg. The spot that when I apply frozen rice bags to my leg, aches. The spot that will occasionally throb. He said it's pretty small, but it's there. I can see it too, he showed me. That means no running for at least 6 more weeks (maybe I'll get lucky when the doctor calls, but I'm not counting on being released any sooner). Even he agreed with that. That is not the news I wanted, but I think I knew in my gut that's what I was getting. It's why I just went through with it all. So that I knew for sure.

I'm devastated with the news. I do know that the doctor still needs to call and confirm it with me, and then comes the course of action to heal it. I will be as positive as I can through it, but right now, in this moment, I'm frustrated and angry. And really really sad. I've already cried. A lot. I'm sure there's more of that to come. I kinda wanna throw some things. If you're wondering if I'm a passionate person... I guess this answers your question (or I'm a raging hot head, you decide, lol). I know in the big picture this is just a tiny blip. I know this isn't going to be a big deal on down the road. But right now it's huge and I will allow myself to feel all of the emotions that come with this kind of news and I won't excuse any of it. Please please, I'm not in any place to hear any constructive criticisms, or advice. I'm going to need to ride this wave. I will follow what the doctor tells me I'm allowed, or not allowed, to do. And in the end, I will come out a stronger runner and hopefully a stronger athlete with better control over the mental battle that healing and recovery affords.

Thank you everyone for your kind words already and any advice already offered. I know it comes from a place of love and genuine concern, and I really do appreciate it. Please don't ever think I don't appreciate the help and support I get from everyone. It means so much to me.

So, on a lighter note... who has had an MRI done before? What was it like for you? I really wanna know!!