MRI a Rama
I had to get an MRI, never mind the reasons why, and when I went to Oregon Imaging I figured it would be short and sweet like a CT scan. I took one look at the hulking machine and balked. “I have to lay still for twenty minutes in that?” no way.
The Magnetic Resonating Image machine is a very large, powerful magnet that spins at a frightening speed, makes a lot of whirling, beeping and grinding noises with a long tube the patient is guided through, sometimes an additional gadget is put over the torso or covering the head for brain scans. It is guaranteed to make on claustrophobic.
Who the hell designed this monstroisty?
The MRI allows for a clear non-invasive view of the body’s interior BUT being shoved into a narrow space with the sound of alien warfare going on is not conducive to easing anyone’s anxiety. Oh sure some have TV screens to watch or music to listen to as distraction and some are “open” meaning not as small and tubular but not always available due to location or insurance.
This is another case of good invention, bad design that nobody is happy with.
Modern medicine means well but it often ends up treating people like lab rats. All the soothing talk and helpfulness of the technicians—who are understanding-- can’t alleviate the stress of procedures that involve poking with needles, uncomfortable positions, and exposure to radiation or potentially toxic chemicals.
So I walked in a big circle with the health center, Nurse Practitioner and insurance people trying to find a better solution for my autistic anxiety to and end up where I started but this time I was accompanied by a medical advocate and a dose of Xanax. It ended up being uncomfortable but manageable.
Personally I want the engineers of an MRI to go through them on a weekly basis until they come up with something better.
