NOT What I Had In Mind!

My rheumatologist ordered an MRI for my hand and wrist. Today was the scheduled day.

Hand and wrist. Can't be much of a big deal, right? Stick my hand in a machine thingy. 10 minutes and I go back home.

NO.

Imagine my surprise when the nurse told me to take off my clothes and put on this gown. ME? But it's just my hand and wrist.

Didn't matter.

Then it turns out it wasn't my hand. The order was only for my wrist. My doctor said "hand". The nurse said "hand" when she called me to set up the appt. But now it's only wrist. And since they are just the imaging center, they don't know. Insurance issues maybe??

So after waiting a good long time it was my turn. And I have to lay down and go through the MRI machine for quite a long time. Like 10 songs worth maybe....they put headphones on you w/your favorite radio station to drown out the sound.

Then I'm out and it's time for the contrast dye. Hmmm...my doctor didn't talk about this part. And I'm a little freaky about dyes anyway. Blue drinks? No thanks.

The nurse tells me it's a simple thing with a butterfly needle. And I'm thinking, "believe me Honey, it's never a simple thing with my veins...butterfly or not." She tries one site and digs around. I wish I had drunk more water at this point.

No go. So she tries again somewhere else. Meanwhile the first site is burning. I mention it and she says very matter-of-factly "Oh yeah we just blew a vein."

WHAT!?? Blew. A. Vein? .....Like it was the most common thing in all the world. And maybe if you've been a nurse forever it is a common phrase in your vocabulary. But not mine.

6 more minutes in the machine while I mull over the yuckiness of the dyes coursing through my body. :( And speaking of body...seems like for all this trouble it should've been my whole body instead of a tiny wrist. Wrist without even the hand, mind you.

I drive home 2 1/2 hours later. And NOT in the best of moods either.

But the second I walked through the door my mood did an about face. I was greeted by happy working kids. One running the vacuum. The washer and drying humming along. 2 kiddos folding and the amazing smell of a chocolate cake in the oven that Eldest made just because.

And the best part? An interested audience to share the woes of the afternoon!