So, yesterday I had my parathyroid scan. It didn't hurt or anything, but it was definitely not an experience that I'd recommend. Basically, it's like having three extended CT scans (not that I've ever had one of those). I feel very lucky that I don't really get claustrophobic.
First they gave me a radioactive injection into my bloodstream. The doctor was just in the middle of warning me that I would get a temporary but very gross taste in my mouth when it actually happened--almost immediately after he had administered the injection. It was a little weird to think about how quickly the injection had traveled from my elbow to my mouth, but I was distracted by the disgustingness that was actually IN my mouth. It was like that rush of saliva you get when you eat something sour, except that it tasted NASTY, sort of like latex gloves, only worse. Luckily it only lasted a few moments.
Then I had an eight-minute scan where I lay in the machine and a flat panel came down very, very close to my face to take an extended image of my parathyroid. It could not have been more than an inch above my face, which felt very much like the ceiling was closing in on me. Having the rest of my body in a cave-like machine and not being able to move at all only added to the feeling. It was very disconcerting knowing that I physically could not lift my head, that if I wanted or needed to sit up, I couldn't.
I dealt with it by closing my eyes and concentrating on lying perfectly still and breathing regularly. It worked fairly well. Still, it was such a relief when the eight minutes were up and the doctor brought me out of the machine.
The 25-minute test was even worse--it wasn't 25 straight minutes of that panel on my face, but it was still a very long time to lie still, and it included another ten minutes of the closeness. It was so long that they strapped my arms to my abdomen so that I'd be able to hold still for that long without bumping into the machine, which didn't help with the whole claustrophobia thing. Also, it's hard to breathe fully when you're inside a machine, a big panel is right in your face, and your arms are pressed tightly against your diaphragm. Also, for some reason I was freezing cold.
It was an incredible relief when the last scan was over and I was allowed to get out into the warm, open spring air. I walked the mile or so from the hospital to my office, enjoying the sun and the breeze and the smell of freshly cut grass. It was nice to be outside in the middle of the day for once. It almost made up for the hours I'd spent in a cold, enclosed space.
So tell me, have you ever had any memorable medical tests? What were they like?
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When I had my CAT scan back when they were first diagnosing my thyroid thing, I found it very unpleasant. I hope your test results help your doctors figure things out.
ReplyDeleteI found out yesterday my thyroid is back to normal!
I have a bum hip (I know, I'm 80 years old) that I've had 3 surgeries on. So anyway, I've had to have a few MRIs on it that lasted over an hour each. One invloved injecting dye into the hip joint. YOW! I understand how you must have felt lying there.
ReplyDeleteOh holy crap. That sounds so very scary. I'm happy you survived :)
ReplyDeleteI had an MRI once. I never thought I was claustrophobic AT ALL until that. I HATED it. I didn't get all freaky or anything, but I most definitely hated it. I did the same thing you did, closed my eyes and breathed. Also I kept telling myself that it would be over soon. The really sucky part was that apparently I moved, so they had to start over about halfway through.
ReplyDeleteOh, goodness... that would have freaked me out. You did such a good job at being calm, because I really don't know how I would have handled it. And I thought getting my MRI for my knee was bad...
ReplyDeleteOh my lord, Jess, that is like my worst nightmare. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I would have been a flailing, panic-stricken claustrophobic mess. I'm so glad it's over!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot to go through. Glad it's over! I've never been through anything like that before. I've had an x-ray, but nothing like being enclosed in a machine for minutes on end.
ReplyDeleteoh wow.. I do not envy your position right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they're doing a thorough check up for you though and I wish you the best
I've had my long capacity tested after I had surgery (to make sure nothing was blocked?). Not too bizarre, but it made me light headed and you realize that you can increase your capacity simply by doing deep breathing exercises.
ReplyDeleteUgg, that sounds TERRIBLE!
ReplyDeleteI once had an underwater body fat test as part of a research study and I had to get naked and lay underwater in front of people I WORK WITH. Horrible.
When I got tested for asthma, I didn't think I had it, so I was all cocky thinking, "I'm gonna kick ASS in these tests!" I blew as hard as I could, I held my breath as long as I could, and when I finished the second test (they normally do five), the nurse said, "I don't even need to do the other tests. You have asthma.")
ReplyDeleteOh man I got claustrophobic just reading this!
ReplyDeleteI once got an ultrasound on my neck which was awkward, but not too bad. I've had two hernias! That's the worst but only because you can't walk for like a week. That's about it!
oh yuck that sounds terrible! but i'm glad you made it out okay. I've had lots of tests for my stomach - and one i had to drink 2 huge containers of the grossest liquid (thick white crap) and then go thru a series of scans to see it traveling thru my body. drinking the stuff was the worst part! bleh!
ReplyDeleteyes actually.
ReplyDeleteI had to have a full abdomen ultra sound.
I have never been pregnant.
It was quite bizarre, mostly because of how good it felt. It was like a massage for my organs! the little Indian man who did it was very delicate.
(odder still, my mom and and I had this ultra sound conversation on my way to work this very morning...)
Aw, poor baby :(
ReplyDeleteGlad it's over with!!
Just reading that made me panicky. I would have totally freaked out. You are stronger than I.
ReplyDeleteI have had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy which I don't remember (Yay anesthesia!). The day before, however, was honestly the worst day of my life. In fact, I wrote a post on it called "Welcome to the worst day of my life." Basically you have to drink gallons of saltwater tasting laxative. And it didn't work. Nothing came out. It was horrible- my belly was rock solid with gallons of that stuff. And it was cold, so I was FREEZING. I will never do it again. Apparently, they can do colonoscopy with a pill prep, my doctor just doesn't do that. Next time I will be finding someone who does.
That sounded so restricting and scary. I'm not claustrophobic but that would even freak me out. The strapping down part would bother me the most I think.
ReplyDeleteI had a nerve damage test once, where they had to actually send volts of electricity through my leg. Not pleasant. Very scary and painful.
Wow, that IS miserable. It's baffling to me that an injection can cause a gross taste in your mouth!
ReplyDeleteI once had something called a "tilt-table test," which they administer when you pass out and the suspected reason is a drop in blood pressure. Basically, they strap you to a table that, you guessed it, tilts . . . they tip you so that you are on a 45 degree angled with your feet over your head for about 5-10 minutes and then they quickly flip you in the opposite direction, so that your head is up, and they watch to make sure that you don't (or do) pass out. I didn't, but I did throw up and have a mild panic attack. Booyah. Luckily, that was enough to make a positive diagnosis!
ReplyDeleteholy crap, woman. that sounds AWFUL.
ReplyDeletei've had all fairly generic testing experiences. i did get an ekg once while they were in the process of figuring out that decongestant makes my heart go wacky. but it wasn't odd / awful, it was FASCINATING. i didn't even care that i was sitting around topless in the room because i was so intrigued.
Your story brought me back to my horrific hour long MRI. I wish someone had told me that when you get injected with the dye your moth gets a nasty taste. I freaked out and thought I was about to throw up and had to get pulled out of the machine. Horrible.
ReplyDeleteI had to have a test to determine the cause of my dizzy spells. They stuck this thing in my ear (which is right about the point where I was ready to call it quits) and they made it warmer or colder in order to make me dizzy ON PURPOSE!
ReplyDeleteOh, did I mention the bizarre helmet thingy I had to wear? With the funky lights? No? Jeezoo, makes me dizzy just thinking about it.
Phew- that made me feel claustrophobic!
ReplyDeleteMy only odd procedure was a biopsy on a mole--the dr didn't even tell me what she was doing--all of the sudden there was novacaine in my back and she was yanking and stitching me up. CRAZY
I've had a few MRIs...One was nearly three hours long. I also had an EEG which sticks little needles into you and send electrical zaps to see how your nerves react to them. None of the tests were that horrible.
ReplyDeleteOk I hope this all works out for you.
ReplyDeleteHad a blue dye test once to check my urinary system.
Two different MRI's on my knee, which is a little easier because they don't put your whole body in, but they each took about an hour and you can't move and good lord, the only thing you want to do is move.
I was so focused on the "smell of fresh-cut grass" part of your entry that I forgot your question and had to go back to reread it. I haven't had any crazy tests. I hope you get your results quickly!
ReplyDeleteWe are apparently going to get snow this weekend and you have grass that needs to be mown. It's just not fair. ;-)
That does not sound like my idea of fun. I bet you are glad it's over! I've never had any memorable medical experiences besides the usual x-rays...
ReplyDeleteBack in the day before open MRIs, I had to have one. They got me all situated and into the machine and before they even started it, I completely lost my shit. I started crying and begging to be let out. I had no idea I was claustrophobic until then.
ReplyDeleteThe next day, my doctor had me take a valium and try again. Even totally spaced out on the valium, I couldn't do it.
Yikes, Jess - that sounds very sucky. I'm glad it's over now!
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I've had a couple weird tests. My weirdest medical experience occurred when I was in high school. It had been determined that i was allergic to most of the foods that I ate (seriously: wheat, gluten, milk, lettuce, blueberries...and about 90 other things. The weird thing is that I am no longer allergic to any of it). Anyway, I had to take allergy shots as a result, and had to go through this 4-hour session of expirementing with the different serums that were going to go into my shots in order to make sure they had the right dose. Or something. It was so crazy - I basically sat there and chatted with the nurse for four hours about school and whatnot, while she injected me with various things, and I had to tell her if I noticed my nose getting stuffy or my throat hurting or even my attention span wavering. I was really wild to learn which foods caused which symptoms.
Ugh. Reading that made me feel clausterphobic. I would Not do well in that situation. Needles and close spaces = banana's hell.
ReplyDeleteI've had several abdominal CT scans, only one with a contrast solution that I had to drink - a very berry barium smoothie. OMG. It tastes so bad and the texture was so awful that I'm getting dry heaves just thinking about it. I had to drink it in intervals before the test. Then once I got to the room, the nurse handed me another cup of it and I cried, but I gagged it down.
ReplyDeleteI've also had several ultra sounds. The transabdominal ones are a piece of cake, except you have a full bladder and you think you're going to explode when they press on it.
The transvaginal ultrasounds SUCK. They try to make the wand look all friendly and they even put a condom on it.
It is a thin, hard plastic wand. It hurts. A LOT. A LOT. Not to mention, you're on your back, exposed to the world and someone is operating a wand in your hooha and is asking you to shift to get a better view, or move your leg to give the wand more room. And did I mention that there's pushing and shoving with the wand?
SO uncomfortable.
How soon do you find out the results?
ReplyDeleteThe weirdest medical test I've had done was an HSG and it was only weird b/c the radiologist, not my GYN, did the speculum insertion (ouch!) and it was odd laying on the table, butt propped up, with my legs wide open for those 5-10 minutes. Talk about being all out there!
I had a mylogram (sp) once and it was plain awful. The shoot up a liquid into your spine to see if there is any damage. The injection site didn't close up and the next day my brain fluid was leaking down my spine. It was the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. Worse than child birth. I laid on the ER floor until they carried me to a bed and fixed me. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteKnocking on wood I've never had any memorable health tests. You are a trooper for lasting through yours!
ReplyDeleteOh, that test sounds awful. I'm not good at sitting still anyway, that would have been torture! The most memorable medical test I have had was for a nerve problem in my leg, they injected into my spine then x-rayed (?) as it traveled to my leg and they could try and determine which nerves were causing problems. Then I had an ablation to kill the nerves. I still have a numb spot on my leg, but that's way better than the pain.
ReplyDeleteThe whole flushing out of my head wound when I cut my head open from fainting was pretty weird. It was numbed but I could feel the water whooshing.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't deal with being in a tight, confined space like that. I'd wig!
Something with a big machine and me drinking a bunch of DISGUSTING liquid... I was like 10 so I dont remember what it was for, but boy was it gross.
ReplyDeleteUgh... that sounds really uncomfortable. I have a feeling I just would have gone to sleep, though. I fall asleep at the dentist. Like during a double root canal. I'm weird.
ReplyDeleteThose are some very interesting stories about medical tests!
ReplyDeleteThere is something very relieving about getting back into the open air after being in a sterile hospital or doctor's waiting room; that was a nice end to your post.
I've had more CAT scans and MRIs than I remember. MRIs used to be the worse because it was like being in a submarine tube. Now the open MRIs are a piece of cake. Ditto CAT scans. But some of those things they make you drink/inject are the worst. I had stuff injected for a CAT scan once and they told me it would make me feel like I had wet my pants. And it did. I would have sworn I'd lost all bladder control. But I was panty-dry after the test. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteSounds AWFUL! Poor girl! I'm sorry...
ReplyDeleteBeing the hypochondriac that I am, I've had an MRI done when my eyes started twitching (turns out I was stressed out, who knew!) and also a breast lump removed (turns out I'm just lumpy!). Both sucked.
Jamie
I once had to take a glucose tolerance test to determine if I was diabetic. Part of that test requires peeing in a cup on the hour every hour for six hours...at the doctor's office. It was a freakishly long day. Test results were negative, though!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, you are a brave girl. I probably would have freaked out in a confined space for that long...especially having your arms strapped down!
ReplyDeleteMy worst medical test was probably a cervical biopsy. Youch!!
I haven't, no, but I doubt if I would've held up as well as you. I get pretty claustrophobic. By far the worst medical procedure I have encountered is the damn yearly pap smear, which I loathe and dread. DREAD.
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, I was getting claustrophoic just reading this entry. I've had MRIs before but on my ankles and elbows so I wasn't in a tube. However, when I was very young (maybe 5 or 6) I fell and hit my head and had to have some sort of scan where I was lying on a table and there was a very large machine above me. I remember as clearly as if it was yesterday lying on a surface and seeing this giant thing over me and KNOWING it was going to fall and crush me. It was terrifying.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I have had that done too, but my radioactive fluid made me feel like someone had drilled a hole in my head and poured warm tea all in my body. I thought I had peed in my pants it was so warm all over.
ReplyDeleteThe sitting still is the worst!!!
I am glad you made it out of the portal!
Holy hell... I nearly had a panic attack just *reading* about that. Fingers crossed that I can make it through life without ever entering one of those contraptions...
ReplyDeleteMore power to you for not having a total meltdown! Here's hoping the results come back in your favour!!
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