MRI scan.

Had a second MRI scan this morning. The first one followed my ear operation last year, and as a result of that the consultant decided the ear needed further surgery (which was done on the Monday of Christmas week). So I’m hoping this scan will give the all clear!

Now for some advice for anyone scheduled for an MRI scan and who, like me, suffers from claustrophobia! It’s all very well keeping your eyes shut but unless you’re very slim the chances are your shoulders will touch the sides of the machine and remind you that you’re in a narrow tube. Having gone through it previously, I decided to hunch my shoulders and that did work. It meant folding my arms across my chest but that was no bother and with my eyes closed, I could to a large extent forget where I was!

Or at least I would were it not for the noise – it’s deafening! The scanner makes a whole range of different sounds, from a roar to a high pitched scream to rapid clicks and throbbing noises, and all very loud. So you’re fitted with headphones (if you weren’t, your hearing would be damaged). The team will offer to put the radio on for you but you probably won’t be offered a choice of which station you want to listen to. I finished up last time listening to a pop music station with an over-enthusiastic DJ who thought a mid-Atlantic accent was the height of cool.

However, you can also take a CD with you if you prefer. Choose ABBA or a military brass band – they’ll both be loud enough to help drown out the noise of the scanner!

Apart from all that, the experience is fairly benign. You can eat and drink normally beforehand and there are no after-effects from the scan. When it’s complete, you just get dressed again and walk out.

And that’s it. What could possibly go wrogn.

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