MRI 2012

After the cruel and unfaithful god smited/smote/whatever the past tense of the word ‘smite’ is XD with a brain tumour back in 2007, I’ve had to have an MRI every six months to check that the stupid brain tumour taking up precious brain space inside my head hadn’t suddenly hit a growth spurt or anything stupid like that. When I got the all-clear for my MRI in September 2010, the doctors said, “It’s great that your six-month scans have showed no regrowth; we’ll see you once a year, from here on.”

The one stressful thing I dislike about MRI scans is that a nurse must first insert a cannula into your arm, so that the MRI technician can inject your vein with dye towards the end of the MRI scan, which will then apparently light up your brain. Or something like that. XD

The reason why I hate this procedure so much is because I’ve got very fine veins, and it’s very hard for the nurses to get the needle in and successfully find a vein! Back when I was still living in the insane asylum (more commonly known to everyone as the Princess Alexandra Hospital XD), one blood lady would try two needles, have them both fail, then she’d get the other blood lady also doing the rounds with her to try. Two more needles later, they’d both give up and find a doctor to insert the damn thing in! Actually, near my release from the insane asylum back in 2008, I grew so panicked when I heard the blood ladies enter the ward that I took the current book that I was reading, fled to the nearest toilet, locked myself inside, and read for like forty-five minutes, until a nurse came and knocked on the door, curious that I may have fallen in! XD Suspiciously, I asked, “Have they gone yet?”

“Who?” the confused nurse asked.

“The blood ladies. I’m not coming back out until they’ve left.”

“Oh, they left ages ago. You really shouldn’t hide from them, you know, if they need to take your blood.”

“Well, I’ll come out now, now that you said they’ve left.” XD

My arms have been alternating whose turn it is for the needle-sticking, and this year, ‘twas the left. She was still feeling traumatised from 2010, though, because she had endured not five, but NINE needles! >< See, two different nurses both tried two needles, all to no avail. They then get a doctor. Mr. useless doctor tries THREE, but they all fail! In the end, he applies a shot of local anaesthetic (which STINGS like HELL, BTW! ><) and finally, finally, with the help of an ultrasound machine gets the cannula in with his NINTH needle! My poor left arm was so traumatised, she showed the doctor the huge bruise she’d developed along the elbow crease because of all those needles, and the good doctor promises to give her a miss with the acupuncture needles that particular week.

Last year, ‘twas my right arm’s turn to suffer the needles, and it took three attempts before the nurse found the vein.

Come this year, my poor left arm was wailing that she didn’t want an ouchy needle, but my right arm told her, “Shut up. I endured it last year, so it’s your turn this year.”

But then, miracle of miracles! The nurse managed to get the cannula in the VERY FIRST GO!

“Quick, tell me your name!” I urge the nurse. “That way, I can ask for you when I come for another MRI next year!”

“I’m getting married in January,” the nurse laughs.

“Then tell me your married name!”

She does, but alas, I’ve already forgotten it. XD

Anyways, before each MRI, I also haveta get an x-ray done first, so the technicians know where the shunt is located inside my head.

I transfer myself into one of their wheelchairs, and then some technician and I wheel me into the MRI room.

First of all, another technician goes through the form I’ve filled out with me. It’s just to clarify that I’m not wearing a pacemaker, hearing aids, any type of metal, etc.

After I transfer onto the MRI tube, the technician gives me the alarm bell, which I can press in any emergency. Last year was funny; I accidentally sneezed and squeezed the thing; immediately, the technician was over the intercom, saying, “Emily, is everything alright?” I’d given a sheepish apology: “sorry, sorry! I just sneezed and squeezed the thing; I’m fine, thanks.”  XD Then he puts the headphones over my head, allowing me to listen to the Westlife album that mother had so kindly brought along for me.

And into the tube I go. Funny pounding and whirring noises start; I relax, close my eyes and have another serious talk to God, probably the first one since I last fully talked to him during my last MRI. I told him how much I still seriously DESPISED him for ruining my life, how disappointed I was that he hadn’t seen fit to heal me and how I was still living everyday rising above his hatred.

The MRI lasted about five songs, and after I slid back out of the tube, the technician remembered that I wasn’t supposed to sit up! See, after an MRI, the magnetics of that machine can throw out the settings and pressure of my shunt, and I’m not supposed to sit back up afterwards until a doctor comes around with some gadget, presses it against my head and resets the settings. Last year, the technician hadn’t a clue, and told me, “Okay, can you sit back up now,” but luckily, this year’s technician was smarter; he simply called over another technician and nurse and they  slid me onto some plinth, which only has a short side rail, not like the ones I was used to when I lived in the insane asylum, which were full length rails. But this side rail was placed in the direct centre of the bed; there was no way I’d fall out.

Two people rolled my bed back to the area where mother was waiting, but I didn’t stay there long, coz I was quickly whisked back off to the x-ray department, where I told my brain (or what’s left of it XD) to smile for the camera while the x-ray technicians (are they called radiographers?) took another shot to check if my shunt had wiggled elsewhere during the MRI.

Back where mother was waiting, I tell her I’m really hungry, and she kindly opens a packet of white, rectangular cream bikkies and I munch two. I also use a bedpan once, then just doze, awaiting for the doctor to check my x-ray then come and reset the shunt, if need be.

The call comes well past 4pm that the shunt settings weren’t changed and that I’m free to go.

Mother drives us back home, but we forget one thing: It’s peak hour traffic! So we crawl along the highway, crawl along Logan road and finally, finally make it back home at like 5:50pm!

Thankfully, there are no phone calls waiting for us; nor does the phone ring all night, for which I’m exceedingly grateful. See, if there’s anything amiss with your MRI, the hospital notifies you immediately. As such, the night before, I’d gotten on Facebook, thanking everybody for keeping me in their thoughts and prayers, then adding, please DO NOT ring our home number and scare the bejeebers outta me! Just ring our mobiles, please!

I’m super-duper relieved that the phone stays silent all night, and look forward to my follow-up, where basically, I’ll head into the consulting room, take a seat, hear the doctor go, “your MRI was all-clear. See you next year.” XD

Actually, I had a question to ask the doctor. It’s the same question I asked the two doctors I saw last year and the year before. Remember how I said that after my MRI, I’m not allowed to sit back upright until the neurosurgeon comes to reset the shunt with some little handheld gadget device thing? Well, now that I suffer from memory loss, what would happen if idiot me forgot and sat upright? Would I, like, DIE?! XD Two years ago, the doctor had said, “Well, you might get a small headache,” but the doctor last year totally dismissed my question with, “Nah, nothing will happen.” So I explained this situation to the doctor I saw for my follow-up, and then said, “I’ll let you be the be-all and end-all of the question. What will happen to me if I’m forgetful and sit back up? Instant death or something particularly gruesome like that?”

She laughed, and reassured, “No, don’t worry. The chances of you even getting a slight headache if you sit upright are remotely minute; in fact, we often walk patients down to the MRI area just to get their shunts reset.”

Well, phew. That’s a huge relief to know, and indeed, when I get back home from the hospital, I post up the James Bond theme song ‘Die Another Day’ on Facebook, meaning that I will indeed live to fight and die another day!

So ends the saga of me having another MRI next year; again, huge thanks to everyone who kept me in their thoughts and prayers. :o)

Next post here … well, depending on how punctual I am, my next post may come on Sunday night! See, the parents and I are attending our church camp tonight for the weekend! Righteo, until then!

Cheers,

Em. ^^

3rd time lucky

So often, we say “oh, third time lucky, maybe!” and for me, that’s exactly what happened!

Sure enough, mother was so grumpy that the silly Broncos had lost to the BOTTOM-PLACED eEels, she demanded dad take us to another match!

So dad goes out and buys three more tickets to the next Broncos match, against the Melbourne Storm. I just moan to mother, “Remember how we got flogged by twenty points to the cellar-dwelling Eels? Well, against the Storm (who are like, minor premiers/close to the top), we’ll probably get thrashed by FORTY! XD

So again mother and I buy two pork salad rolls for our dinner, and again dad drives us to the Eight Mile lains busway station, where we board a bus directly heading for Suncorp stadium. Thankfully, the bus driver knows the way to Suncorp stadium this time, and doesn’t require dad to stand beside him and give him directions. XD

Same as last time, I gently hold dad’s hand and walk well into the stadium. Again, we’re offered those clap banner things; dad takes three, one for each of us.

Mother takes me to the bathroom once shortly before kick-off.

It’s a tight match, and sadly, our hearts are broken when Cooper Cronk breaks the 18-all deadlock with a field goal. And to think I held him in that high regard, too, when he slotted in the winning field goal for the origin series this year! XD

Anyways, in the days after the match, I wonder will mother order dad to take us to yet another game; I think she’s insistent we keep going until we finally win one. XD

Instead, CODA South (the agency that provides me with carers) offered us two free tickets instead! And not just to any match, but the one for Petero Civonaceva’s final match at Suncorp stadium! The really cool thing is that after the full-time siren gets blown, we (the audience) will be allowed down onto the field to farewell Petero! Trust me, when mother rings CODA south to let them know we’ve received the tickets, I lustily yell my heartfelt thanks. XD

Like both times before, I tell Jess, my UQ physio, that dad and I are attending, and she again promises to come visit.

Then I find out that Joshels will be attending, too!

Anyways, just with the last two matches, mother and I go to buy two pork salad rolls and a bottle of water for dinner during the match. The funny thing is, by the time mother pulls into the car park outside Coles, I’m like, busting and unsure whether I can last the long walk to Coles, then the bakery, then the trip home! XD

So I come up with this harebrained idea: “mother, how about you buy the water and I’ll get the pork salad rolls?” mother agrees, then I tentatively make my way over to the Runcorn Plaza Hot Bread, hoping with every timid step that God won’t push me over.

The funny thing is, mother and I frequent the Runcorn Plaza Hot Bread so often (like, at least once every fortnight), the owner lady recognises us! Meaning, as I was making my mincing way over to the counter, she sees me and calls, “Where is your mother?” I don’t answer her until I’ve reached the front counter and have something to brace against. Then I look up, grin, and say, “She’s gone on holiday somewhere. That’s why it’s just me here today.” Obviously, she doesn’t believe me; we both have a good laugh then I tell her the real reason, before ordering the two pork salad rolls.

Suddenly, it’s Friday afternoon, and after aunty Lucia (she’s from Cathay Community Association, which specialises in looking after Asians like myself) helps me with a shower, I munch some afternoon tea (one yummy chicken sushi roll I got from Sushi Paradise that afternoon after ordering a kebab from Naz the kebab guy), use the loo once more before aunty Lucia leaves, plop briefly back online then suddenly, it’s time to head off!

I wave bye to mother then dad drives us to the Eight Mile Plains busway station. Getting out of the car, we suddenly bump into our neighbour, uncle Alan! “Hey, I’m just picking up my daughter (Sharon) from the bus,” he greets us. Then, just as dad and I cross the road, we pass Sharon, who looks up in surprise. “Oh, hi, uncle!” she greets dad.

Luckily, there’s barely any waiting time before we board the bus. Dad and I squish onto the first seat, which, he tells me, is actually only designed for one person. “Luckily, neither of us are very fat,” he laughs. XD

Fortunately, the bus driver knows the way to Suncorp stadium (seems like the first bus driver, who needed dad’s navigational skills to drive everyone to Suncorp stadium, was an aberration. XD)

Dad and I hold hands, and I walk well into the stadium. Again, we each take a proffered clap-banner, which dad folds once we’re seated. Dad also grabs a Petero mask, which is basically a cardboard cut-out of his face with two holes for your eyes. XD

I wonder how dad picks our seats? Or, are they just allocated to us? (Remember, this time, the tickets were free, courtesy of CODA South) Anyways, again, we’re seated slightly to the right of the try line.

It’s about 6:50pm by then, and the under 20’s game is being played. I’m proud to report that the junior broncos won that match, by the way! XD

Anyways, once they end, it’s about 7pm, so dad takes me once to the loo first. Back in our seats, he hands me his mobile and tells me to ring mother, who answers and says she’s just cooking some vermicelli for dinner right then. Again, I see the Courier Mail blimp flying around, and just before the match the broncos cheerleaders prance out onto the field and strut their stuff.

All too soon, kick-off! I cheer loudly for the Broncos, getting a pretty good view, coz for the first half, their try line’s on my side.

Jess appears somewhere during the first half; she and dad nod to each other and she sits beside me. Actually, correction: I don’t think she actually appears until the second half. Oh, curse my shoddy memory, I can’t remember at all when she came, just that she did, okies?! >< XD

Anyways, she tells me that Katrina actually dropped off harry at her place, meaning the lucky lad got to come see the game! “I ordered Jack (that’s his name, I think/hope XD) to grow an extra eye and not lose him!” Jess confides to me, and we both have a laugh.

Alas, the smelly Panthers go into the half time break with a six-nil lead over the poor Broncos. “The Broncos need to step up, we can’t send off Petero with a loss!” I moan to Jess.

Luckily, Hook (dunno how the coach got such a weird nickname XD) must’ve ripped into them something almighty, coz they return on field with all guns a-blazing, and soon, the scores are level, before they pull ahead by one try! Then, just to seal the victory, Peter Wallace slots a field goal, thus sealing the match and sending 35178 spectators (well, the ones that were Broncos supporters, anyway XD) into jubilation.

As the match was nearing completion, some announcement went through the entire stadium, saying that we fans were allowed down onto the playing field to bid Petero Civonaceva a final farewell.

Everyone immediately started rushing down while I waited. Earlier, during the match, I’d asked jess, “Hey, can you please help me down to the field afterwards? Coz we fans are allowed to head down and bid farewell to Petero!”

“You’ll haveta ask your dad first.” Jess replied.

So I did, then turned excitedly back to jess and said, “Dad said yes!” we high-fived, then kept watching the match.

Anyways, after almost everyone had flooded down onto the field, I too went down myself slowly, Jess behind me and dad in front, holding onto my hands. Once onto the pitch, I asked jess, “Where can I sit?” she replied, “Wherever you want.” So I aimed for the try area, sat down, then cheered, “Yeah, I’m four points!” XD

Jess and I posed for several photos, then, suddenly, who should plonk his butt beside me on the turf and say, “Hey, Em,” but Joshels! He’d come to watch this game with some … working people, and they had a corporate box to watch from with catering and everything!

So we took more photos, after which I ordered Jess, “You. Go and find some big strong Broncos player to carry me back up to the bus stop. I’m not hiking up all those bloody stairs I came down on earlier. Jess just laughed. “Sure thing, Emilah,” she laughed, but made absolutely no move to do so. Guess I was gonna haveta haul myself back up there myself. Damn. XD

Anyways, dad walked behind me all the way back up the stairs; there were like ninety-one!

And right at the top, we bumped into that guy who supports the Eels and took our tickets the first time we went to watch a Broncos match! He recognised me too, and we had a good laugh when I asked him, “Who’d you go for this time, sir? I remember you don’t like the Broncos, but ha, we won.” XD

Anyways, turns out Joshels and Mr. Meggs waited for me when I reached the top of the stairs! We all walked together to the bus; thankfully there was only a short wait until we boarded one. Dad and I squeezed in together into the first seat, Joshels just stood beside dad, and Mr. Meggs … “Umm, where’s your dad gone?” I asked Joshels. A happy voice called back, “I’m behind you. Hiding.” XD

Anyways, while the bus driver tootled us home, dad and Josh yakked about work-related topics.

We all got off at the Eight Mile Plains busway station, and I bid Joshels and Mr. Meggs a good night, before dad tootled us home.

Back inside, the first thing I yelled in the direction of upstairs was, “Mum! We won!!” Mother quickly came down to celebrate with us~

Anyways, the Broncos are up tomorrow night against the Cowboys in a do-or-die match! I hope we can win!!

Next post here … umm, perhaps my MRI follow-up, which happens sometime next week. Righteo, until then!

Cheers,

Em. ^^