And now we wait. Again.

I had my MRI today. The MRI itself was completely uneventful. I think it was the shortest one I have had to date. Apparently there is less to admire in your abdominal cavity than your cranium!

The best part about the MRI was the fact that I didn't have to to in head first! Sooooo much easier to stay in the tube when your head is sticking out. My feet are not claustrophobic in the least. My head is apparently the problem. (No comments from the peanut gallery, thank you very much!)

The worst part was the RN who put in my IV for the contrast dye. I went through my usual schpeel with the Radiology Tech and showed him the 'sweet spots' on my arms that usually get used for draws and lines up at OHSU. He checked them out and had another tech check them out. They both decided that they wanted a nurse to set my line.

So the nurse comes in, I give him the lousy vein review and let him know that wherever he wants to stick me is fine and that if he has to take two tries I understand. He then proceeds to run the MOST painful IV stick I have had in years!

I used to be a big wienie about needles and IV sticks. I have learned to suck it up. Most of it is mind over matter. For me anyway. Additionally, with all the sticks, pokes, prods, scans and procedures I have endured in the last year; my tolerance for pain has escalated greatly. This one was ridiculous.

As soon as he stuck me I knew he hadn't gotten in and yet he kept going for it. By the time I was tearing up, I suggested that he try the other arm. He told me in no uncertain terms to, "Just hold still! It's not that bad. I am almost in." If I hadn't been tied down to the table already, I think I might have jumped up and smacked him. I don't usually cry during procedures. But this being an already stressful week and having a lot on my mind, I was done for. He finally got the IV set, but it was horribly painful and bleeding badly. The poor radiology tech had to give me a minute to pull it together before we could get started with the MRI.

So now we wait. They tell me that they usually have the results to your doctor within 48 hours, so hopefully by Friday we will know what is up with my kidney and we can cross this off the list. At least now I have had all my organs scanned from top to bottom. Not much else to look at that has vital function past my hips!