A German MRI

Yesterday was the "final" part of my yearly heart check-up (or at least I'm hoping it's the final part). I went back to the German hospital to have an MRI. This weekend I got a little stressed out thinking about having the MRI done. I've had two MRIs of my heart done before, so I'm familiar with the process. It wasn't the MRI itself I was worried about... it was the fact that (again) I'm in a foreign country where I don't know the language (unless they are going to count from 1-10 or say please/thank you) and I would be going to the appointment by myself. Yes, I am an adult. That doesn't make dealing with all of this any easier.  My main concerns were would the staff speak English (if I would understand), and would they have headphones for me. The two times I've had an MRI it was done in Seattle at the University of Washington hospital. The staff there gave me earplugs to put in, and then had me wear noise cancelling headphones. The headphones helped to block out the noise of the MRI, but the staff also played music (from a radio station of my choice) through the headphones as well. I am a HUGE music person, so having music to listen to while being inside the little MRI tube (to have an MRI of your heart done you are over halfway into the tube... which you may as well be all the way inside because you can't tell that your legs/feet are hanging out) for an hour and half was quite comforting. I was really hoping for some music during this experience as well.

I am a person who is time oriented and punctual. I try my best to always be on time, and if I am late for something it really stresses me out. If I am driving/walking somewhere and I think I'm going to be late I get anxious. The hospital I went to is a University hospital (similar-ish to UW) and it is very spread out. They gave me a map to help me navigate my way to the MRI clinic... but the map only helped so much. I had to get gas before I drove to my appointment, then had to park on the opposite side of the "campus" from where the MRI clinic was... needless to say, I was close to being 5 minutes late and was extremely stressed about it. I was speed walking across campus, head bent over my map, cursing to myself as I attempted to find the MRI clinic. I decided a few months ago (after being an American perpetually lost in Europe), and my experience yesterday cemented my decision: For the rest of my life if I see someone walking and they are obviously confused or look lost I will stop and ask them if they need help. Period. Ugh. However, I think the college students seemed to get a chuckle out of the stressed out American power walking across campus.

I finally made my way to the clinic (three minutes late - blast!) and was delighted to discover the doctor who did my intake information spoke excellent English. This happiness quickly faded when he announced he was going to start an IV for contrast dye. Ugh. Like most people I don't exactly enjoy having a needle put in my arm, but I always seem to have an unpleasant experience (apparently I'm a "hard stick"). Like my last experience at this German hospital, it took a few tries to find a vein that would work. At first the doctor listened to me when I said "They usually can find a vein in my right arm." He tried there, and found the vein... but apparently he didn't... because as he flushed saline through the IV my elbow/bicep started to swell with fluid. Whoops. Okay, try again. The same thing happened on the top of my left hand (unfortunately because that space is more cramped than the arm, the top of my hand is still a bit puffy with fluid). Finally, on the last try, he found a vein in my right wrist (painfully). I just wish I could be one of those people who is "easy to stick" and only had to have one attempt at these sorts of things.

I was escorted to a little room to change. At UW they give you the flimsy hospital drawstring pants and two gowns to wear to cover yourself (since they ask you to remove all clothing and jewelry) and when they do the MRI they cover you with a few blankets. I was prepared to strip down, however they told me just to remove my bra and any jewelry I was wearing. I asked the woman if the button of my jeans would be a problem (since it is obviously metal) and she told me it would not. I was somewhat confused (how this could be?), but I followed her instructions and emerged from the little cubicle feeling more dressed than usual in these circumstances. This feeling was short-lived. When I got to the MRI they had me lay down on the table, and then I was instructed to unbutton my pants and pull them down past my knees. Um. What? Apparently since your legs are left outside of the tube the metal on my jeans wasn't going to be a problem, and that was their way of dealing with it. So there I was... pants near my ankles, shoes on... no blanket to cover myself with... When I told Josh about this part, he asked me the question that all of you are probably thinking right now. "What underwear were you wearing?" As it turns out... not the right kind. I always seem to make that mistake and wear "not the right underwear" to doctor appointments. Note to self: always wear granny panties. Always.

Another difference between UW and Germany: headphones. I was given headphones to wear (but no earplugs), but these headphones were only so I could hear the instructions given to me (hold your breath, breathe). Without music the MRI seemed to take a lot longer (and believe me... an hour and a half is already a long time to lay in there when you do have music, so without...). It was also much, much louder. In fact, when I was done I felt like I had a bit of concert ear. Despite the extra noise, lack of music, and shocking cold of the contrast dye, the MRI went well. To my relief both of the MRI techs spoke English and were very friendly. In fact the highlight of my appointment was chatting with them. One of them was a young girl (I would guess around 21) who asked me if I had had an MRI before. I told her yes, and she asked me where I had the MRI done. I responded Seattle. Her eyes lit up and she exclaimed "OH! Grey's Anatomy!!!" I laughed and nodded. She repeated "Grey's Anatomy" a few times, and I realized she was asking me if I had the MRI done at "Grey's Anatomy." I couldn't help but laugh, and told her it was made up. There is no Seattle Grace Hospital, it is a fake hospital for the show. She seemed really disappointed to hear the hospital wasn't real. It made me chuckle.

Despite all of my worries and stress, the appointment went well, and I have yet again survived an experience in a German hospital. As I often remind myself "It's not bad, just different." That and "Free MRI, free MRI."