Saturday, October 29, 2011

Experiences with an MRI

Dear Dr. 

Acting upon your orders, I applied for, and received, a magnetic resonance imaging of my spine. It was an interesting session to say the least.

It's not that I don't mind an occasional unsettling occurrence, viz.

Having to divest my clothes for a flimsy, ill fitting, and embarrassing hospital gown (gownie)
Enclosed (squeezed) into a coffin-like atmosphere for 30 minutes.
Inability to scratch a fierce itch on my face
A freezing westerly wind reaching 40 miles per hour against my face
Enduring a half hour of ear piercing sounds resembling a Philip Glass symphony*

It just that I don't like them all at once!

I beg to remain, Sir, your most humble, obedient and aching patient.
Bob

*I must confess that the scherzo in the 4th movement of Glass’ MRI Symphony was rather likable with his typical repetitive sounds - Bob's Back, Bob's Back, Bob's Back, Bob's Back, etc.

PS: After the session, I felt as if I had an out-of-body experience. Then I remembered a brass plaque on the MRI machine:  A Gift From the Mary Shelley Foundation.  Kinda makes you wonder. 


This week's refrigerator magnet:
"In the end everything will be all right
If it's not all right
 ... it's not the end"

1 comment:

  1. Uncle Bob, you need to find an "open air" MRI, they're not nearly as claustrophobic! And next time, you might wanna try bringing your own music to listen to since those MRI technicians are an unruly lot. Since Phillip Glass isn't enhancing your MRI mojo, may I suggest a little foray into, oh, I dunno, maybe John Cage? That ought to keep the gray cells occupado for awhile. ;)

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