Turned down an MRI today.

[John Schmidt]

Was supposed to be of the prostate....which isn't causing any problems and I don't get up at night except to help mama. But the PSA has gone sky high so the urologist(penis machinist) wants a picture of it. They walked me into the area where the machine is located and before changing clothes I asked to see the machine, I'm very claustrophobic so wanted to know just how confining it is. My first look brought doubts so I asked where my head would be and she motioned about 2' feet inside....saying "your head will be about here." My reaction; "not today honey." When asked about it I simply told her at my age I'll be in a coffin soon enough, I'll be darned if I'm going into one volutarily before then. She showed me the door out and I left after she gave a number to call to arrange with their office for an anesthesia process.

What I don't understand is why do they insist on using those models that are so confining, I would barely have room for my shoulders in there and the roof of the coffin would be an inch off my nose. A bit over two years ago I had a different office do an MRI on my hip and my head was mostly exposed, plus the tunnel was much wider, nearly 36". The roof of the tunnel was ~12" off my nose and was much easier to handle. When I asked why I have to go all the way in, the nurse simply brushed it off by saying it was necessary. So I suggested my hip is in the same general region as the prostate and the last MRI done on it didn't involve total immersion. And, to make bad matters worse....they have an open MRI but won't do prostate exams on it. Also told me they don't do joints, brain, a few other things on it so I asked why they even have it. No answer! Guess I'll check with the last place I had the hip done and see if they do prostate exams....hopefully without the endorectal coil insertion. That's a whole different way of spending a lovely afternoon.    The hospital where I was today doesn't use it but I know some locations will if their machine is a lower power with 1.5 Tesla magnets as opposed to later model machines with 3.0 Tesla magnets. It supposedly enhances the imaging somehow on the low power units. Nothing so enjoyable as walking in and having them say "after you change clothes, we're going to shove this little gem up your butt, blow it up a bit(it's enclosed in a balloon looking cover), then ask you to relax and lay still for 30-40 minutes." Can't help but wonder if they buy you dinner or a drink first since you hardly know them....afterall, you just met. 

Stay tuned in case this has a good ending! Pun intended.    Or as my daughter said...."hang in there dad."  Then busted out with hilarious laughing....should have spanked her more when she was little. 

[bassman]

I know of which you speak.....had that MRI last year and yes it was snug and I'm not that big.  I was in to the top of my head for about 40-45 minutes.  They also asked me if I was claustrophobic and I told them I should be OK if it didn't last more than 45 minutes. They said I could have a mild sedative if wanted something to calm me down.  I opted for the headsets with the music of my choice instead.

MY issue was was the Gadolinium they used for the contrast.  Everything went fine until the next day on a Saturday morning when I woke up with a upper body rash and a blister on my lip the size of a green pea.  By Sunday the green pea grew to the size of a large grape AND the entire roof of my mouth had a blister that felt like and the size of a wet teabag.  Called the facility the did the MRI on Monday and was told by the doctor that the Gadolinium does NOT cause those types of reactions.  Torn between going to a derm or my regular doctor on Monday morning and decided on my regular doctor who told me that the Gadolinium was, in fact, the cause of the rash and blisters.  He gave me a shot and some cream and everything cleared up in a couple of days.  He told me that is some nasty stuff.  Spoke with my urologist and he basically told me the same thing - Gadolinium is some very nasty stuff for SOME people who are allergic to it and it can build up in the system with repeated usage.  Needless to say, Gadolinium is on my do not use, ever again, list.  They is other less offensive contrast that can be used for MRI's for sissys like me !   

[Pete]

Stop, do not mess around with this.
Put on your big boy pants and get it done with someone that knows what they are doing.

Not someone who will not answer questions.

I have done the small MRI thing and it is not fun, at 225 I do not fit well in them.

[Jess from VA]

When my PSA came in a little bit high (like a point, to point and a half over high normal), there was no discussion of an MRI at all. (about 12-13 years ago)

They just poked something the size of a big plantain banana up my ass, rotated it around like a bike throttle (watching the ultrasound TV for optimal placement), and zapped out 12 chunks of my prostate.

You'll feel a little prick now.    Very funny.....and you know, I have no previous experience with this, but that thing doesn't feel little at all).  

I passed (bright red) blood for close to a week or more and that was disturbing (no other symptoms though).

I held my breath for two weeks, and it was all negative.

My urologist's name was Dr Sausage Fingers.

John, my understanding is that most prostate cancer is very slow growth with little to no symptoms (and that a healthy percentage of dead old men had it and never knew it, and it didn't kill them), but some small percentage can be a fast growth type.  It would be real nice to know which one you had (if any) before committing to any treatment at all.

I'm always disturbed by the fact that a percentage of expensive medical treatments can earn Dr's a great deal of money, but not really be necessary for the patient.  (and I don't care if it insurance or me paying the bill either)

Neither radical surgery, radiation, radioactive seeds or chemotherapy is anything I ever want to go through.   

[da prez]

 John , ask about an open MRI. They have them for those with a phobia and size issue.


              da prez

[cookiedough]

don't worry,  you will still get the bill for the OFFICE visit of say 300-500 bucks even if they did nothing besides chat.

I finally got in for my yearly physical exam (about 3+ years overdue) a few weeks ago and the Dr. ASKED ME if anything else wanted to discuss so I told him about my tightness in my middle part of my tummy having now had it twice the past over 1 month.    He wanted to do another blood test (Lipase) or something like that starting with an L.  bloodwork came back negative, but just got the bill and Dr. decided since that ONE question was ABOVE and BEYOND what a yearly physical exam so he decided to bill me another 250 bucks which is NOT covered thru insurance like a yearly physical exam is.  PLUS,  I had excessive ear wax buildup during my ROUTINE yearly exam looking into my ear and he asked if I wanted to get my ears flushed out with warm solution.  Sure,  another 145 bucks later also NOT covered thru my insurance but both the 250 2nd office visit and 145 ear flush during SAME fricking 30 minute yearly exam is now going to cost me 495 bucks plus the lipase blood test is also not covered another 80 bucks + 30 for blood draw charge so UNREAL over 600 bucks for a frickin yearly physical exam which all goes to my 1500 deductible I have to meet first.

Needless to say,  NOT going back to dr. EVER again nor going to pay for anything either besides I guess 145 bucks for the ear flush which is technically not done I do not think during a yearly physical exam.    How the F can a 30-45 minute office visit for yearly exam wind up over 1000 bucks total charge?  Rip off artists the whole lot of them!!!

[Atl-Jerry]

After going thru this earlier this year that ended with prostate surgery, I don't recall reading/discussing an MRI for the prostate.  After the biopsy that confirmed the cancer, the next step was nuclear medicine to determine if it had spread outside the prostate.  After they injected the contrast I waited a few hours then they stuffed me into the machine.  I was surprised that it appeared to be an old style machine in a  very modern facility and they said it wasn't a "regular" MRI machine and it was special.  After we got the results from that test we determined the best course of treatment.

My wife is very  claustrophobic and she needed an MRI a few years ago.  After one failed attempt they gave her a pill to help her relax.  Within a half hour she was out cold and we took her in on a gurney.   

[Skinhead]

Obama care made it all more affordable.  Thanks Barry.

[Patrick]

Close your eyes and fall asleep.

[Rams]

Was just inside of one of those smaller MRI machines.   Wasn't the most enjoyable experience but the end result was proof of something my wife has questioned for years.   I now have verifiable evidence, there is a brain in there........

Now, she expects me to use it........   

Rams. 

[0leman]

Had  a MRI last year, they needed to see what was wrong with  left shoulder.  Spent nearly an hour in one of those things.  It was the 36" type.  Not saying that I am small, do wear a size 48 jacket (35" pants), so it wasn't a real tight fit.  They put headphones on me and tuned to my type of music.  Closed my eyes, time went pretty fast.  I did have to move around a bit for pic's. 

Find a bigger type and enjoy.  Though have a question, why do you need to go in head first for prostate look?

[bassman]

Good reason for prostate MRI....

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/19/mri-biopsy-prostate-cancer-diagnosis-research-nhs

They do offer "open air" type machine for folks that don't like confined spaces.....

[DirtyDan]

Close your eyes and fall asleep.

+1

Dan

[Jess from VA]

Good reason for prostate MRI....

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/19/mri-biopsy-prostate-cancer-diagnosis-research-nhs

They do offer "open air" type machine for folks that don't like confined spaces.....

Well thank you for answering that question for me.    (Twice as reliable as biopsy is a winner)

I'm not really claustrophobic, but I didn't enjoy being rolled up in a big carpet and stood up against the swingset one afternoon in 3d grade either.  (really tight places are not my friend; well most of them.)

And I'm pretty sure I'd rather get stuffed in a tube, than go though another episode of greasy banana with electric needles up the ass.  

Some of this advanced medicine is just too close to the Spanish Inquisition for my liking.

[John Schmidt]

Find a bigger type and enjoy.  Though have a question, why do you need to go in head first for prostate look?

Wasn't going in head first, just was going in so far my head was approx. 2' inside.

Pete....it's not a matter of the "big boy pants" being needed. Things happen in one's life along the way that you have no idea how you'll react to it later. Oft times you have no control over it, this is one of those things. As for my doctor, he's good and one of the few that will take the time to listen. He's young, 40-ish, and well liked by young and old(me) because of his personality and cautious approach. I told him I wanted nothing invasive done unless the facts and tests support it. He agreed fully.

[Savago]

But the PSA has gone sky high so the urologist(penis machinist) wants a picture of it.

LOL! I was reading this and couldn't stop laughing at this part... 'Penis machinist'!
 

[John Schmidt]

But the PSA has gone sky high so the urologist(penis machinist) wants a picture of it.

LOL! I was reading this and couldn't stop laughing at this part... 'Penis machinist'!
 

A military term which I found appropriate based on the experience of fellow members during those times. I never had need of one until a few years ago when I developed a kidney stone that wouldn't pass and ended up in the hospital for a week. The urologist that took the case while I was in the ER would have made a good poster boy for that particular term, I kicked him off my case in short order. I was in rather intense pain and he was handling me(mine) like a steamfitter with an attitude. 

[Pete]

Find a bigger type and enjoy.  Though have a question, why do you need to go in head first for prostate look?

Wasn't going in head first, just was going in so far my head was approx. 2' inside.

Pete....it's not a matter of the "big boy pants" being needed. Things happen in one's life along the way that you have no idea how you'll react to it later. Oft times you have no control over it, this is one of those things. As for my doctor, he's good and one of the few that will take the time to listen. He's young, 40-ish, and well liked by young and old(me) because of his personality and cautious approach. I told him I wanted nothing invasive done unless the facts and tests support it. He agreed fully.

John, my only concern is that this is serious stuff and I know you have some high priorities that you must handle and you need to be in good health, so take care of it ASAP. No one wants anything but the best outcome for you. Please do not delay as this may be serious stuff.

[John Schmidt]

Pete, that's my plan, I'll be following through this following week with a different agency that uses a much larger machine and it's also shorter. When they did my hip a couple years ago, when my hip was in position in the center, my feet were sticking out the other end. I'm hopeful they offer prostate MRIs, I found out not all do which surprised me. And yes, it's important stuff, I want to know the severity of the problem....if it even exists. The 4K blood test a couple months back showed a 75% probability of cancer being present, the test is much more accurate than the elevated PSA in predicting the advent of cancer but like all tests....it's not perfect either. So in the mean time, my daily prayer is "Lord, don't let me get sick while I'm caring for my Rita."  I believe that will happen, but only time will bear me out.