Sort of.
Had an MRI scan today for a long-running ankle problem which really affects my swimming.
I was terrified; not about the scan as such, more about the fact that I needed a cannula (a tube inserted into a vein) for contrast to be added. Considering I have a huge phobia of needles/injections, and I'm fairly scared of anything to do with veins, especially on my wrist, a cannula's pretty much my worst nightmare.
The nurse at the Children's Hospital was really nice; she explained that since I was pretty much 'adult size', they could get any doctor to put the cannula in, and not a specialised children/teens doctor.
Hence, the doctor came into the treatment room, and the nurse sat with me, and they started to put the cannula into a vein on my left hand.
Apparently, it looked like I had very good veins for cannulas, mainly because my veins seem big and obvious. However, the first needle 'blew'- ie, failed- so they tried with a different vein on my right hand.
This time, they got it all sorted, and flushed saline through to check it was all working. It wasn't. The saline merely caused a small swelling on my hand. So that cannula was taken out.
This time, they phoned for a children/teen specialist- causing a longer wait, during which I managed to get myself more worried. Though they used numbing spray, the injection hurt, and I wasn't keen on the idea of having another!
Though the first doctor was nice, the second doctor was lovely, and I calmed down a bit. She explained the problems they were having, and why it wasn't working- turns out I have fragile veins. The third, on my left wrist, also didn't work, but thankfully they got it tostick in a vein on my left inner elbow.
We then had to cross to the other building, and wait a while longer. The actual MRI was very very boring- lying completely still (a hard challenge!) with lots of noise for about 50 minutes with a short break where they put contrast through the cannula; a bit nervy as though the cannula was secure, there was still a chance of it failing. I was very glad when the whole thing was over!
With four different needle punctures- and a bruise on each one- I was fairly achy last night; I turned up at swimming but got out almost immediately. Turns out that having only one fully working limb isn't so great for training. Luckily the aching is less now, I'm just a bit bruised.
Two weeks minimum till we get the results. Hopefully they'll show something conclusive!!