MRI stress out

Anyone who has had the pleasure of being within a close proximity to me lately will, no doubt, be sick of hearing about all of my ailments. This year I swear I've been unwell more often than not. Is this what happens in old age?! I feel like I'm constantly on Google checking out my symptoms and self diagnosing...not a good thing to do, especially if you're a natural born worrier like yours truly. 

For those of you who haven't been updated (where have you been!?!) basically I've been having problems with my stomach. I won't bore you too much but for the past two years I've randomly been getting awful stomach cramps which, make me chuck everything up and they last for a good few hours! I can go for months without it and then suddenly it'll occur every couple of weeks. Literally the most frustrating (and painful) thing I've ever experienced. It got so bad in January of this year I ended up in A&E. 

To cut a long story as short as possible I've been on and off medication but nothing seems to work. I've had an ultrasound, to see if it's kidney stones or gallstones, which showed up clear. I've had god knows how many blood tests and again all clear. Everyone is pretty baffled by what is causing this random cramping.  So my doctor referred me to a specialist. He then referred me on for further tests, because he yet again thinks it could be gallstones or an ulcer. The Dr decided I need an MRI scan and cameras to go down and check out my lovely insides (literally dreading that which is in January so hold tight for that blog entry...gonna be a good'un.....Not!). 

The MRI appointment came through mega quick and I was booked in to have it yesterday. I got to the hospital early, accompanied by my mum of course because I'm a massive baby, and was told to head back outside to the mobile MRI unit. Now I don't know what I was expecting, but I was pretty much strapped to this tiny thin table which they then began to slide in to, what can only be described as, a smartie tube. I kid you not this tube was so narrow my nose was about a centimetre from the top, and it was fully enclosed the whole way round. Needless to say Miss Worry here had a panic attack before I even got a quarter of the way in. They pulled me out and tried to calm me down as the tears streamed down my face (I'm so dramatic I know). In my defence I did try a second time but the claustrophobia was just too overwhelming. The guy told me that I shouldn't beat myself up over it because out of the 16 or so patients they get a day, 3 will have the same reaction as me and can't go through with it. Anyway I came home yesterday feeling like a complete idiot and knowing everyone would take the pee out of me. The problem is I know I need to have this done but there is no way I can go back in that tube from hell....so back on Google I go! 

I've managed to find an open MRI scanner which, as it says on the tin, is open at the sides so you don't feel like you're about to be buried alive. The only problem is that the NHS probably won't fund it so I will have to fund myself. The cost is approx £450 - £600 which isn't really a problem (cue the credit card) and the way I think about it is people pay loads of money for cosmetic surgery so I'm just going to pay for a few pictures of my insides! My mum & dad have offered to pay for some of it as my christmas present! Can you imagine when people ask what presents I got and my reply would be along the lines of "perfume, earrings, chocolates, oh and an appointment for a gastrointestinal MRI scan".

Isn't that what every girl wants for christmas?? ;) x