Yesterday, I had what was supposed to be my last medical test this week ... an MRI. It was a rather odd experience. I was face-down for the procedure, which meant that my claustrophobia did not kick in because I could not see that I was inside a tube. Everyone comments on the awful banging sound that the machine makes, but it is mostly like being at a bus stop while someone with a jackhammer works on the street near you. (I had headphones on, with classical music; but I really couldn't hear much of the music.)
After that, I was really looking forward to a few days with no trips to the various hospital clinics and no one sticking any needles into me.
Unfortunately, the MRI turned up more "suspicious" areas, so I have to go in for a second biopsy tomorrow morning. This has me pretty upset, because the first one was definitely an awful experience.
It did not help that the radiologist failed to tell my doctor that no one had "informed the patient," so the first thing I got was a phone message from a scheduler telling me I have a biopsy at 8:00 tomorrow morning. My reaction was somewhere between WTF!? and NOOOO!!
Of course, I called back immediately, but the scheduler had no information about why I was supposed to have a second biopsy. And everyone else was at lunch. I pretty much lost it at that point, and I think that I pushed the poor woman way beyond her pay grade.
My doctor had the good grace to call shortly afterward and apologize for the lack of explanation. She is all for more getting data on the extent of the cancer, and I can see that is quite rational. Unfortunately, I am not feeling terribly rational.
I am not a stoic person. If the diagnostic tests are this stressful, how am I going to get through the actual treatment?
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