Had my MRI scan today

It wasn't too bad; the prep was worse tbh. I wasn't 100% certain but I thought I recognised the delightful taste of tepid, scummy washing up water flavoured with lemon detergent AKA MoviPrep. I had to get down a litre of that stuff ASAP. Nightmare. Halfway through I began to feel quite ill and was worried about throwing up. The hospital really didn't give enough time for it to work IMO. I went three times before the scan, but at least two more times afterwards.

The scan itself went okay. The nurse had a faint Aussie twang; she was brisk and efficient in a pretty typical NHS nurse type of way, but not unpleasant. I was weighed: 40kg with clothes on. The nurse said there was nothing of me :-/ Anyway, I got ready for going into the scanner: laid down on the bed, pulled jeans partly down, got as comfortable as I could (important that bit, since the nurse kept on stressing I couldn't move), and put on ear muffs. I was given a buzzer to hold. Then it began.

And honestly, it was almost over as soon as it began. At first it was weird, but only due to the loud noises, which were a bit startling at first. But after a while I not only got used to them, I found them oddly relaxing. Along with being told to hold my breath several times. (Tip: take a good, deep breath as a couple of times I got uncomfortable with holding it.) I didn't feel remotely claustrophic: I was looking out onto a room and hardly had the sensation of being inside a tunnel at all. I was comfortable, apart from my jaw; that was digging into the pillow and I was too scared to shift position! Whether I was feeling drained after the prep or they had given me a mild sedative after all (the nurse did inject me beforehand; not sure whether it was to take blood or give me something), but I was quite sleepy. I don't remember dozing off, but I think I must have done, because it only felt like I was in there for about 5 minutes.

I was a bit disappointed afterwards not to see a doctor or get at least a rough idea of how my insides looked. Tried to make an appointment at reception. Couldn't do it but the receptionist said she would get in touch with the doctor's secretary for me. So I should get an appointment date soon. God knows when it will be for, though - probably 6 months from now :-/

That's about it. Just one last thing. The first couple that mum and I met in the waiting room were lovely. But later on, after I'd visited the toilet a few times, a woman opposite me said in peevish tones to her husband, "the toilet stinks!". I wanted to tell her, "Look, love. First of all, you try getting Crohn's, a condition not renowned for creating fragrant-smelling BMs. Then you swallow a litre of foul-tasting stuff designed to make you go as fast as possible, and we'll see how much like roses your stools smell." But I didn't. >_>

Thanks, babs.

Tbh, I don't much like air fresheners. I think trying to cover up a foul smell with an artificially perfumed one just makes it smell even more horrible... :/ I don't know about Poo-pourri (good name!), though. Not heard of that one.

For whatever it's worth, I actually am not insensible to my own foul odours and horrible noises. I try not to go in public and when it's unavoidable, I try to leave the toilet looking as clean as I would like to find it. It's not my fault if my BMs don't smell like roses and, yes, it irked me to hear that woman say something in petty tones. Particularly as I was opposite her and she probably knew I was the one who'd done it, if she had spotted me coming out of it.

Nanners - That's not a bad idea actually. Of course I'd have to be able to get through to somebody first <_<. That's far from guaranteed. I'll see how far away the appointment is first. If it's months, then I definitely will try to find out the results over the phone or from my GP beforehand.

I didn't want to say, but my poop actually smells like turkish delight - the rose ones ;p

Glad it went well, other than the smelly-toilet comment.

I'm currently working my way through a batch of movi-prep. It's much better than Go-Lytely, I have to say. I have some lemonade flavored powder I was prepared to add, but so far I haven't needed it. But..the night is still young!

Whoop, well done you! I was sending you good thoughts all yesterday, was so hoping it would go well for you! There really is nothing of you, i've got nearly 22kgs on you and i'm the one heading for surgery!! Although this is still my pred weight, plus the anti depressant i'm taking makes me eat like a horse. Most of the last year i was barely hitting 55kgs.

Thanks, folks :p

The hospital really are useless; I received my MRI appointment date by post today >_>. I suppose I should be grateful that at least somebody was on the ball enough last Friday to phone me, otherwise I'd be having to do some pretty hasty rescheduling today. The information sheets provided with the appointment letter did at least let me know what the injection was: a colourless contrast dye to show up your bowels more clearly apparently. It also said that buscopan was injected, to relax your bowels. If that's true it must have worn off just as I went to bed... Bad spasming for the fail when all you want to do is fall asleep.

@choc/Ivy - Nobody seems to care about my weight :-/ I am only 5'0", so maybe they think my weight is normal! I also think it's the fact that my weight has held steady for quite a long time: over a year. (Although 40kg represents a slight drop in weight of 1-2kg.) The thing is, I am not naturally a slender-boned ectomorph with a superfast metabolism. I have a medium frame and, pre-Crohn's, was of normal weight with a tendency towards putting on weight, if anything. (Was overweight in my late childhood and teens...) All the weight loss I've undergone in the past few years has been solely down to the effects of having Crohn's: I discovered that I could actually lose weight rather fast, as well put it on rather fast. And whatever I've lost I've not been able to put back on. Steroids, which seem to turn most folks into slavering, ravenous beasts when faced with a food cupboard, never had that effect on me.

Erm... so anyway! I've decided to wait a week, then if I haven't heard anything by then, to phone up :p

NCOT I have found my doctors get concerned with my weight. I am 6 ft1 and am currently 137 lbs. Not sure what that is in kgs, In the past 3 weeks i have lost 8 lbs :( I also cant fit into any of my clothes at the moment. Even my skinny clothes. I havent been able to keep my weight since I have had children. :( (((((((hugs))))))))

My 2c:

It's getting close to (or is, or is overdue) the time for speaking to a patient advocate...

I've heard of NACC, but have never had any dealings with them...

I'm not sure what I would ask :-/