MRI experience today

After changing into "scrubs", they forced my hips into a very unnatural and painful position, as they needed it extended as much as possible.  Then they taped my knees, legs, and ankle into this position, so that there was no possible way to move or even twitch.  Within a couple of minutes, the pain was excruciating.  They covered me with a warm blanket, as the room was absolutely the coldest I ever remember being in, and after plugging in ear plugs for me, into the machine I went.

The machine, to look at it, is kind of a hybrid between an open Tube and an old school Closed Tube MRI.  They said it had the highest penetration and resolution rate possible.

Having been through MRI's before, I was prepared for the closed in feeling  (even turned down Valium for that), and knew there would be lots of creepy noises, I was ok with that part.

It took them 40 minutes to take all the different sets of images the doctor wanted.  I lost counting the sets in my head after 12, there may have been as many as 14-15 sets.

As each set was approved by the Imaging Doctor, they were sending them electronically directly to the Ortho doctor in the same medical complex.

A few times, I almost got overcome with pain, and was about to hit the panic ball  ( it was a hand held, wireless, rubber type ball - that if I squeezed it, it would have aborted the imaging run and rolled me out of the machine), but I resisted, not wanting to do this all over again.

When done, they had to untie me and help me up, I had severe knee, back, and hip pain going on at the same time.  Wished I had brought someone with me to drive me home, but didnt think I needed it.

I will know the results at 11 in the morning, tommorow, Friday.  I still have to hold on to the hope that there is no evidence of mets at this time, although the normally expected ortho related causes have been ruled out.

David in SC

Speaking as someone who failed at that, I applaud your courage for hanging in there.  Good luck with the results.

wishing you the BEST...you could use a break!

bob

GAMMS

-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Badenell Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 5:07 PM
To: Chuck Maack; 'B^2 Cambridge'; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [CHB] Treatment via Ferumoxytol

Bill, Chuck, et al.

I have been to Sand Lake and found the facility and staff excellent.  I was
infused with Feraheme (ferumoxytol) on the first day and then had a CT of
the abdomen and pelvis.  24 hours later I went to their second location and
had an MRI of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.

This session was recommended by the Dattoli Cancer Center in Sarasota, FL.
I am fortunate enough to live just south of Sarasota so the trip to Orlando
only cost the one night in a motel.  The first day I was done by 10 AM so my

wife and I spent the afternoon at Sea World.

The second day I was done by 2 PM and we drove home in time for dinner.

My insurance, Medicare and Blue Cross covered all of the imaging.  They do
not cover the cost of the infusion as it is "off license" or whatever the
term is.  Feraheme is proven safe but is not FDA approved for use with
Prostate Cancer.  The cost of the infusion was $900.00 payable at the time
of treatment.  Like I said all of the imaging was covered by insurance.

In my case fortunately all of the results were negative (which is good in
cancer speak).  They looked at all my organs and lymph nodes.  I have CD's
of all of the scans as well as interpretation and observations by Dr.
Stephen Bravo who runs the clinic.

All of the results were faxed to Dattoli.

As a result of the negative metastasis findings I underwent radiation
treatment of the prostate bed at Dattoli and just finished in late June.  My

next PSA test is in October to see if the results are favorable.

My PSA at the time of treatment was 0.26 four years after a radical
prostatectomy.  My PSA had been undetectable for three and a half years.

If there are any further questions, feel free to ask.

Ed

Post Edited (Trepidation) : 7/15/2011 12:47:37 PM (GMT-6)

Don