MRI #?

Today I'm going in for an MRI. It's nothing new. When I filled out the online questionnaire I was asked (in 500 characters or less) to share how many MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, and X-Rays I'd had in the past. It also demanded I tell them how many surgeries I’d had in so many characters. I literally LOL.

This particular one is because a few months ago I had a flashing in my right eye. It was very odd--I thought at first it was because of a bright light, but realized after a few seconds it wasn't fading and even when I clenched my eyes shut, I could still "see" this light. Eventually, it went away, but reared its ugly head a few days later.

I called my neuro-op, who told me to contact another retinal op to check it out. Long story short, because the light in my eye was crescent-shaped and could be seen even with the eye shut, it wasn’t my eye that was seeing the light, but actually my brain. He suggested an MRI. I’d had an MRI last spring, but he said another MRI would be a good idea, just to check everything out.

I remember saying at the appointment that I couldn’t remember the time when I’d had the last MRI. Dr. G looked it up for me. An intern shadowing Dr. G actually laughed.. “How can you not remember?”

I wanted to slug him, but simply said, “I’ve had so many in the last 20 years they all run together.” Or something like that.

Yes, folks, are we surprised that there are insensitive and ableist attitudes even in the hallowed halls of a well-regarded hospital? Not me.

So, I’m going in for another MRI, which will probably say nothing or show me something new to deal with. I’m trying to be more open about my dealings with Ollier’s lately. Not because I want sympathy, but because I feel that so many keep health issues under lock and key, and that is ableist thinking taking over. I want everyone to share their struggles, because I think that can help break that myth of illness being a weakness rather than just one more issue we all have to deal with in life.