Leave house at 10:15 am. Drive hour to Hillcrest Medical Center. Check in at Outpatient Imaging before 11:30
am. Fill out paperwork and register with
nice middle-age woman with waist-length hair.
Wait. At noon, follow the technician
back to the MRI area. Mention that the
vein on the top of my left hand has a history of blow-outs mere seconds before
it blows out. Endure second stab to base of left thumb.
Lie perfectly still on stomach for
twenty minutes while machine clangs and bangs for breast MRI. Savor sound of a radio station through
earphones during brief silences. After
technician injects contrast dye into IV, continue to lie still for last minutes
of MRI. Wait as table slides out of
machine. Sit up and wait till dizziness passes; then, go put on top-half
clothing again.
Walk short hallway to Peggy V.
Helmerich Women’s Health Center and check in at
Leta M. Chapman Breast Health Center at 1 pm for right-breast
mammogram. Find out appointment is for 2 pm. Wait.
Complete registration, have hospital bracelet removed and new one put
on. Wait.
Follow technician to changing
room. Change. Follow her to 3-D mammogram room. Try to follow her directions to get into and
maintain impossible positions for mammogram.
Stop breathing and start breathing as instructed. Feel grateful that squeezed breast does not
hurt as much as it did six months ago.
Walk back to changing room, but
don’t get dressed yet. Wait to see if
radiologist needs more pictures. Suddenly
start feeling afraid, remembering diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound from May
2016 when radiologist gave cancer diagnosis.
Breathe sigh of relief when technician reappears and gives the all
clear. “See you in six months,” she says
cheerily.
Follow hallways to main hospital
entrance and purchase from Starbucks an Americano and bakery treat. Freeze outside as walking back to car.
Drive home. Arrive at 4 pm and collapse on couch.
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