The MRI and the Case of the Missing Panties......new medical update included

Deryl says................................... I took Kelley to get an MRI on Friday. Kelley has mostly good days but it hits her the worst whenever she has a medical appointment. It just brings the reality of cancer to the forefront of her mind.

Kelley is very squeamish. She faints when she gets her blood drawn. She can faint by having the details of a medical procedure done or just explained to her. When it hits she gets very hot on the face and starts sweating. Usually she will have to bend over and put her head between her knees and breath until she feels normal again. You will see why I told you this a little later

One thing in all of this that Kelley has enjoyed is that at her doctor appointments she only has to undress from the waist up. So when the guy told her to put on the hospital gown and he'd be right back she said "You mean from the waist up?" He replies, "Well, do your pants have a zipper in them?" She says, "Yes, they do". To which he replies, "Then you will need to take everything off, but its okay, just leave your underwear on". Kelley says to the guy, "I am so embarrassed, because I am not wearing any!” Thankfully, he was great about it and made her feel at ease.

They did not have a difficult time getting the IV started. But Kelley felt the heat in her face. 
They escort Kelley into the MRI room.

Kelley says........................................... When we got to the car I said to Deryl, "Word to the wise.....Wear panties to all future medical procedures!" We got a really good laugh out of that one. He asked me what the machine looked like and I didn't even look at the machine!! When I walked into that room, all I saw was a table  with two square holes in it where I knew I was supposed to put my boobs. It really looked similar to a massage table. But I can assure you I was not getting any enjoyment or relaxation out of this! Anyway, all I could think about was how in the heck am I going to get up on that table and remain modest. A lady helped me and it all worked out. But man those holes were big! I told Deryl I thought they should at least have small, medium and large size holes so those of us who aren't as blessed don't have to feel so bad!!!!


About 15 minutes into it, I feel something drip down my arm. Then another drip. Then several more drips. I'm thinking that this just can't be good. I ring the bell and I tell him what is going on. Turns out, my IV had came out!!!! Oh my gosh, can you say GROSS!!!! Blood & IV fluid were dripping down my arm! YUCK! He must have apologized 10 times. He had to move the IV to the other side. He finished and when he got the MRI started going again I started getting a horrible stomach ache, which has been the norm the past two weeks. I felt like my face was on fire and my food was in my throat. I start sweating horribly and a drop of sweat is on the end of my nose. And I can't move! I was so nervous and anxious that I felt like I was going to come out of my skin. I just started thinking how am I going to do this? This is the first of many tests. I just didn't know what to do.


Earlier this year, I started writing down scripture verses on index cards to memorize. All I could think of to do was start quoting some of those verses. The two I could think of at that moment were Isaiah 26:3 and Proverbs 3:5. I quoted them over and over. I started to calm down and knew I was going to be able to make it through this. And before I knew it, it was over.


Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you"


Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths"

Deryl says....................................... Although these appointments are not fun. We did laugh about this one a while. I was not with her in the room when all of it happened. But when she told the story I could just imagine the look of panic on her face when she realized she was going to have to tell them she was not wearing panties. Or her "Oh Great!" face when she tried to figure out how to climb up on that table and then have some strange lady crawl under the table to "adjust" her boobs through the holes to get them positioned correctly. Finally as she described that sweat ball hanging on the end of her nose, all I could remember was a SNL skit with Gilda Radner as Rosanna Rosanna Danna talking about how "that little sweat ball just wouldn't fall off". If you do not know what I am talking about you can see a video of it here http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ms8h_saturday-night-live-roseanne-rosann_fun. So at least we are getting a good laugh out of this sometimes.

The doctor called us on Saturday to give us the results of the MRI. When Kelley got the message that the doctor called on Saturday she panicked. I tried not to show it but I was very concerned as well. Doctors don't call on Saturday unless it is bad we were thinking. But when the doctor called us back the results were good. The MRI showed no additional masses in either breast or lymph nodes. They still have to test the lymph nodes when she has surgery but this was very good news for us and it was great to see Kelley happy and smiling for the rest of the day. One more hurdle crossed successfully feels really good and gives us more hope.