Modern Medicine, BONG, BONG, BONG

I had to have one of those new imaging tests this week, an MRA. That's like an MRI, only it's not for bone pictures but rather for imaging softer organs. So I was told. I wonder how many of you have had one of them? They are really popular these days, but I don't know why. BONG, BONG, clackety, clack. clack, BONG! Why would anybody chose to go through something like that? Clackety, clack, clack, BONG! The people who service you are usually very nice. They have to be, to put up with that Clackety, clack, clack, BONG! several times a day. They warn you it's going to be noisy. They stuff your ears to minimize the noise, but I have a secret. Don't tell them but (it really doesn't help much).

I guess they really try. They tell you how long the test will last. BONG, BONG, BONG, clackety, clack, clack, BONG! Halfway through they tell you how many minutes you have left. Clackety, clack, clack, BONG! They warn you when they are going to put a dye in your veins Clackety, warm flush, clack clack, BONG, end of flush. Then it's all over, and they rejoice with you that now you can go and have a nice day. Of course you do. Anything is better than that BONG, BONG, BONG ringing in your head.

I think I got the rhythm wrong. I never differentiate the clacks from the BONGS. I just put up with the noise by thinking about something else like sheep flying across cloudy skies or the jobs I want to get done yet today. But those of you who work with it will recognize the song. I guess we need to put up with it. The pictures physicians get paint excellent pictures of what is going on in our heads or necks or wherever you had yours done. Years ago the doctor would always have to do "exploratory surgery" to get this kind of info. I'm thinking the clackety, clack, BONG, BONG stuff is better than that. So thank you, staff people who do the clacking and the BONGING. And now I'll turn the message around--now YOU have a nice day!

Warmly, grateful, but enjoying the end of the clackety-clacks and BONGING,
Margaret