Still 84...

I can't believe I almost forgot!

Friday I went in for an arthrogram of my hip! After a long and chilly bus ride, I arrived in Boston just before 6am. Andy came and picked me up (bless his tardy soul), and we went back to my house and napped until about 930am.

Here's where the fun begins. I called the doctor's office Thursday to verify the details of my appointment. To my surprise, the receptionist told me my x-ray was scheduled for 10am. I knew my appointment was at 10am, but I'd already gotten an x-ray. What gives? I told the rather cranky lady that I already had an x-ray so she told me that I didn't need to be in until 11 for my MRI. Ok, sweet, that's how I was able to nap.

Get back into Boston for my appointment and check in at 1030 only to be told that my appointment was at 10 in x-ray. "But I've already had an x-ray." I was confused. Apparently, an arthrogram is sort of an x-ray. At least, it involves an x-ray. I had no idea. No one ever told me that. This lady, however, was very nice. She told me that was fine and they could take me anyway. What a relief! The lady next to her, however, gave me dirty looks. Whatever. How was I to know?

When we finally find radiology (with the help of a contractor working in the building), I sign in, they hand me some forms, and I wait. It was only about ten minutes until the nurse called my name. Now, at this point I'm a bit nervous, but I'm holding it together quite well.

After I change, they bring into the room; I sit on the paper covered table. Nothing strange yet. Another form, this one stating that I understand the risk. You know: infection, disease, loss of limb, death, the usual. After some chit chat with the nurse and the doctor, the needles come out. It's game time.

Starts with some Novocain. Just one shot and it worked surprisingly quickly and didn't hurt too much. The doctor told me that it should feel like pressure, not sharp pain. Sounds like fun, right? Wasn't so bad but it was so cool to watch!

So, I'm lying down on my table and up on my right is the x-ray done in real time. This means I can watch as they shove a needle into my hip joint. I mean, yeah, I can feel it, but it doesn't hurt exactly. I just feels weird. The best part was watching the ink fill the joint.