Big Things, In Tight Places

Sometimes it is difficult to fit big things into tight places,  sometimes a little lube will help, but there are limits on what can go where, some things just don't stretch.  While a little snugness might be nice in the right place, in the wrong place it can be downright painful.  Kind of like trying to squeeze the kitty above through a cat flap, even if it happens, someone is going to get hurt.  (The Lion is in Munich.)  

Earlier this week I went for my 4th or 5th MRI since the first of May.  I am not sure how many, because I can't remember clearly if we did one in the hospital after surgery, if we did I was drugged enough to not care what they did.  One was done on May 1st, that led to another the following week, that confirmed surgery on my spine. I have had two MRIs since I came home.

If you haven't had an MRI let me give you a brief description, you lay in a steel pipe while 50 crazies pound, saw and grind on it for 15-75 minutes. They give you earplugs to reduce the noise, kind of block you in place so you can't move, and slide you in and out. The typical machine is a comfortable fit, for a 90 pound 12 year old, a bit tight for 175 pound adult, and like being squeezed through the cat flap for a larger person.  I am a POS, person of size, I am about 5 ft 10 inches tall and about 270 pounds.  I know, I am fat.  I am especially broad across the shoulders.  The typical MRI machine is a very tight fit for me.  Back in September, I was unexpectedly early for my MRI appointment, that had been made for the "large aperture" machine,  and volunteered to go for the small machine.  I thought they were going to have to lube me up to get me in and out.  The operator said next time, request the big machine, don't do this again.  So the next day when I called to schedule my 90 day follow up, I scheduled the big machine.  I arrive and the operator takes me to the small machine.  He comes up with some BS answer about it giving a better image quality and tried to wedge me in it.  For the first time since this medical odyssey started, I said NO.  No, this is not going to work.  He harrumphed that it would take longer to get the same quality of image in the bigger machine and moved me. It was so much more comfortable, I could unfold my shoulders and move my arms.

Sometimes size does matter, and if it don't fit, you need to move on.