57049--brains present and accounted for

[zyzyly]

I decided to take the whole day off. I know, only back from vacation for less than a week and already calling in sick.

I went downtown and had my MRI. It was an interesting experience. The first thing was how fast I got in. I'm not sure if it was because I'm an employee, but that was the first thing they mentioned. I had just enough time to fill out the form before they were whisking me back to change into some enormous scrubs. Once I changed, I sat in the waiting room for about 2 minutes before they brought me back for the scan.

It was loud and disconcerting. I can now see why so many of my patients have freaked out in there. Lots of random unexpected noises. At first I closed my eyes, but found that I did better with them open. I didn't get anxious or claustrophobic or anything--just a little disconcerting. Took about 40 minutes and then I was out of there.

I got the results about an hour ago, via the internet. It's all good. Normal exam. Which doesn't explain my hearing loss, but does mean it's not caused by a mass on my acoustic nerve. (sigh of relief).

I really like the website for my healthcare group. Once the physician sees the results and approves them, it posts to me. Beats waiting a week for an appointment.



Another one from Pere Lachaise. This is the monument to the Czechs who fought alongside the French. The expressions are amazing.

Comments

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad it wasn't something so doom-filled!

Holding you in prayer.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

Me too--Whatever it is, it's not the bad thing.

[duccio.livejournal.com]

Whew! Good news your MRI.

That sculpture looks like German late Gothic wood sculpture. It's organized horizontally like carved alterpieces are rather than in depth, and angular, emotional. Very nice piece, thanks for this one.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

I wish I had spent more time looking at it while I was there. I would have liked to see the face of the woman facing away from the camera.

Sometimes I think I need to spend less time taking pictures and more time just looking.

[duccio.livejournal.com]

Gracie says that too, about looking more, living more. Maybe so. The woman facing away is almost a surrogate for each of us in a way, and without seeing her visage, she surely has the face of each one of us.

This composition is very closely related to Descent from the Cross pictures and sculptures from late medieval art like I said before. Of course, Mary Magdalene is the one facing away with her arms raised up in hopelessness, reacting emotionally to her great loss. She substitutes for us as first witness. This is common in pictures of this subject matter and the artist of this WW1 memorial almost certainly drew on that tradition.

Here is a picture of the subject by Rogier van der Weyden c. 1435 with several similarities.

Magdalene is on the right.

Again, thanks for posting this one.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I didn't know about the hearing loss! How bad is it?

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

It just kind of came on a few months ago, but only in one ear. I thought it was sinus related, but it turned out to be something with the nerve. The loss isn't as bothersome as the distortion that goes along with it, but that seems to have diminished after a course of steroids.

So, not as bad as it could be.

[vaysha.livejournal.com]

So what's next?
I had a cholesteatoma at 2 and then another in the right ear at 8.I have very little hearing left and was lucky I had a spike where human voice is which is why I can speak normally. Will they do more tests? I am very glad it was not a mass but still understand how frustrating loss of something so vital as hearing can be. I send my best and hope they will resolve the issue or find it's cause- perhaps an aid will help. I thank my lucky stars my hearing loss is such that an aid works for me.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

My loss is only partial, and in the right ear only. There was significant distortion that went along with it, but that seems to have improved in the past couple of weeks after a course of high-dose steroids.

I have another hearing test in a few weeks, and then see where we are at. I'm just glad it's not an acoustic neuroma, which is what they were ruling out with the MRI.

[vaysha.livejournal.com]

me too!

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Not having a mass is a very good thing, worthy of an MRI.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

yes it is.