UC - PSC - MRI - MRCP

Got up early to catch the train into Boston at 8:52AM for my second MRCP. Apparently it's a yearly thing now since my gastroenterologists is sure I have PSC. I had a liver biopsy last year that came back negative, but it just hans't gotten sever enough to show yet. So, going in for a follow-up to see how it's doing.

I'd left my mom a note to make sure I was up by 7:30AM, only to realize around midnight that I wouldn't be having breakfast since I'm not allowed to eat 4hrs before the procedure and I'd rather spend the extra half hour in bed than upstairs. Not thinking much of it, I went to bed and stayed there until 8:00AM. Mom came in this morning asking if we were going today. She thought I wouldn't be ready to go at 8:30AM. I knew perfectly well I would be. She was surprised we left on time and continued to tell me throughout the day.

My appointment was at 11:00AM, but they wanted me there by 10:30AM. The train pulled into South Station around 9:30AM, but the bus to BMC was delayed 20mins. We had the time, so we waited. It was such a beautiful day, even though I would've rather been anywhere else. I hate coming to Boston for doctors appointments and procedures. An MRI is nothing but stressful and tome consuming, but it has to be done.

We made it to radiology around 10:40AM, they updated my insurance and I filled out some paperwork. I had just pulled out my phone when someone came for me. I changed into scrubs and followed him to the MRI. I laid down and they strapped me in, hooked me up to an IV, gave me earplugs and headphones before sliding me into the machine.

I was doing surprisingly well. I had been sure with this new vertigo thing I would end up dizzy and maybe even pass out. I kept my eyes closed, but when I started to feel claustrophobic, I started reciting The Greatest Showman soundtrack in my head between holding my breath. Keeping my mind on something else really helps with my anxiety and it really does do wonders. Last year it was Thirty Seconds to Mars that got me through. I suspected it would be The Greatest Showman this time around.

The first train out of Boston was at 12:25PM. Every time we go to BMC, I try to schedule my appointments around the train. 8:25AM out of Hanson, 12:25PM out of South Station. No matter what I do, we NEVER make the 12:25PM. I was re-dressed and done by 11:30AM and feeling pretty confident about making the train...until we rounded the corner to the bus stop just as the SL4 to South Station was leaving. With a 15-minute wait for the next one.

So we waited.

And waited.

Mom called Dad while I finally ate a Nutrigrain bar with Enlive and took my pills.

We were so close! I'd resigned myself to waiting at South Station for two and a half hours, but with the sun shining and temps in the 80's, there was no way I'd be sitting inside that long. I'd rather go out for a walk around Boston to get some exercise. Actually, I'd rather be home working on my bedroom, but in if forced to stay in Boston, I was going exploring. Or buy a notebook at CVS and write up some blog posts, start Hawaii or just write whatever came to mind.

When the bus finally came into view, Google Maps said it would only take 16mins to get to South Station. I'm sure it took longer than that. We got there at 12:20PM, waited to cross the street, and practically ran to Track 11 at the complete opposite side of the platform. Towards the end, we did run. We just made it. The second we sat down, the train started pulling out of the station.

There really needs to be train to Hanson around 1:00PM.
That would be ideal.