Prior to the examination, how did you feel?
How did the radiographer speak to you, did they make you feel at ease?
Did they give clear instructions on what was going to happen during the examination?

all for a talkthrough I have to do with a lecturer; they’re apparently interesting in the ‘psychology’ of having an x ray.

Being a student I don’t often think of how the patient must feel, much to my discredit. Thanks

Golden rule of dealing with people is to treat them like you would like to be treated if you were them. Do that and you wont go far wrong.

I too am a student and spend a hell of a lot of time thinking how patients must feel. You aren’t going to get them to come with you if they think you’re an eejit.

I have, but I was about 3 or 4 so I can’t really remember much apart from wondering why everyone else was standing over there, and why I had to stand over here…

Probably not that much help – sorry :-/

Had loads when I was a kid all a bit scary from what I remember.

The plate thing was always cold

ive had two , on both they explained what was going on and i was comfortable having them done

but one of them made me very worried and took more and more pix at different angles and told me they couldnt tell me what they had seen but the specialist would when i could get an appointment but they advised me not to be doing any fire fighting before i got the results ;-( so needless to say i wasnt happy or relaxed lol

on the second they took me straight in to the specialist and showed me the results and explained things so it was much better

Had a few over the years, never really thought about it, the one nurse/radiographer who really shouldnt have when I was concerned about pneumonia and shadows had a quick peak and let me have a look over his shoulder for myself. Never have understood why docs get all arsey about you looking at your own broken bones etc.
At our hospital you get wheeled through varying stages starting at the receptionist, then another section where the nurses tell you what is going to happen then onto the radiographer-then back out to the nurses.

Had a few due to Pneumonia. Even though it was only a few years ago I don’t remember much as it all just got routine for me. I remember some hospital staff being friendlier than others.

I had one about six years ago to see if I’d broken ribs after a fall from my bike – it was so straightforward I really can’t remember much about it!

Loads. Just out of intensive care. Had 4 ng tubes so each time my stomach was x rayed. Also had a couple of chest X-rays and some gamma camera thing where i had to breathe something for the first part and then I was injected with something for the 2nd. Had an MRI scan too. On all occasions I was nervous incase something was wrong. The X-rays themselves were fine as there’s no drama involved and both the MRI and Gamma Camera people explained in great detail as to what was happening. The only bad experience really was from the two people who gave me an ultrasound to check for DVT as I’d been imobile for a while. They found one behind my knee which they discussed at length before explaining what it was and the size of it. I assumed the worst when they found it but it’s really not much to worry about.

I had to have one in Bodo in the north of Norway after a car crash a few years ago. No one in the hospital that were dealing with me spoke any English, so it was pretty scary. From that I would think that talking someone through what’s happening would definitely make a difference.

Had loads of chest x-rays , never had any fears and always get a copy emailed to me . I have a pile of walk in x-ray tickets and I never have long to wait , always treated great by the staff. Now blood tests are a different matter ……….arrrrrggggggggggggggggg needles !

One of my better/healthier images.

I’ve had loads over the years, I’ve had some really aloof radiographers and some really nice ones, the nice ones make all the difference. Doesn’t matter how many I’ve had I still find them quite intimidating, having to change then go in with people wandering around and equipment I don’t understand all over the place. The rooms are always cold and I’ve always been scared of the whole ‘radio waves’ effect, stupid I know! I had one where I went into a big machine lay down once, it was horrendous, hated it, I was so stressed by the time it finished they moved me out and I just jumped up, got head rush and nearly passed out.

I’m not sure whether I’m right on this but…… I was born with complete organ reversal, so all my organs are mirror image to a ‘normal person’. When I had my first chest x-ray as a teeny baby the doctors spent the best part of a day trying to work out what was wrong with the machine until they worked out that I was ‘backwards’ rather than the machine playing up. Throughout my whole life I have never only had one x-ray, I have always been called back in for a second/third x-ray as there has ‘been a problem and they want to get another one’. so, I’ve always thought that they take one, can’t work out what’s wrong then by the second they’ve worked it out. Might just be that I’m not very x-rayagraphic but it always makes me chuckle 🙂

I have had a few – As I am in the trade it just does not bother me. Its simply a case of get it done and leave

emma 82, thats pretty cool! We’ve discussed that in class, sounds pretty exciting 😉

thanks for all the replies, all rather helpful! Gist of it is that nicer radiographers make you feel more relaxed and stuff, but when they have to repeat them or get specialists, then stress levels may indeed increase, but thats normal.

Also the rooms are so cold because the x ray tube generates so much heat. As the system is so inefficient, huge amounts of heat are produced, so cool rooms are a necessity .. which is horrible in winter haha.

and knottie8, I must say you have a lovely heart 😉 however radiographically speaking, you must have been slightly rotated as you can see your right scapula which is to be avoided, and you can collimate more .. but thats the radiographers technique, nothing wrong with you! A stunning chest, it has to be said 😉
thanks for bringing that up, helped with the revision somewhat!

There’s very little rotation there. Lungs aren’t looking too clear though.

I always notice the bent collar bone first ! My issue is sarcoidois .

i had one in october, it was very good.
the 2 young ladies looked after me nicely…….. 8)
the next day i had a angiagram, in through my wrist………….that on the other hand was not nice at all………. 😥

I noticed that too. Out of interest and if you don’t mind talking about it how does this x-ray compare to ones where you are not as healthy? Feel free to ignore this question if you dont want to answer it.

Had a bunch of x-rays (i’d have a complete skeleton except one lower leg if I’d been able to keep them all 🙁 ) and most were fine.

IMO the thing that makes a big difference is if you’re treated like they have time for you, and it’s not a rush to get you done and on to the next person. I’m not saying it has to be done slower, but some people make you think they’re in a rush, you know?

the lymph nodes were very obvious the image was much cloudier . I had a cough which got worse in damp weather/comditions ie rain or shower/bath. Breathlesness and unable to ride up hills .

Thanks for sharing that knottie8

Cheers seggon, quite like being a freak 🙂
I got asked in to be a guinea pig once but got freaked out and didn’t do it. I always attract a bit of attention when I’m in for x-rays/check ups though.

Mine was done exactly 2 years ago, however it was in America, so maybe they act a little differently over there.

I was poorly before going in, so wasn’t too nervous. I was more concerned about the result.
The radiographer was very laid back and chatted to me about everything that was to happen (maybe its because they have more time).

As said above its not pleasent walking through with hardly any clothes on (I suppose a chest x-ray for a man may feel different).

I’ve had a few over the years. Had a lot of pain from Tietze’s Syndrome in late teens and early twenties. Then took up Scuba diving and had medicals for that. Very different in a clinical setting in acute hospital to occupational health unit run by British Coal (virtually no privacy).
In all settings the process has been explained in advance, and clear instructions given as to placement and breathing/stillness. Never had to have a retake so that aspect must have been OK. No one has explained all the gubbins in the room though, and I have never had anxiety about the procedure. I have in the last few years occasionally had to take my children for X-rays and a couple of times the radiographer has been the mother of one of her friends, and while the familiar face has been welcome to them, I feel they did not have the same trust and professional reassurance as they had with a stranger in the same uniform. They didn’t seem able to accept the mum from the kid’s party in the clinical setting.

Had a brain scan a few years go.

They found nothing wrong. 😐