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Editor Chantal undergoes a Total Body Scan
With such a Total Body Scan, what kind of examinations do they do? If you feel good, why go to a hospital? Moreover: what does not know, what does not hurt? Chantal went to take a look at Prescan in Rheine and discovered that she too can benefit from preventive research.
I have a healthy weight, exercise according to the norm and feel fine. So as a journalist I dare to have myself examined from head to toe with a Total Body Scan, because I don’t expect that they will find anything. And if the doctors do find something abnormal, I think I better know now, I think.
hunger
After an hour and a half by car, I arrive confidently at the Mathias Spital hospital in Rheine, Germany. A host from Prescan receives me in Dutch, but all doctors and nurses speak German. The rest of the day I save myself in my coal German. But if your German is not good enough, a Dutch host can accompany you.
First of all, I get a conversation with the general doctor about my expectations of the scan, my history and any complaints. Then my blood is taken for the lab and I can finally eat something again.
I don’t know if it’s because of hunger, but I do feel a bit weird. I am a healthy person, what am I actually doing in a hospital with doctors around me? Wouldn’t they be better off spending their time with people who are really sick? On the other hand, by examining people who are not yet sick, many hospitalizations may be prevented.
MRI scan
When I return, the MRI scan is scheduled. I lie on a kind of stretcher and heavy plates are placed on my body. A kind of open helmet is also placed over my head and I get headphones with music.
Since it is not possible to talk once I am in the scanner, an emergency button is placed in my right hand. If there is anything I can press it. Then I go straight into the oven. With a mirror in the helmet I can look at my feet and the door.
Personally, I find it all quite spectacular and fun. I know exactly what an MRI scan does, but I’ve never lain in it myself. Now I experience for myself how much noise he makes and that he seems to run different programs every time.
But after half an hour the news wears off, my hand starts to sleep and I’m a bit bored. I realize that for people who are unfamiliar with the MRI scan, concerned about their health and who may be claustrophobic, such a device can be quite disconcerting.
Condition
Then I will make a heart film at the cardiologist. Very special to see your own heart beating like this. And luckily he does that very well and powerfully, if I may believe the doctor.
A nurse checks my lungs. With a clothespin on my nose I have to inhale and exhale heavily into a special mouthpiece. Then comes the exercise test and EKG. She puts me on an exercise bike with all kinds of stickers on my chest, with which she measures my heart rate and blood pressure and I can let off steam on the pedals.
The cardiologist then tells me the results and can tell me surprisingly well how I am. “Your condition is sufficient, but you are not an athlete,” he says. Correct. I like yoga, swimming and cycling, but I hate to sweat and sweat. “Your lung capacity is on the tight side, but you can exhale very forcefully.” That doesn’t surprise me either, I sing and have played the saxophone for years.
conflation
The general physician reviews the MRI results with me. All fine, thankfully, as far as they can see on these scans. No visible cancer, no weak, clogged veins.
But a scoliosis, a deformity of my spine. I had completely forgotten about it myself, but as a teenager I did indeed have Cesar therapy to learn to stand up. This curvature was now perfectly visible in the photos. The scans come on a CD-ROM and I can take it home right away.
A few days later the results of the laboratory fall on my doorstep. There is a German slogan on it which I think means that I can only view the results with a doctor. But since I don’t expect crazy outcomes, I ignore that comment and just open the envelope anyway.
Handles
Everything is fine, I read, just a slightly elevated cholesterol, which scares me a bit. But deep down I knew. I enthusiastically count calories to maintain my line, but I don’t pay attention to saturated fat at all.
In that respect, the Total Body Scan has given me some tools. There is definitely something to improve in my lifestyle. So from now on I would rather eat two pieces of fruit every day instead of a handful of chips every night. And I do cardio fitness every week to improve my condition. Better to start now and avoid later, I think.