What have you done today thread?

[KungFooBob]

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Halfway there!

Do we get any clues?

Looks like he's painting his wheels.

[Yorick]

IMG_20220428_144554.jpg
Halfway there!

Do we get any clues?

Looks like he's painting his wheels.

What do you win?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Back on the blood donation wagon I was barred for a year last April 'cause I had too little iron in my blood. A change in diet has sorted that out though, and I was good to bleed today.

I also got talking to the vampire and asked what the codes on the bag mean. Turns out my blood has already been pre-allocated to the local Neonatal unit for use as 'whole blood' - i.e. not split up into plasma etc. I'm O-neg universal donor; my blood is the kind they use when you need a transfusion and they don't have time to figure out what type you are. It's a nice little bonus to know mine is off to the local hospital to be used to fill up babies who really need it, apparently they can get 4 transfusions from one adult unit

[Noggin]

I had to start answering 'unknown' calls on my phone after Tuesday's visit to the surgeon (I avoid answering in March and most of April due to cold calls!!!).

Today it was totally worth it

I have a place in a rehab centre - got to go there on Monday morning It isn't the one I know which is a bit sad, but not unexpected. And close enough that my friend over that way has already told me to ask if I can have visitors and if I'm allowed out at weekends!!

Downside is that I need to find a way to get a PCR test on Saturday morning up here (everyone I know will be skiing Saturday as it's the last day of the season, so can't get a lift to the valley!!)

Also - trying to work out what to pack for anything from 4 - 8 weeks in the centre as I won't be back here, so what I forget, I can't have !!

But, If I could I'd be doing a great big happy dance!!! But, in my head I am!!

Bloody excellent day - now actually feel positive instead of trying hard to be positive!!!

[Count Steer]

I've been magnetised.

Mon dieu! I've been MRI'd before but as that was on my knee I think my head must have been al fresco as I don't remember feeling entombed quite so effectively. Not great in confined spaces anyway so probably wouldn't hack it on a submarine but I just had to keep my eyes shut and think happy thoughts. It's not a particularly quick process and when the chap says over the headphones 'We're just going to run that one again'.....

I think the person before me must have had a bit of an episode because she was apologising and mentioned claustrophobia as she came out. I think they should blindfold you!

Having not been a hospital customer since I was 16 (me = passenger/2 wheels meets car episode) I've made up for lost time in the last few years - 2 MRIs, 2 CAT scans, umpteen x-rays (knee, chest, spine....need feet, arm and head for a full set) and two walk in/hop out
day surgeries.

Ho hum. I guess I'm like a vintage car or Docca's LR. Servicing costs are rising but worth conserving.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I used to do a bit of work with Siemens Magnet Technology in my old job (formerly Oxford Magnet Tech), I dealt with guys who'd been designing MRI bits for donkey's years, so naturally you hear the stories.

Formerly I would have been worried about the fact you're surround by 1000 litres of liquid helium during the scan. Apparently that's not the thing to worry about, the real thing to worry about is the 600A water cooled wires about a foot from your head.

[Count Steer]

I used to do a bit of work with Siemens Magnet Technology in my old job (formerly Oxford Magnet Tech), I dealt with guys who'd been designing MRI bits for donkey's years, so naturally you hear the stories.

Formerly I would have been worried about the fact you're surround by 1000 litres of liquid helium during the scan. Apparently that's not the thing to worry about, the real thing to worry about is the 600A water cooled wires about a foot from your head.

Glad I didn't know that (the He and the 600A).

They have at least 3 (poss 4 + another type) MRIs on the go at this place and, while I was waiting, it appeared that the power kept going off (builders on site!) so cases were backing up. However, I was booked into the mobile/demountable out in the car park one which was fine. It did have some juicy looking cables running into it. Wonder what their leccy bill is?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Next time you go, look for the chimney!

The cryostat - the really cold bit - is full of liquid helium at 4K. It's got a superconducting magnet inside which is full of electricity*. If they have an issue and there's a 'quench' there's a runway effect which results in all of the liquid helium rapidly turning into gaseous helium. It's about 1000:1 expansion ratio I think, so you're looking at a million litres of helium to suddenly deal with - enough to displace all of the air on a ward.

Hence the chimney

*That in itself is a mind fuck. The solenoid is essentially a coil of wire. They charge it up with electricity like any other electromagnet, but because it's superconducting it has no electrical resistance. The same electricity just keeps flowing around the coil forever! It seems impossible right?

[Count Steer]

Next time you go, look for the chimney!

The cryostat - the really cold bit - is full of liquid helium at 4K. It's got a superconducting magnet inside which is full of electricity*. If they have an issue and there's a 'quench' there's a runway effect which results in all of the liquid helium rapidly turning into gaseous helium. It's about 1000:1 expansion ratio I think, so you're looking at a million litres of helium to suddenly deal with - enough to displace all of the air on a ward.

Hence the chimney

*That in itself is a mind fuck. The solenoid is essentially a coil of wire. They charge it up with electricity like any other electromagnet, but because it's superconducting it has no electrical resistance. The same electricity just keeps flowing around the coil forever! It seems impossible right?

Chimney? <Michael Cane> It'd blow the bladdy doors off! </MC>

CAT scanners are fun though. It's like some sort of big doughnut shaped portal with nice noises and flashing lights. You can pretend you're being beamed up.

MRI is like a v noisy hi-tech coffin.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I went for a CT scan when I broke+dislocated my collar bone last year.

"Is this thing even on?". I was surprised how fast it is, I get stuff CT scanned all the time at work and it takes like half an hour. The medical one was over in 30s. As my colleague pointed out though, I'm not made of metal.

Significantly more cancer inducing than an MRI though

[Count Steer]

I went for a CT scan when I broke+dislocated my collar bone last year.

"Is this thing even on?". I was surprised how fast it is, I get stuff CT scanned all the time at work and it takes like half an hour. The medical one was over in 30s. As my colleague pointed out though, I'm not made of metal.

Significantly more cancer inducing than an MRI though

Yeah. I did ask the radiographer at the time whether all the normal x-rays and CAT scans put me anywhere near the annual 20 millisieverts limit and he just shrugged and said 'We're looking for stuff that'll kill you before the radiation does'.

Hey ho...I survived working for AERE and visits to AWRE Aldermaston so I'll just keep my iodine intake up and glow rather attractively in the dark.

[Mr. Dazzle]

A single CT scan is down in the single digit mSv I think - mine was 2.3 according to my records.

Besides, there's some evidence that a little bit of radiation is good for you

[Count Steer]

A single CT scan is down in the single digit mSv I think - mine was 2.3 according to my records.

Besides, there's some evidence that a little bit of radiation is good for you

A modern chest x-ray is only 0.1 mSv* so I think I was within guidelines that year.

*About what you get every 10 days from background radiation which is pretty impressive.

Edit: Apparently a chest CT scan is 7 mSv so I was probably on about 18 for that year inc background.

[Horse]

Hey ho...I survived working for AERE and visits to AWRE Aldermaston so I'll just keep my iodine intake up and glow rather attractively in the dark.

When replying to the recent 'risk assessment' thread, in particular about a site being identified as dangerous, i remembered Aldermaston.

Not the 'Establishment', but the Court. It's a
Grade 2 Listed Victorian Manor House which was a hotel and conference facility until 2008. There's also big modern offices and planning permission for more.

And there's a lake in the grounds.

A few years ago, the lake overflowed, sending radioactive water flooding down Aldermaston village Street.

The grounds were also where the buildings stood in which reactor research was done during.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Edit: Apparently a chest CT scan is 7 mSv so I was probably on about 18 for that year inc background.

That's worse than being at Chernobyl

A CT scan is basically a shit load of X-rays at the same time, so it's never gonna be great for your health! As they say, they only really do it to find stuff that might kill you before the radiation.

BTW: The thing that always makes me laugh about this chart is that Coal fired power stations actually generate more radiation "in the wild" than Nuclear ones

[Count Steer]

Not too surprised about Aldermaston Hoss. Early work probably wasn't as tidy as they got later.

When you read about decommissioning costs I do wonder what happened at AERE Harwell (business park now I think). They ran numerous reactors (with names like DIDO, LIDO, BEPO, GLEEP and PLUTO) at various times and they'd all need dismantling.

They also had 'Fast Rabbit' a sort of underground Lamson tube to zip samples from reactor to lab double quick.

If you went in early in the morning you'd see loads of bunnies eating the grass verges, then a sign by the path saying 'Fast Rabbit, depth 1m'.

Oh. While I was there I definitely did get something that impacted on my subsequent life in a rather substantial way....







.....I met my missus.

[Horse]

If you went in early in the morning you'd see loads of bunnies eating the grass verges, then a sign by the path saying 'Fast Rabbit, depth 1m'.

One of the local schools has a special unit, for kids who need extra help.

It used to have sign at the car park entrance: 'Slow children'

[Noggin]

I've packed for going to rehab tomorrow. Amazing how difficult it is to sort stuff one handed and not being able to put much weight on one leg too

And trying to work out what to take might be there 4 weeks, might be there 8. I suspect they'll split the difference and I'll be there 6 weeks - but that's quite a lot of time!! LOL Especially when you don't know where the nearest shop will be!! LOL

I so need a towelling bathrobe to go to and from pool therapy, but haven't got one!! Gonna have to work out a way to hold up the towel I have whilst shuffling on crutches!!

Will probably take stuff out of the case in the morning, or at least swap things out and replace with other things!! I have a bag with 'stuff' and cross stitch and crochet and the towels. And then a shoulder bag with all the medical paperwork for knee and shoulder; my laptop will go in there in the morning

I don't think that a cabin sized bag (before they made the rules smaller ), a bag for life shopping bag and a shoulder bag is too bad for a girl on a 4-8 week stay!!!

[Felix]

I've packed for going to rehab tomorrow. :

Fingers crossed it stops your addiction

[Noggin]

I've packed for going to rehab tomorrow. :

Fingers crossed it stops your addiction

Me too!!!! Bored of this particular 'addiction' now!!! LOL