Setting the Record Straight about Scans!

I guess I just don't know as much as I thought I did about medical stuff and what happens when people say they went for tests, took all day, lots of irritations, etc., etc. I thought they were just impatient, didn't feel good, hated all the fuss and muss, etc. Boy, did I have a lot to learn. At first, I wasn't going to say anything here on my blog, as I thought just saying that I went, did it, and am waiting for the results was enough. But Monday and Tuesday really bugged me, and the more I thought about it, the more I just want to MAKE SURE everyone here who reads my blog KNOWS what they are in for when the doctor decides to send you for "some tests!"

Ok! So this girl calls me, all cheery and bubbly and says, "Ok! We have you scheduled for the CT scans on Monday so you need to come in and pick up this drink that you need to drink before the scan. Can you do that?" (I had just been there a few hours before!!!!) I politely say, "Of course, I'll be right there." Jump in the car, drive all the way back there, and get the white, chalky stuff you have to drink. The bubbly gal meets me at the desk and says, "Now make sure you don't eat or drink anything 4 hours before, and two hours before your appointment time, drink this stuff." That's ALL they told me. NO PROBLEM with that!

I follow the instructions to the letter, but the night before, I begin to wonder ---- someone told me this takes about an hour --- what if I have to pee, or even worse, what if the white, chalky stuff sends my stomach into a fit and I REALLY have to go???? So . . . . I make the decision to NOT EAT any supper the night before or drink anything after about 6:00 pm just in case. OK! I'm in charge here! Doing constructive thinking, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah!

I get there plenty early, sign in, and shortly after, a man in what looks like pajamas comes to get me. He sits down cross-legged and begins to take my medical history. Thought they already had all of that. Then. . . .

"Oh, I see you already have your port. We can use that to put the contrast dye into your veins!" I PANIC! I said, "Oh no. . . . it's still so tender and stuff there!" But he insists!

(For more information about ports and what they are like, you can visit my sister, Juri's, blog as she explains it sooooooo well!!!!)

No you have to understand, no one told me about contrast dye, needles, using that port, that I was getting 2 different scans here, etc., etc. And, add misery upon misery, I had to drink ANOTHER big portion of that chalk. All the time, I'm thinking bathroom. . . . WHAT IF. . .???!!!!!

So now, he has me lie down on this little plank of a thing (mind you, I'm a size 5x here) and I have to balance myself on it with my arms stretched out over my head. He says this will take about 20 minutes. I'm just glad this was NOT the tunnel thing like the MRI stuff. It's like being passed through an arch back and forth. A voice recording goes along with the scan, telling you when to breath, not breath, take a breath, hold it, etc., etc. I did make it through this ok and thought I was home free.

Then. . . . Mr. Pajamas comes back in and rips open this little package and low and behold. . . . a HUGE needle is dangled over my head. A sweet, nice nurse is also over me as I'm flat on my back, still balancing myself on this narrow plank, arms over my head, and they spray this port site on my chest with icey cold spray that is supposed to numb the site. That was a bunch of whooey! I felt like I was in one of those horror movies, staring up into bright white lights, nurses holding me down, a guy behind me dangling stuff, etc., etc. I grit my teeth. . . . and POW, she stabs me in the chest with this needle. Then she moves it all around. . . digging is the only word I know to describe it. Nope! couldn't get it in! Throws that one away, rips open another baggie with a new needle in it. "So sorry honey, but we are going to have to try again." I groan!

Three more tries, each time, I'm stiffening up worse and worse. I'm about to bolt out of there when they call in "Nurse Rachett" -- the big, older lady who seems to be in charge and can do anything. The others move aside and I'm now in a REAL panic, as my sister told me about this one! She hovers over me, starts pushing on my port site, just about killing me, and says, "We need the bigger, one inch needle here." I'm sure by this time, my blood pressure has reached boiling levels, and my back was stiffened permanently, all the time, my arms STILL over my head and I can't even defend myself from these attackers!

Another baggie is ripped open! If you could have seen the size of this needle, you would have died! I wish I had had my eyes closed, but there it was, dangling over my head! I just prayed. And by golly, Nurse Rachett got it in first try. It hurt like anything, but it was IN!

By now, my arms were killing me up over my head, but Mr. Pajama Man told me I it would be just a few more minutes. And so the scan began again. I was sure by the time it was done, they would be putting my arms in a baggie for me to take home separately!!!!!

So now you know what to expect when you go for one of these things. Just let me know and I'll be on my knees praying for you!

So now, I'm thinking, the bone scan on Tuesday will just be a piece of cake, in and out, and have it done with. My good old trusty sister says, "Sure I'll go with you! how long could it take?????" Little did we know.

It was about a 45 minute ride to where it was being done, so we left a little early. Got there, signed in, and then a nice sweet lady came and got us and led us to a quiet, lovely waiting room in another part of the facility. I was taken right in, and I ghought, "This will be over in no time, and we'll be going right home!"

Ha!!!!

Another needle! This stuff was a radioactive type injection. NO PORT this time! I was the happiest camper ever! Needle goes right in and we're on our way. Then, she says, "OK! Now I want you to go and drink about 6 big glasses of water or other fluids, pee a lot, and then come back in three hours for the scan. THREE HOURS??????
What are we supposed to do for three hours??????

I go out and my sister sees me and says, "Done already?" with a big grin! Then I tell her we have to kill three hours, drink a river of water and pee a lot. Her face went blank, and we went to the car. So. . . .

if you are in line for a bone scan, be sure to plan for this part. Shopping, eating, DRINKING, more shopping!!!! And BE SURE to have a mapped out plan for bathrooms along the way during those three hours. Very important!!!!

We ate our lunch VERY slowly, but that only took 50 minutes. Two hours and 10 minutes to kill. Went to Walmart. More bathroom stops. Now. . . . have you ever tried to shop when you are told you have to kill time???? Ladies, I hate to tell you, but I discovered it is the most boring thing in the world. Couldn't think of a thing to look at, didn't want anything, etc., etc. That clock just wouldn't move. Finally, we decide to head back to the facility and just sit there and watch TV.

MORE bathrooms! MORE to drink!

and we sit and wait!

Finally! they come and get me. Told me to lie down on this thing ---- and believe me, this plank was even more narrow than the one from the day before!!!!! And again, my poor arms over my head. They tied my feet together with elastic bands. At least they had music playing for this one.

Just when I thought it was over and brought my poor arms back over my head, she said, "Since you stated you thought your ribs were broken or something, lets get some extra shots of that!" I groan. Don't mention things like that ever again. Just go with the usual scan. No extras, please!!!!! So, arms back up, and another 10 minutes on the plank!

I was so out of there when that was done!

Pee again!!!!!

By the time I got home, I had had it! I never want to see another bottle of water again. I do have to practice sleeping on planks a little bit though. I'm not good at that.

So now you know what is involved when a doctor says, "I'm sending you for a CT scan and a bone scan." That means two days of your life are shot!