I had my bone scan yesterday. I "got" to go to my favorite anaheim location, but at least this time I knew my way around. I checked in and sat down in the waiting area. It smelled like Vegas. Smell is a funny thing, but I was sitting there and all I could think of was a Vegas, and not the "new" Vegas with the cool nice casinos, but more like one of the older, seedyer places. My guess is it was the smell of vomit, sweat and carpet, but that is just a hunch when I tried to think of what a hospital and Vegas have in common.
Thankfully they called my name after only a few minutes and told me to go to my "favorite" Radioactive room that I was in on Monday. Great. This time it seemed different, there seemed to be more light in the room and the beeping machines didnt bother me as much. And the same nurse that was there on Monday was there again. Overall it seemed less scary in there the second time - it seemed like there were more lights, or I just knew what to expect.
The same nurse that saw me on Monday was there and briefly walked me through the process. Again, this time it seemed less scary. I don't have a fear of needles, I just cant watch the needle actually go in - something psychological that makes it more painful if I watch - and sometimes I flinch too. So I generally just turn my head, which I did this time. When it was over and she asked me to hold the cotton ball on there I saw her put the medicine in a small thick metal box that was like an army green/brown color. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but I knew I was going to be injected with more radioactive material and I guess this one was stronger than the other one??
So after my injection I had two hours before I was ready for my scan. She told me to drink lots of water, so I went to go get some. As I started walking out of the "radioactive room" as I call it, I started to get this yucky taste in my mouth. It was definitely coming from the back of my throat and working its way up. I figured it may be stomach acids combined with stress?? So I went to go get some water. I got a liter of water as well as a Dr. Pepper to help get the yucky taste out of my mouth that kept getting worse and worse as it was making its way from the back of my throat up to the tip of my tongue. Yuck.
I found a quiet spot on the campus and sat down to play on my phone. Sitting outside in the middle of the day kindof reminded me of college for some reason. I felt I should be studying for a test rather than playing solitaire (and for the record cellphones were just starting to be affordable when I was in college - and you for sure could not play games on them). It was nice and relaxing as long as I didn't think about the yucky taste in my mouth or why I was here. I saw several people including someone I thought I saw in there on Monday and an old couple where she was getting a MRI and he was patiently waiting for her - it was cute and made me think of my parents.
For some reason I decided to google "bone scan" to try and learn what I was injected with. I didnt find this out but did learn that they want you to drink a lot of water to help you get rid of the radioactive material. Great. Also it said to make sure and use the bathroom before the scan to prevent radioactive urine from interfering with the scan. Wha?? Who?? Great.
So I go back in the room and there were different people working. It was cold too. I went back to the "closet machine" that seems like it was shoved in a corner that they would much rather be using for storage. I felt like I was getting on a plane as I was asked to remove the change from my pocket and take my jacket and belt off. It was cold in there so the technician got me a warm blanket. If there is one good thing about being in a hospital setting it is warm blankets. Think of a blanket that just came out of the dryer - aaahhh. Then he started the scan - first 10 min, then 30 min. It wasnt as stressful as the other one, but I tried to close my eyes and rest and not think about the yucky taste in my mouth. Then as it was almost over I noticed some pictures on the wall - these are pictures more like you would see in a hotel room somewhere tropical. Out of place, but made me think of Hawaii, so that is good. I think when this is done I will go to Hawaii, or Cancun or somewhere tropical.
I continued to drink lots of water, both to get rid of the radioactive material and to get rid of the yucky taste in my mouth. More than 24 hours later the yucky taste is still there, but if that is the worst side effect I will get that is OK by me.
Still worried about chemo . . . the doctor called me as I was driving back from my scan. I called their office and the person I spoke with was very rude. I know this is routine for them, but for me it is very scary and I need some reassurance/questions answered. They say the Chemo orientation will answer all of these questions, I sure hope so.
I will have the ACT chemo . . . Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide, and Taxotere . . . .scary stuff.
CT Scan on Friday . . .
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