Scanned as Planned

Yesterday was CT scan day for me, and it turned into a rather long day. I arrived at St Mary's Hospital at 7:30am as instructed, only to find the CT Scan dept didn't open until 8am. No problemo, I brought a book. When the front desk was up and running, I was told to go to the ACU (where I have my weekly chemo treatments) to be "hydrated" before receiving the scan. My usual cheerful team was in attendance, so it didn't take long to have the port accessed and the necessary fluid coursing through my veins. I wondered aloud at the need for hydration as I had two previous scans without a similar prep. Turns out my latest blood test showed my GFR (glomerular filtration rate - the best indication of kidney function) was low so the extra fluid was needed to protect my kidneys against any nasty affects from the contrast dye used during the scan. Apparently some patients (in an effort to avoid the need for several hours of being hooked up to an IV before and after the scan) drink lots of water just prior to blood tests. Not sure whether that would give an accurate reading, so am kinda glad I had the IV treatment after all. Besides, it gave me time to finish up a book - A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman.

A couple of hours later, I was ready for my scan so headed back downstairs to the appropriate department. The tech expressed dismay at the sight of the port line and ordered me back upstairs to have an IV line inserted into my arm. Apparently the can't inject the dye via a port. The only vein willing to put out the effort was the same one on the inside of my right elbow that offers up a blood sample for my weekly chemo prep. So, picture it, there I was walking back down to the scanning department with a line hanging from my port (in readiness for the post-scan hydration and the chemo treatment that would follow) and another from the inside of my right elbow. Must have been quite the sight. En route I passed a group of new volunteers taking part in an orientation session. One volunteer, after recovering from the shock of seeing someone walking about with IV lines hanging from her body, asked if I was escaping. I responded by winking and putting an index finger to my lips which caused a couple of the other volunteers to laugh.

The scan itself went on without a hitch. Had the same "hot flash" feeling that I had during the previous scans - a very common thing. Did learn there is no infection in my chest - a relief given the amount of coughing I've been doing lately. Will have to wait until next week before I have any further results. Am pretty confident (me says with fingers crossed) that what ails me is only a virus.

After the scan, I headed back to the ACU for post-scan hydration and my usual weekly chemo. In all, it was an 8hr day. I was pooped. Slept very well last night as a result.