Study prep

Spent a couple of days this past week in Vancouver undergoing a series of tests - CT scan, bone scan, various blood tests - in prep for the drug trial I'm slated to join. Test results will be available when I go back in this coming week.

Had a very cool experience when undergoing the bone scan at VGH. The scan was given on a new piece of equipment that can perform a number of different tests without having the patient move off the machine let alone to another room. First I had the bone scan: I lay flat on the bed portion of the machine. The machine slowly passed over my body, taking photos every 30 seconds or so. Since I have been having trouble with my right hip/pelvis/upper leg area, the tech then performed another scan. I didn't move from my previous position other than to raise my arms over my head (for the bone scan arms are at my sides). For this procedure, the machine moved in a arch across my body while I laid still on the bed. Then, again due to the area of concern, I was given a CT scan of the pelvic region (the CT scan I had the day before at the Cancer Agency focuses on my chest and abdomen, and didn't include the pelvic region at all). Only discomfort came from having my arms over my head for the duration of the pelvic scan and the CT scan. Oh yes, and my lower back complained bitterly when I had a coughing fit after first laying down.

Had an odd phone call yesterday. The study nurse asked me to go to St Mary's for another blood test. This after giving up at least 10 viles of blood over the course of two day in Vancouver! Seems one of the samples underwent some sort of agglutination (my but I'm learning a lot of new words!) prior to undergoing whatever test needed to be performed. So off to St Mary's for another blood test today.

Is it any wonder my right inner arm is a tad sore and bruised? Too bad lack of lymph nodes makes my left arm unusable for blood tests, blood pressure readings, injections or IVs of any kind ...