Cheers! Pet Scan Day is over!

I just woke up from a four hour nap.  Wow.  I’ve not done that in, oh, ever.

So I had my PET scan today.  I had to eat protein yesterday.  No carbs, no sugar for two days.  If you know me, you know I live on sugar and carbs.  (Not good, I know, but I just can’t help it.)  I love fish and yogurt, but I’m not a huge fan of big of chunks of meat. Truth be known, dessert is my food of choice.   I’ve been known to eat dessert for meals, in fact.  Apparently, cancer loves sugar as much as I do.  It lives on it. Bummer.

I was to deprive my body of sugars, so that when I sucked down my Barium Berry Cocktail today, which is glucose water with a kick, the cancer would suck it up, making the radioactive chemical that was in me, glow. (This is medical lingo at its finest, people.)

I showed up at SCOA after not eating for 17 hours, kissed Mel goodbye and headed to the LL, Lower Level.  LL, is a dark basement type of area at the huge oncology center.  I followed all of the bright yellow RADIOACTIVE signs and met a wonderfully pleasant medicalish guy.  Not sure if he was a doctor, nurse, tech or what, but he gave me an IV.  It was the fastest, easiest, most pleasant IV I’ve ever had.  I would have kissed him, but I am married, and I knew he would probably have thought I was crazy.  I’m usually great about sticks and pokes, but I’ve felt like a human pin cushion lately, so it was super nice to have that part super easy.

He walked me to my “closet” to sit and wait.  It was a tiny dim room with a recliner, lamp, books and television.  Dr. Nice Guy also brought me several warm blankets.  I liked him even more, as I’m always freezing in SCOA.  (I’ve learned to take along a jacket with each visit.)

He walked in with gloves, foot covers and a cart carrying a metal case with my glow drug.  After he dosed me up, he removed the IV.  I had it in no longer than 10 minutes.  Really.  Ten minutes, tops.  Then he left me with my cup of warm, watered-down milk of magnesium-like cocktail.  I was to finish my Berry Barium and wait  for one hour in my closet until I became a glow worm.

I decided to ration my time.  I sat in the quiet and texted friends for a while.  When I finally turned on the TV, TLC’s A Baby Story was on.  A woman in labor with triplets was on-full screen.  Well this could be worse, I joked to myself.  So, I turned off the tv and dozed for a minute.  Before I knew it, Dr. Nice Guy was back in to take me to the imaging room.

After another little nap in my tunnel, I was done.  Amazing.  They did a CT scan and a PET scan.  The actual process took no more than 40 minutes.    I was out the door and heading to The Gourmet Shop in no time!

It hit me on the ride home.  BLAH.  I honestly think I was sick from not eating for so many hours coupled with the taste of my “Berry Cocktail” that would NOT leave me.  I typically eat several small meals/snacks throughout the day, so I think my body was in shock.  I had a rough ride home, and crashed as soon as I walked in the door.  Of course, it’s almost 10 pm now and I’m wide awake, but the good news is,  my PET scan is over.

The girls are with grands.  Apparently, I’m radioactive for 18 hours, so they are away for the night to be safe.  I’ll call tomorrow morning to schedule my appointment with Dr. Butler to review results, possibly meeting as early as tomorrow afternoon.  I’m off until Tuesday, when I’ll have my chemo port placed with Dr. Sweatman.  I’m looking forward to a few days of not having to drive to Columbia.

Prestwood pool is calling our names.  It’s officially the last weekend of Summer I’m sad to say, but we’ve got lots planned!  I’m glad the PET scan is over, so we can focus on more important things like which bathing suit to wear and what ice cream to choose from the Yummy Truck.  (I think I’ll skip any form of a berry cocktail this weekend, however.)

One procedure closer to ringing that bell!

UPDATED-Sept 2, 2011:  I got a call from SCOA and my PET scan is clear!!  (All except for the breast cancer, that is!)  Great news!

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