Radioactive Chick!

I'm back from having my PET scan, and I must say it was another adventure in terror.  Ok, no, it wasn't bad at all.  The only terror experienced was all brought to you by the Queen of Neurosis who had apparently escaped from the basement.  She's back in there now, so everthing's fine.

Time for another of the dreaded IV's and this nurse went above the elbow, but she nailed it!  And so far, no marks to show for it.  Next came the radioactive glucose, which was a non-event.  It didn't burn, it didn't hurt, it didn't seem to do anything, although several people have mentioned my healthy ... cough... glow.

Sadly, you have to sit silently for an hour as you wait for said radioactive substance to wander about your body in search of cancer cells.  I hope their search was fruitless, and certainly not fructose.  In any event, I read a book waiting for them to come haul me kicking and screaming into the tube o' torture.

I was deeply disappointed.  The room was bright, and freakishly cheery with its wall of windows and natural light.  The technician tried to put somthing under my head to raise it a bit, because I have such a hard time breathing while laying on my back.  This scan takes 30 minutes... oh lordy.  However, I had used my secret weapon a half hour before being put in the machine:  XANAX!

The technician was kindness itself, trying to ensure I wasn't scared, and making me as comfortable as I could get under the circumstances.  So, back I lay (and if it should be lie, well, poo, but I can't be the perfect grammarian all the time) and the festivities began.

It's a quiet machine, the PET scanner.  I think even quieter than the CT.  And you don't spend the entire 30 minutes with your head in the tube, thank the dieties.  I closed my eyes and began counting, trying not to worry about the immiment arrival of the tube encasing my head.

I was good up until minute 22, when the muscles in my back began to spasm.  But I wasn't about to have to do this again, so I bit the bullet and kept counting because the tube was over my neck and I knew it was getting close to covering my head.

At last, it was over, and Jane, who had accompanied me for moral support, and I decided to stop by Ironwood Cancer and Research center to make an appointment with the oncologist since we were in the area.

Finally, we headed home, but made a stop at Crackers and Co., where I had half a bowl of utterly magnificent poblano corn chower.  It made me very happy.  I think there is going to come a time when I won't be able to eat for quite a while, so I am enjoying every tiny tittilation of my taste buds.

Got home to find the digestive disease doc had called to say that yes, it is definitely esophageal cancer, and he was impressed that I had gotten my PET so quickly.  Hey, MY  PC does not let grass grow under his feet! 

That's enough for today.  I am exhausted.  Hope I can sleep well tonight, and not be bothered by glowing in the dark. ;)