Ouch part 2…
Okay, so after yesterday’s diagnosis, a hurry up offense was put in and I was once again sent to the hospital for more testing.
There was, naturally, the ever present blood draw except this time they ended up with three vials going, I presume, for three different tests. Interestingly, I learned that a lavender capped vial meant the vial contained anticoagulant reagents while a green capped vial had coagulant reagents. I gave one lavender and two green. There are other colors too, including one with no reagents but my test apparently didn’t need them.
Then it was off to “Nuclear Medicine” where an IV was inserted in my other hand (not the one they did the blood draw from). A radioactive marker of some sort was injected and I was sent on my way for at least 3 hours while the marker was absorbed by my bones. Who knew?
Not that I had 3 hours off. Nope. Next stop was still in Radiology where I was given a full chest CT scan with contrast. Clever people, putting the IV in at the Nuclear Med place saved time and effort. So, I received a CT from the chin down to the abdomen. This one apparently compliments the one from December 1 which was abdomen and pelvis area.
With just about two hours to kill, I was released and sent on my way. Marvina (wife) and I had our priorities in sync and headed for a little cafe at one end of the hospital campus that sported a Starbucks concession. Venti’s in hand, we made our way out to our car and covertly enjoyed a smoke while sipping our coffees. Yeah, I know, I shouldn’t smoke. It’ll probably give me cancer from it or something LOL.
Around two-ish we made our way back to the Radiology department so that the Nuclear Med people could perform a full body bone scan. Never had one of those before. Slow, very very very slow. Somewhat akin to watching grass grow…from underneath the grass. After the snails pace scan was complete they reoriented the equipment and rescanned my lower abdomen and pelvis area.
Ever notice that when you’re put into a confined space and told not to move, that at that precise moment someplace hard to reach on your body decides it wants to itch. (sigh)
A little side note. One of the RTs got a brief history of my cancer right after the CT. I quipped that we were engaged in Whack-a-Mole since my insurance company (AETNA) refused to pay for a PET Scan. The RT was clearly annoyed with the insurance company and stated that all the procedures they were performing on me, instead of the single PET, would cost the insurance company more money than if they’d just paid for the PET. Gotta love insurance companies.
