Is there anything I hate worse than going for a scan? Updated

annalexandria
annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
edited February 2013 in Colorectal Cancer #1

No.
Can’t think of anything I hate more…
with the possible exception of waiting for scan results.
But I can’t complain too much about the PET I got this morning, given that I have to basically throw a tantrum every time in order to get approved for one. It’s just that I have a little extra anxiety about getting the scan at this particular facility, because of what happened the first time I went there.
Everything seemed normal at the start, bit of a drive to the big, fancy, brand-new building (oh really, Group “We Can’t Afford to Pay for Your Scan” Health?), bit of a wait in the waiting room, but no real problems. Then the man came out to take me in for my appointment. We walked down a long hallway, through a door, down another long hallway, through another door, down another hallway, into an elevator, down several floors…ok, so the scanning room is really in the bowels of this place (haha..."bowels", see what I did there?), but that’s pretty normal for radiology stuff, right? Then he escorts me out one last door, and into…the parking lot. And in front of us is what appears to be a taco truck.
1st thought: Oooh, I can get a taco before I go! Awesome!
Then I notice the taco truck doesn’t have any windows.
2nd thought: Oh no! This guy is actually a serial killer who abducts unsuspecting cancer patients and dismembers them in his little silver trailer of horror…after giving them an unnecessary scan. A killer who likes to add insult to injury! (It is possible that I had been sitting at home watching way too many horror movies at this point in my life).
Guy notices the look on my face, says, so they didn’t explain to you that we have a subcontractor who comes once a week with a trailer to do the scans?
Oh. Heh…
Well, it’s good to know that I won’t end up stuffed in the trunk of a car in the Group Health parking garage.
But I’m sorry I won’t be getting a taco.

Think I'm blathering here...sorry.  The scanxiety always gets the better of me.  Hugs~AA

 

**Just got an email from my doc...NED!  This makes 14 months of no cancer.  I think it's finally time to get my port out.  Can always get it put back in if needed.  In October of 2011, I was in the hospital for palliative surgery for my metastatic cancer and things were looking very sucky...now I'm here.  Definitely walking wounded, but alive.  Gotta keep up the hope.

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Comments

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    Now it's time to take

    Now it's time to take yourself out for a taco to make it all worthwhile!

     

    Hugs,

    Alice

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    scans

    The thing I don't like about scans is the contrast I have to drink before them.  It gives me diarrhea for at least a day LOL

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    danker said:

    scans

    The thing I don't like about scans is the contrast I have to drink before them.  It gives me diarrhea for at least a day LOL

    For CT scans, there are 2 types of contrast

    I can't tolerate the Gastrografin (the clear one, commonly mixed with Crystal Lite).  Most people prefer that one, but I find that it makes me sick for about 5 days.  I do better with the Barium, which gives me diarrhea for about 3 hours, starting almost immediately.  However, 3 hours later, I'm fine.  Most people have worse reactions to the barium.  However, for me it is much better.  It might be worth asking about trying the "other" contrast next time, to see if you tolerate it better.

    Alice

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    danker said:

    scans

    The thing I don't like about scans is the contrast I have to drink before them.  It gives me diarrhea for at least a day LOL

    What I find odd

    is that I have a PET/CT done, but they never have me drink the contrast.  I just have the radioactive gunk injected into my veins.  Seems like this might not make the Ct part of the scan as clear as it might be.  Despite not drinking the goop, I still feel sick all day.  Probably just nerves...or maybe not getting my morning coffee.

  • wawaju04976
    wawaju04976 Member Posts: 316 Member
    This is wonderful news!!! It

    This is wonderful news!!! It is so nice to hear stories like yours!

    Judy

  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member

    This is wonderful news!!! It

    This is wonderful news!!! It is so nice to hear stories like yours!

    Judy

    aa

    ahhhhh what wonderful news....couldn't be better.....yayyyyyyy

    mags

  • Varmint5
    Varmint5 Member Posts: 384 Member
    Wonderful!!!

    So happy for you to hear this great news and so thankful. Whew! Just wonderful.

    Sandy

  • barbebarb
    barbebarb Member Posts: 464
    Varmint5 said:

    Wonderful!!!

    So happy for you to hear this great news and so thankful. Whew! Just wonderful.

    Sandy

    Great news
    You deserve more than a taco!
    That is a terrible experience.
    I have had scans in picky areas. One of the waiting rooms was playing some murderer movie and I asked them to turn it off!
    I hate the anxiety and seeing the looks on each patients faces and wondering what they are feeling.
    Great news. Enjoy and the best to you!
    I have learned recently to push more but I am on very high alert.
    Barb
  • bigman4christ
    bigman4christ Member Posts: 87
    happy happy happy

    for you !!!!

    zach

  • janie1
    janie1 Member Posts: 753 Member
    That's what I was hoping to
    That's what I was hoping to see. Way to go, Ann!
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    Wonderful News!

    So very happy for you and your great news. 

    May your NEDness continue for many many years to come.

    Marie who loves kitties

  • tachilders
    tachilders Member Posts: 313
    Congrats!!!

    Congrats!!!

  • Momof2plusteentwins
    Momof2plusteentwins Member Posts: 509 Member
    AA
    YAY! That just goes to show you never know. There is always hope. Congrats and may you always remain NED.
    Sandy :)
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    LMAO

    Lovely description of your scan taco truck!!!  Imagine my same surprise when that happened to me at our Dominican Hospital here.  I was like, really???  OMGoodness, glad to know I've not been the only one.  Love your description of it all, gave words to my thoughts about the whole thing with it being in a semi-trailer.

    WONDERFUL UPDATE, whoooo hoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Winter Marie

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    Awesome news. So happy for
    Awesome news. So happy for you. If I were you, I would re-think this whole dairy thing. Maybe you should do exactly what you've been doing for the past 14 months. If Steve is fortunate enough to get a surgery or procedure, he will definitely be taking cimetidine!

    Congrats!

    Chelsea
  • hippiechicks
    hippiechicks Member Posts: 509 Member
    awwwww....that is so

    awwwww....that is so awsome!!!! That is just really great news for you!! YOU ROCK!! I agree...you need to have more than a taco for that news!!! Keep goin' girl!

  • luvinlife2
    luvinlife2 Member Posts: 172 Member
    YAY!!!

    Thank you so much for sharing your good news!!  It's so important for us stage 4's to know NED is a possibility!!  I HATE the scans too mostly because the iv needle is bigger and my poor veins don't want to co-operate anymore (plus I usually get a trainee who misses the first go).  We use something called Telebrix instead of the redicat.  It's tasteless and you mix it with a cup of water.  Easy peeezy.  I could never finish all the other stuff.

    So glad you are clear!!!!   Enjoy and CELEBRATE!!  Smile

  • k44454445
    k44454445 Member Posts: 494
    thanks

    for the post. you had me laughing! congrats on being ned!!!

    hugs

    judy

  • steveandnat
    steveandnat Member Posts: 886
    To funny

    I was laughing reading your trip through the "bowels"  just to get to the scanner.  Great news on the results.  Pray you stay NED forever. Jeff

  • Brenda Bricco
    Brenda Bricco Member Posts: 579 Member
    Awesome! I hate to say that I

    Awesome! I hate to say that I have been to "the taco truck", strange but cool.