and I'm Radioactive....

I had the exciting experience yesterday of getting a CT scan AND a bone scan....
For the bone scan, they inject you with radioactive isotopes. Since I was going to also have the CT scan (also called a CAT scan), They then sent me down the hall to the CT area.

I was advised of all of the wonderful potential side effects of the injection contrast dye that could might maybe sometimes happen and then I got to have the delightful treat of drinking this barium some something drink - available in a delicious assortment of flavors such as banana, berry, vanilla and choco-cinno. I initially chose the chococinno as I had had to fast that morning for this test and maybe maybe maybe it might be sort of coffee licious.

Or not, as it turns out. Thirty minutes later I get another bottle of this stuff. I'm sorry - I actually have a good vocabulary and "stuff" seems inadequate. Unfortunately - "stuff" is actually the kind choice. It is not exactly liquid in that it is thick and chalky. It is not truly paste eas it is more liquid than that and calling it a beverage is also inaccurate as that implies something that you might actually WANT to drink, so stuff is pretty accurate...

I had been given a further option, mind you - I could have 4, count them FOUR bottles of this mixture OR I could have 2 bottles and another option THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT. TRUST ME - DO NOT ASK!!! I opted for 2 and the mysterious unknowable unspeakable, thank you...

I proceeded into the scan room laid down on the table and , well, proceeded. They inject me through the IV catheter with some contrast dye and do the testing.

The purpose of the CT is to make sure there is no remnant and no metastasis any where else in my body - chest, abdomen, belly area....

The machine tells you when to breathe, when to hold your breath, and when to breathe again. It further advises you "Do not look directly into the laser" - sort of like the so called idiot box on envelopes. You know "Place postage stamp here."

So then I get to get dressed again in human aka "street" clothes and leave. For a while. My sweet husband brought me some lunch and we went to park under a tree and eat.

I had to wait until the isotopes were absorbed into my bones before I could go back.

We went to the Library. My husband LOVES the little "Friends of The Library" Gift Shop. We scoured the book racks there and bought several hard backs in good condition for like $1 each.

As you leave the library you go through these sensors to make sure you are not either stealing books or DVDs or whatever or to remind you to check out. Your choice.

I had been standing near it when this young woman walked through and it went off. Lights flashing, ugly buzzy beeping. She looked confused as she had no books, stepped back to re-exit and I stepped back too. She went through just fine..

As we left, hubby went through with no problems. I walk through red flashing lights, buzzers going crazy. I have only my purse with me...

I checked later with the Nuclear Medicine nurse about that -"Oh, yes. The isotopes do set off those sensors."
I thought that was pretty funny. I glow in the dark in more than one way now....

PS - Bone scan results were very good. I have good bones!!