Tests, tests and more tests

Today was kind of a trip.  I went in for all of my pre-treatment scans.  An ultrasound of the liver showed the tumors to be somewhat small in size and not blocking any of my bile ducts.  I’m assuming that “small” and “not blocking” are the operative words.  Then I went for a Muga Scan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUGA_scan) that entailed taking a small amount of my own blood, infusing it with radioactive material (no flux capacitor this time) and then re-infused the blood into my system.  The goal was to check heart function and timing.  It was pretty interesting. 

Lunch today came from Philippe’s restaurant in L.A. (http://www.philippes.com/).  The place is amazing!!! It’s been in business over 100 years and has amazing french dip sandwiches.  Did I mention we ate there yesterday, too?

Hospital Hi-jinx

Driving to the hospital on the morning of the surgeries, I was excited to get a wonderful treat (aside from Mom GPSing her way all the way to the hospital on the ONE street we had to drive to get there).  My cell phone rang and on the display was an area code I’d never seen before.  I answered the phone and received the most awesome suprise… the call was coming from PFC Andrew Ostgaard.  In my mind Andrew is a three year old running around with a book in each hand.  In reality, he’s now a Marine recently stationed in Iraq.  VERY recently.  Like two weeks or so recently. 

“I’m glad I caught you before you went in to surgery.”  I was speechless and in tears.

Ok.  Wow.  Just plain wow.  24 hours later I received another call.  “Just wanted to check and see how you were doing.”  I was totally blown away.  Thanks, Andy….  those calls meant the world to me.

Just a little change of plans for this week.  Dr. Flux Capacitor is off until Thursday.  He’s the radiologist who will be performing the CT Liver biopsy and if necessary the Radio Frequency Ablation.  My understanding is that the RFA uses microwaves to kill off any undesirable tissue.  Microwaves, huh?  I’m definitely bringing some popcorn.

PFC ANDREW HAROLD OSTGAARD

You’ve lost that warm fuzzy feeling…

            Yesterday was the big testing day.  No food, no caffeine, no sugar.  Just water.  I got to the hospital and was told the PET scan was going to be first on the docket.  Much to the hospital’s credit I waited all of about 3 or 4 minutes.  The PET tech came to get me.  He reminded me of (do whatever you wish with this description) a surfer from Arkansas.  Totally laid back with lots of twang.  We started on the walk to the machine, we must have covered 70% of the hospital’s campus then outside, downstairs, into another elevator to a portable trailer near the breast cancer imaging center.  It was quite the hike. 

            He leads me into a small room with two reclining chairs.  He explains that he’s going to inject something and then we have to wait for it to be absorbed before they can complete the test. “Ok.”  I thought.  I sat back and he started tying off my left arm.  He inserted a port that had two (maybe three, I can’t be sure) docks for needles.  One needle went in and then the fun started.  He reached for this stainless steel canister that was frosted on the outside and huge!  Marty McFly eat your heart out, I think I just found part of the flux capacitor!  I have kicked myself repeatedly for not getting a picture of this thing.  Surfer Dude from Arkansas then gave me the best testing instructions I have ever received: “Lay back and take a nap…I’ll be back in 45 minutes”.  RIGHT ON!!! I can do that! 

            As promised SDA returned and for the next hour and a half I alternately stuck my head and feet into this machine that had a big donut hole opening.  It wasn’t too bad at all.  I think I even slept most of the time. 

 

 

PET scanner with Surfer Dude from Arkansas

 

 

 

 

            On to the blood work, this got interesting.  There was some confusion about the port being left in my arm.  No one was entirely sure whether or not it was supposed to be there.  The phlebotomist even looked at me at one point and asked, “Can I get blood OUT of that?”.  I immediately offered my other arm to her and told her just to use the other one.  At one point, I looked at the friend who was with me and said, “Yeah, that warm fuzzy feeling you’re supposed to get…I don’t have it”.  As it turns out SDA left the port in for the MRI gang to use later in the day. 

            We finished up with the blood work around 3:30pm and the MRI was scheduled for 3:45pm.  Just enough time for me to INHALE a sandwich and some M&M’s.  The nurse came out and explained that I needed to change into scrubs for the MRI.  I so totally looked like Sexy Smurf.  The MRI itself kind of sucked.  I had to lay down on this table, she taped my head down (even after I tried to argue that I had been able to stay completely still for the PET scan), then put this football helmet thing over my entire head.  It was obnoxiously loud even with ear plugs.  Luckily, there was a mirror attached to the football helmet so I was able to see not only the window, but also a clock so I had a pretty good idea of when it was going to be done.

            We should have results tomorrow or Friday at the latest.  One bummer note, today Mom’s plane was delayed at JFK for over 4 hours.  She was pretty miserable because they were actually on the runway the entire time.  This meant she missed her connecting flight and won’t get here until tomorrow.  Fortunately I was able to switch my appointment with Dr. B. tomorrow. 

            ‘Til next time…..