The Big C! RIP Kim, see pg. 218

[Where_sMyWhite]

@JanM

I had a CT scan years ago for my back, and the one thing I will tell you is to wear warm socks. I don’t know if the more up to date CT machines still need colder room temps, but the one then certainly did.

I had a CT a few months ago. Even if the room was cold (which I didn’t notice it was) I was it the room maybe a total of 10 minutes threshold to threshold so socks wouldn’t have made a difference.

MRIs on the other hand, much longer. FWIW for the MRIs, some offer music to listen to which has helped me. You can’t bring your own music as phones/headphones/earbuds all have metal in them. The sound quality of the provided music isn’t the best but it helped me take my mind off the rest of the MRI.

I’ve also gotten entertained by the different patterns of clicks and buzzes and other interesting noises the MRI machines make (yeah, weird, what can I say ).

[stryder]

Sannois, they want to get a picture of what’s going on where the tumor is, and its neighboring regions. It really is “why we’re at it, may as well” do one test and get all of them. Cheaper for you, too.

You’ll be worried and frustrated waiting to see the doctor and get the results. Your test is Sunday morning, which is great, and then you’ll have to wait. My DH’s motto was “Good news will wait, and bad news won’t leave.” So plan something nice for yourself for Sunday after the test, to help remind you that “whew! Got that sucker behind me.”

Once you get the results, you’ll know a whole lot more about what’s ahead of you.

Good on you for taking this next step. We’re all with you, holding you in our thoughts.

[Kyrabee]

Has anyone explained the purpose of these tests to you? Don’t be afraid to ask. The contrast (iodine) is necessary to show what structures are affected. It isn’t a big hunk of iodine you have to drink. It is an organic form of iodine that is a small percentage in a liquid base that like the bowel prep for the colonoscopy, is mixed with something that tastes decent. You survived the colonoscopy prep didn’t you? The contrast is much less volume. You need to pick it up ahead because it is a staged prep and you need to drink some a certain number of hours before the scan.

You can can do this. I wish I was near you to help you navigate the maze that is health care.

{{{{{Sannois}}}}}

[Sannois]

@Kyrabee

Has anyone explained the purpose of these tests to you? Don’t be afraid to ask. The contrast (iodine) is necessary to show what structures are affected. It isn’t a big hunk of iodine you have to drink. It is an organic form of iodine that is a small percentage in a liquid base that like the bowel prep for the colonoscopy, is mixed with something that tastes decent. You survived the colonoscopy prep didn’t you? The contrast is much less volume. You need to pick it up ahead because it is a staged prep and you need to drink some a certain number of hours before the scan.

You can can do this. I wish I was near you to help you navigate the maze that is health care.

{{{{{Sannois}}}}}

I wish you were too. I wish all of you were!
You all must think I am a total Weenie. It is just that my whole life I have NEVER had anything done to me, not even Stitches. The Colonoscopy was the most invasive thing I have ever had.
The colonoscopy Prep was tasteless, Tons of Miralax in Water.
Well I have to suck it up and get it done. I figured since they do them 7 days a week Sunday morning would be the best day. I believe the CT is to see if any other parts of my body have Cancer.

[Callista17]

True Sannois…plus sizes. They can tell a lot.

I do feel bad for you, because I hate tests and things and haven’t had a lot done to me neither. knock on wood
I have had one MRI, some blood tests, then the CT scan last Jan, the same day they stuck a camera up to look at my bladder!!! I was so nervous for both tests.

And a radioactive scan on my thyroid, which…I need to go again.

[Zu_Zu]

morning ((hugs)) laced with understanding

sending Jingles with extra strength & patience

AO ~ for your ‘obstacle course’ of diagnostics

you are braver & stronger than you know

do some nice things for our friend, Sannois

today
and
every day
to ‘shore’ yourself up

You’ve got friends…

[Sannois]

@Zu Zu

morning ((hugs)) laced with understanding

sending Jingles with extra strength & patience

AO ~ for your ‘obstacle course’ of diagnostics

you are braver & stronger than you know

do some nice things for our friend, Sannois

today
and
every day
to ‘shore’ yourself up

You’ve got friends…

You are the most positive person I have ever met, well met as in online. but even in real life.
Would be wonderful to meet you, I cannot imagine ever being in a sour mood around you!
Well the sun is out it is warming up nicely, and got a bit of rain last night so it is already greening up.
And I am having coffee out of your lovely Mug.
HAve to go get blood drawn sometime today, I used to not like that, now it seems the least of my worries!

[Mara]

You are ANYTHING but a total weenie! Even if you were, you’d have good reasons for it - you’re facing a lot of possibly scary unknowns.
Sunday will come and go before you know it, and at the end of it your medical team will be that much more prepared to kick the $h!+ out of this cancer.

You want to know what a total weenie is? I can’t manage a dental appointment for a simple cleaning without a valium and the nitrous oxide…

[Bluey]

@Sannois

You are the most positive person I have ever met, well met as in online. but even in real life.
Would be wonderful to meet you, I cannot imagine ever being in a sour mood around you!
Well the sun is out it is warming up nicely, and got a bit of rain last night so it is already greening up.
And I am having coffee out of your lovely Mug.
HAve to go get blood drawn sometime today, I used to not like that, now it seems the least of my worries!

Yes, Zu-Zu is COTH’s happy face, AO is right.

She is also very helpful and kind, as you can see.

One Halloween I had to go get blood drawn.
Some there were dressed as vampires.
We were having a good laugh about that.

Maybe your lab people Sunday will also have a good sense of humor.

[Where_sMyWhite]

@Sannois

You all must think I am a total Weenie. It is just that my whole life I have NEVER had anything done to me, not even Stitches. The Colonoscopy was the most invasive thing I have ever had.

I believe the CT is to see if any other parts of my body have Cancer.

I absolutely do not think you’re a total Weenie. You are going through something scary full of unknown, to you, tests and other diagnostics. You haven’t had the tests done before so you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know what they will find. There is much you don’t know. If that is daunting, that doesn’t mean you’re a weenie, it means you’re human like the rest of us

Trust me, for many of us with the ‘been there done that wore out the t-shirt’ attitude on the diagnostics you’re having done most likely will have, for each of us, some “weenie” thing… I still don’t like blood draws and slowly getting better about dentists. ORs now freak me out, even seeing them on TV (I often wonder if I have a mild PTSD about the whole thing).

CT may or may not be to see if cancer has spread to other parts of your body. It may be just to get different information on where it is specifically to aid in treatment. As we’ve said, no harm in asking your Dr. The folks at the imaging facility won’t know and won’t say. Often, knowing the answers, at least for me, makes it less scary and mysterious even if I don’t like the answers. At least by asking and getting an answer, I am more informed instead of just letting scary thoughts in my head rule

{{}}

PS we are there with you, maybe not physically but mentally, emotionally, spiritually however each of us can “project” ourselves and however you receive each of us

[mswillie]

@Sannois

WMW The scheduler asked me if I was allergic to any iodine products. I wouldn’t know.
But I sure do not want to drink Iodine, Cause I can tell you it would not stay down. I am super sensitive to bad tastes and if it tastes bad it does not stay down. And why would they make me pick it up from the hospital.?
Not feeling happy all of a sudden. The scheduler said it was a CT for Chest Abdomen and Pelvis??

The chest, abdomen, pelvis CT is a routine screening for people with your diagnosis. Yes, they are looking for any signs that your disease has metastasized. They do it for staging. But they are not doing it because they necessarily believe it has spread, they are looking so that they can determine if it has (or hasn’t) so that they can determine the best treatment options for you. Hang in there. I too wish I lived closer to you.

I’ve got all my fingers and toes crossed that the scan comes back clean.

[KBC]

Hey lady, NOT ONE PERSON thinks you are a weenie, you are fantastic, you are dealing with a whole bunch of stuff you didn’t ask for, you have had little time to mentally adjust too, it is bound to be overwhelming.

The journey you are on, you didn’t ask to take, the road map is sketchy, so every step is kind of a challenge. Know that there are people in your corner all over, we may not be there, but we are thinking of you.

[Sannois]

@Mara

You are ANYTHING but a total weenie! Even if you were, you’d have good reasons for it - you’re facing a lot of possibly scary unknowns.
Sunday will come and go before you know it, and at the end of it your medical team will be that much more prepared to kick the $h!+ out of this cancer.

You want to know what a total weenie is? I can’t manage a dental appointment for a simple cleaning without a valium and the nitrous oxide…

Hey Don’t knock Nitrous!! I LOVE that stuff… it is what got me to get my teeth fixed years ago and keep up with them.
I would love to have a little portable bottle!! I used to hate dentists, thus my tteeth suffered. But about 15 years ago I found an awesome dentist, and I now like my appointments, they are just cleanings now, but Hygenist lets me as gas!

[Sannois]

So another nice day. Got my blood drawn. painless.
I was leaving the lab when my phone rang. It was my long time friend and former student since 2000.
She wants to get together Sat. so I can give her lessons on her new trail horse.
She sold her Dressage horse 2 years ago never rode, and he needed a job. I lived too far away.
Said she was done with horses. last fall she called me and said, Kim you will never believe what I have done… I bought a horse. Get this a Paso Fino. Well I met the little guy last October. he is a solid citizen, 14 yrs old. Gray… I thought they were dark. he is nothing to look at , but very sweet, someone has taught him manners. It was a windy then, and she had had him on her place only 2 days. done nothing. I was walking him around and when I stopped he stopped, he stopped. never moved his feet. for 15 minutes, while we talked.
He will be good for her, she is a very timid rider, but the sad thing is, her old Appendix, who I first taught her on all those years ago just died in Feb. So other than her hubbys team penning horse, there is nothing for me to trail ride with her. Ah well.
The reason for this long blab, I have to tell her about my condition. I am dreading it. She is the one person I really have enjoyed as a friend for all these years. We click. We do not see each other for months, and we just pick up like we saw each other yesterday. :sigh:

[Where_sMyWhite]

Sannois, there might be some “mysterious” reason this friend re-appeared right about now

You are right, the conversation may not be easy but she might be just what you need for some good local support

The lessons might also give you something to focus on when you need an emotional break. Not to stop focusing on yourself but just a deep breath and a chance to briefly be in a different place {{}}

Me? The one time I had nitrous in the dentist’ office I had a very bad trip and it took me 30+ years to get the courage to go to the dentist again :eek: My current dentist doesn’t even use nitrous.

[stryder]

It’s your news, Sannois. You can decide to tell her, or not. Or how much. And when.
If you see her on Saturday morning, you could say something as innocuous as, “I’m having a CT scan tomorrow. I did not get good news on a recent colonoscopy, and my medical team wants to know more.”

It’s all up to you. She’s likely going to ask you what she can do. Be specific: I need someone to go with me to appointments. I need someone to listen to me. Or, I’m not sure right now, because I don’t know what will happen next, but love you and will need you in my corner.

Simple declarative sentences are your friend.

[Zu_Zu]

It’s Friday Free Day ~ a day to do whatever ! just something that does not need to be done
just something you want to do ~ :yes:

• tomorrow push your anxiety aside best you can
  and
  just absorb the warmth of your special
  friendship …

• perfect timing …

You’ve Got A Friend ! Friends !! :D:D

Jingles & AO !

[Mara]

@Sannois

Hey Don’t knock Nitrous!! I LOVE that stuff… it is what got me to get my teeth fixed years ago and keep up with them.
I would love to have a little portable bottle!! I used to hate dentists, thus my tteeth suffered. But about 15 years ago I found an awesome dentist, and I now like my appointments, they are just cleanings now, but Hygenist lets me as gas!

When I was in college I worked part time as a vet assistant in a one-vet practice. We used to joke around with the vet that one day we were gonna go crazy on the nitrous the next time he was out. Doc just rolled his eyes and said, “Three things: one, it’s nothing we didn’t all do in vet school. Two, don’t strap the mask on especially if you decide to do this alone; I don’t want the hassle if you snuff yourself by accident. Three, please remember to turn the apparatus off when you’re done getting your kicks.” He was so cool and a great vet. We never did engage in nitrous frolics, though.

Will be thinking of you! Mad jingles that the one tumor is lonely and all by itself.

[skydy]

Continue to send good vibes your way Sannois.

BTW for anyone considering fooling around with Nitrous Oxide: Don’t. We lost a dentist who was using it for recreation. He died a very untimely death.

[Sannois]

@skydy

Continue to send good vibes your way Sannois.

BTW for anyone considering fooling around with Nitrous Oxide: Don’t. We lost a dentist who was using it for recreation. He died a very untimely death.

Really must have gone nuts with it. If it is mixed properly with Oxygen it is safe, well, as long as you do not turn it up too high, I have had it where I had to ask her to turn it down, cause I was about to float out of the room. :lol: