A Scan Or Two Or Three

Last week I had an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Nothing on or in my body that a magnet can attract was important. It took some time to do the imaging. It looked scary as there was do not enter tape across the door. No one was in the room with me when I was being scanned.

It was loud, I was given earplugs and chose music to listen to that I was told I could hear through the earplugs. It was a lengthy scan.

So why was I getting scanned? I woke up with a sore neck. I thought I slept wrong but it continued to get worse in the following days to where I couldn’t turn my head.

The ER doc gave me information to read on torticollis. Except for the pain and stiffness, it didn’t sound like my condition. I did force my neck to move a bit more than it currently would in the direction I turned it in.

The doctor said I should have started exercises for my neck right away as it gets worse without that.

My fault!

Right away when I am sick or have pain, it is cancer! I am 11 years out from chemotherapy for cancer. It took forever to diagnose and by the time I was diagnosed, I had a respiratory code. No fun for 8 months of the fight and recovery.

I saw the chiropractor on my regular quarterly visit for my lower back, he worked with my neck gently massaging and checking out different areas. Afterward, he asked if it was better and it wasn’t. He recommended that if I was concerned about cancer, I let my oncologist know of my concerns.

When training out of town, the first couple days in August, I had the opportunity to have a 30-minute acupuncture for my neck. I have felt better after that! It helped to relieve some of my concerns about cancer.

When I called my oncologist in a panic though before the acupuncture he ordered the MRI, then both a CT and bone scans. Oncologists are some of the smartest doctors I have met. Good thing too! A little odd but that is okay with me as I like odd.

Both of my doctors have had a great sense of humor and can keep me laughing. That is always so helpful. One has retired now, so I don’t know his substitute well yet. I kind of hope I won’t need to get to know him well.

CT (computed tomography) is used to get detailed images of the body. Since cancer, I have received a CT for most years since 2013.

Before either of the scans yesterday, I went to the lab and had a shot for the bone scan that needed to happen at least 3 hours before the scan. So my scans yesterday took up most of my day.

There was a wait for the CT as the lab results had to be back for that scan.

During the CT scan, I had my eyes closed for most of it and fell asleep a couple of times for brief naps. I learned that it is best to keep my eyes closed and that helps me to not get anxious. And I always remember to breathe, as that helps with anxiety too.

Next, I got a brunch break and attended a support group meeting where we talked about acceptance. Great topic for me yesterday. “Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today!” And the serenity prayer to “… accept the things I can not change…”

The bone scan was interesting. It took over an hour altogether. She said I would be scanned from head to toe. She had me change positions after that to a few other positions.

She told me that she would be in the room with me the entire time. I did sleep during this scan, as I felt rested afterward. It may have just been because I was done though!

All of the technicians were friendly and helpful. The bone scan technician offered me a warm blanket to hold while I waited for the CT scan. She waited patiently while I had my lab drawn and then while I emptied my bladder for the scan.

It is much easier to accept the scans with kindness. I talked to everyone and my wait was no exception. I realized at one point that I had been doing most of the talking. I excused my talking so much and he said he is normally quiet but probably a bit nervous about the scan.

He said, “It helped me for you to talk with me, as it took my mind off of my worries.”

He went first and came out with a smile and said, “Easy peasy!” We laughed and he went on his way with a wish to have a better day and he told me it was nice to meet me!

It turned out we were the same age. That tells me it’s mostly us elders who are getting these scans.

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First published by Mercury Press on medium.com