Yeah, you read that right...today (Wednesday, 2/19) was my PET Scan day. First PET Scan since the completion of my chemo and radiation. Although I am still on Herceptin until June and Tamoxifen and Zoladex for several more years, Dr R mentioned scheduling a PET Scan during my last appointment with him (1/28). Last Friday (2/14), I went in for my Herceptin treatment and received paperwork with my scheduled PET Scan and MUGA Scan. Unfortunately, the PET Scan was scheduled for 1:00 PM...same as last time. Ugh. One of the things I remember the most about my initial PET Scan in May was that after 16 hours of fasting, I was pretty miserable. I remember having a headache and being sick to my stomach...but that was it. I followed my test prep instructions by watching my sugar intake for the 24 hours before, and not eating or drinking anything (besides plain water) after midnight the night before. I woke up this morning with a killer headache and feeling nauseated. At that point, I knew I was in for a rough day. Things got progressively worse as the day wore on. I threw up twice (before and during the test). It was mostly water and bile, but the oncology nurse said I was quite pale and clammy. The first time I threw up was before the test. I mentioned that I wasn't feeling well, but both the nurse and I contributed that to the fasting. My sugar levels (which they have to test before the injection) was decent (86). As I mentioned, I was simply nauseated and had a headache. I had just been injected with the radioactive material and was reclining with a warm blanket and relaxing for a bit before the test. Suddenly (and I DO mean SUDDENLY), my jaw was twitching, my mouth was watering and I was wildly groping around for the call button for the nurse. Before I could push it, I was throwing up water (and bile) and soaking the blanket and all of my clothes. The poor nurse opened the door to me gagging and yakking...she calmly handed me a sick bag and patted my shoulder as I continued to puke. Then she gave me some clean wash clothes and a towel and a hospital gown. Because my clothes were soaked (clear down to my underwear!), I had to clean up and change. They were not sure if my wet clothes would be radioactive yet and possibly alter my scan. I complied and cleaned up. I also had to call 2ie and ask to have clean clothes brought to me. Thank goodness she was able to bring them to me before going to work. I returned to my chair and continued to relax until they were ready to scan me. The tech came in and walked me to the testing room. I laid down on the table, feeling a little icky, but no warning signs of what was to come. I went in and out of tube twice, and then the segmented scans started (you move through the tube every 3 - 5 minutes, and it scans an area of your body). I kept my eyes closed - even though the lights were lowered, they were hurting my eyes. I hate it when I have a headache. I was fine until I started to go back through the tube. Suddenly (and I DO mean SUDDENLY), my jaw was twitching, my mouth was watering and I just knew I was going to throw up. I said, "Oh no...I'm going to get sick! HELLO! HELLO?! I'm..." ...and I started to puke again. I heard the tech say she was coming to help me...I heard her call out for the oncology nurse. Before they had me out of the tube (just a matter of a minute, maybe), I was soaked AGAIN. They cleaned me up and changed my gown again. The tech said that she was able to get most of me scanned before I got sick. She asked if I thought I could handle about 20 minutes more of scanning. I said I thought so...after all, it had been about an hour ago that I had first thrown up...I figured I had at least that. They also had to tape my breasts because the gown was not holding me in a good position. I hope that the various problems of the day didn't cause any problems with the scan overall. I felt a little better after I was finished and had a small can of pop and some graham crackers (again, after nearly 16 hours of fasting). I still don't feel GREAT, but I'm much better than I was earlier today.
Oh, and as an added bonus - I'm radioactive! ;) I was instructed to stay at least 6 feet away from other people (especially pregnant women) for 6 hours after the test...and not hold any infants or children for 18 hours. I asked about pets, but there is no definitive research done on that topic...so I am just trying to keep them off of me (easier said than done).
Yesterday (2/18), I saw my cardiologist for my 2 month follow up. He was pleased with my blood pressure chart, saying that they looked good in the normal range. He said (several times) that he would like to increase my meds, but that with my blood pressures and heart rates running in the normal range, he wasn't entirely sure that I would tolerate the change in medicines. He was afraid that the increase would make me dizzy/light headed...so for now, we are not changing the meds. He was glad to hear that I have a follow up MUGA scheduled in March. He gave me more info on my last ECHO and MUGA. He said that the ECHO had shown my EF at 45 - 50% (down from 59% since restarting my Herceptin)...but he wasn't entirely confident in those findings, so he ordered the MUGA. The MUGA showed my EF at around 51% -- which was within the normal range to continue with Herceptin as is. My notes from my visit say: EF confirmed by MUGA to be 51% acceptable, will need to follow with repeat MUGA in future, ECHO (1/2014) EF 45 - 50%, MILDLY DILATED LV, TDS, mild golbal hypokinesis. Due to have a repeat MUGA in 3/2014, BP logs reviewed, BP stable, some times SBP 95-102 MMHG, WILL NOT INCREASE DOSE OF MEDS, CONTINUE TO FOLLOW, if more palpitations, DOE, or chest pain she will call us. {what is LV/TDS/golbal hypokinesis??}
On Friday (2/7), I went for my Herceptin treatment as usual. I waited for over 90 minutes for a nurse to access my port and hook up a saline drip. The Cancer center was crazy busy, so I didn't mind waiting. I had just texted my mom saying that I was still waiting for a nurse (my appt was at 10:30, and it was noon) when the nurse (Valerie) came over to access my port and hook me up. My Herceptin was ready also, so it was all hooked up at the same time. She programmed the pump, had a nurse (Melissa) double check the pump. The 2nd nurse commented (as they all do) about the fact that my drip time was 90 minutes, not 30 as is the case for the majority of other H patients. She laughed when I joked about being abnormal. I was chatting with the patients and families around me (some older ladies and their daughters) when I looked up at my H bag...which should have still been nearly full. Imagine my surprise when I saw the bag was EMPTY! I quickly looked at the clock...just about 30 minutes had gone past. My pump started sounding the alarm (as it was done with the H and switching to the saline flush). My nurse was walking past so I caught her attention and pointed out my H drip should have been NINETY minutes, NOT THIRTY! I asked if it would cause any problems for me (as I'm already experiencing Herceptin induced Cardiomyopathy). She looked quite panicked. She went to my Dr's nurse...then my Dr...then came back and said that the Dr said it was fine...that it was more about the AMOUNT of the dose, not the drip time. So, WHY IN THE HELL do I sit through NINETY minutes each week and NOT THIRTY!?!?! *sigh* This past Friday (2/14) was 90 minutes drip time again. *smdh*
In regards to my PET Scan today, I have been praying for a clean scan. I have also been praying that IF I DO have ANY cancer in my body that it is found NOW (sooner rather than later). Please say a prayer for me. xo
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