The PET Scan is Complete

Joan had her PET scan and is finally done with the testing phase... At least for now.

The last test was certainly the easiest except for the start time (we were there at 6:30 am) and the paperwork. Thankfully Joan called the treatment center yesterday and did the preliminary screening information and paid our fee. But there were still tons of questions to be answered before she could begin the procedure. As she looked over the hundred or so blocks that needed to be filled in about her medical history she said

"Remember when you used to be able to check "No" on all of these without even looking?"
Yes, faintly Joan I do seem to remember that. Are there more blocks now or are our medical histories gaining some texture... Something for everyone to ponder.

We were admitted into a receiving room which was approximately 16 degrees below zero. Every room in the country where you could potentially be asked to disrobe is kept at a temperature that would probably bother Happy Feet. I can only assume that the medical community is looking out for us all and maintaining a room temperature where no organisms can survive longer than a few minutes. The nurse of course recognized that it was very cold (he was wearing a coat for crying out loud) so he immediately brought Joan two warm blankets and put her in the most comfortable lounger that I have ever seen. Unfortunately I was dressed inappropriately and I neglected to fill out the correct paperwork to receive the warm blankets. I was also asked to sit in a plastic torture device that the nurse called a "chair".

Anyway, Joan drank a nasty liquid, received an inoculation of irradiated sugar water and took a one hour nap. At the end of the waiting period she was placed into the scanner and took another nap wrapped in her wonderful blankets until the scanner was done.

That's it.

We received no information from the technician nor any paperwork or photos of the scan. Joan gave the blankets back and we left.


Our next appointment is one week from today where we will gain some understanding of the tests that have been done the last two weeks and I or Joan will be sure and report the findings to each of you. I will be bringing blankets to that appointment...