Back to Imaging

So we walked back into the building in an orderly manner. Work was already in progress at Imaging. The good Datin was no longer in sight. I sat down before the young doctor. She managed to find a suitable vein this time after apologising for the previous unsuccessful attempts. I was asked to change into their hospital dress and given a cup of yellow liquid (Oral Contrast) which tasted awful. They pumped in more "Contrast" into the other end of me and inserted a tampon into ... well, where tampons usually goes. After that, I walked awkwardly towards the Scanning Room.

The CT Scan Machine is a huge standing ring with a sliding bed in its hollow core. Medical personnel were seated on the other side of the room divided by a glass window. The bed eased into the hollow core. I was asked to breathe in and hold my breath. My eyes were shut but I could hear the buzzing of the machine towering above me. Then they injected more contrast via the intravenous needle. I felt the surge of warmth and nausea which was quickly suppressed with Psalm 23. The bed eased itself into the hollow ring once again. I held my breath while the machine buzzed. And that was that. The long and short of the experience.

Suddenly, German sausages sounded like a delectable idea. We headed for a restaurant which served one of those sausage platter. I managed to swallow an entire sausage without nausea and was pleased. The man at the next table could not keep his eyes off me. (I was wearing one of those ski-caps to conceal my shaved head.) At some point, I was sorely tempted to sit at his table so that we can stare at each other. Common sense prevailed and the man's eye finally got used to seeing me.

I am happy to report that I feel far, far better today than I did two days ago. For the record, I am due for 4 more chemotherapies and I worry about the availability of my veins.