Medical Tests

21 & 24 Nov 2008

Ya, I'm not blogging this in chronological order. It's based on whim and fancy. I'd been toying with the idea of blogging for a while; especially after I had so much difficulty finding local information and being bombarded with lots from overseas sites.

During the 21 Nov visit, doc explained that since the pathology report mentioned that the cancer cells had spread, there was a need to check where it had spread to. Typically, it would spread to the bone, liver, lungs. He also scheduled another op on 27 Nov to check if spread had reached the sentinel lymph nodes as well as remove more tissue around the original op site.

So, on 21 Nov, I went for the chest x-ray to check the lungs and an ultrasound to check if my liver, pancreas, etc were ok.

Thank God for immediate confirmation by the time I left the hospital that my liver is unaffected :-) Thank God too for warm goo (the electrolyte ?) during the ultrasound. I remember bracing myself and the lady told me, if it's cold I'll need to tell her 'cos it's not supposed to be. Very friendly and funny lady. She took my mind of the ultrasound talking about her life. Even with her talking and talking, she could punctuate it with 'ok, breathe in' and 'breathe out' so smoothly. It was like a day out with a friend and her sharing with me about the latest movie she caught.

X-ray's the norm so I'm not spending many words here. I arrived for 12+ appointment at clinic 'C' and left around 5. Long hours due to pre-admissions tests, chest x-ray and ultrasound.

24 Nov appointment for bone scan. CH said she'd go with me. I forewarned her that I had no idea how long it would be and she said that it was ok. We arrived 10mins early for the 9.30am appointment. While waiting, I was wondering why my number didn't appear for payment when all others had. Then I went to ask them. I'd forgotten that I parked this bone scan under the pre-admission test so that the billing will be together and thus I wouldn't need to pay then.

When my number finally came up about 9.40am, I went to an area where the doc explained that he would inject the dye into my left hand (back of my palm) and I'd need to return at 1.45pm. 1.45pm, I asked? He said yes, and drink 1 litre of water between now and then.

I walked back to where CH was sitting and told her, we're free to roam till 1.45pm. We decided to have dimsum at Block 3 kopitiam. (Incidentally, this dimsum is really good. Please use your kopitiam card for the 10% discount. Try the char siew bao. It's the open type - fluffy bun that's open on top.)

After taking a leisurely brunch, we walked to People's Park Centre to check out exchange rates 'cos CH was going to Bali. I also bought water to drink along the way.

After roaming round OG, we made it back at 1.45pm. We waited again for my turn till about 2.15pm. When my number came, I went to change and went to the waiting room where I was told to go empty my bladder before the scan. 1 litre of water plus my nervousness resulted in many trips to the toilet. By the time I was settled, they led me to a room with 2 huge machines. They told me to lie on the platform of the larger one and not move. Wasn't too difficult. I was kept warm. Very nice in the hospital where almost everywhere is so cold.

While I was lying there, the platform moved up and forward (err, feet first). Then there was this thing (imagine a big clamp with 1 side above and 1 below) that moved here and there from my head to my toes. With no pain and feeling warm in a cold room, I almost fell asleep. The contraption had a slight hum to it and as long as I didn't move, the radiologist didn't say anything.

I think I was done about 3. Don't remember. CH got cold waiting for me, reading her book at the lobby. Thank God for friends like her.