Friday, April 11, 2014

Watch Me Glow

This morning, in about 20 minutes, actually, I am going for a CT Scan.

This will be the second one I have had. The first I had in the emergency room in September. This one should be a little less nerve-wracking, given that it isn't in the ER.

I continue to have severe abdominal pain that doctors so far cannot diagnose. It is everything from nothing to ulcers to muscle spasms to some kind of "pelvic floor disorder," depending on the doctor and his or her specialty. But so far no one can help.

Some days the pain and nausea are so bad all I can do is get up, maybe sit at the computer a while, and go back to bed.

So I don't know whether to hope this test shows nothing or something.

CT Scans involve drinking 32 ounces of something that doesn't taste very good. Then they use some kind of contrasting agent through an IV and run you through a scary-looking machine. It is round and it takes pictures of your insides "in slices," as my general physician described it.

Anyway, wish me luck, however it turns out.

Thanks for reading.

Update 12:05 p.m.

It was a difficult procedure. First you have to drink 32-ounces
of liquid that makes your stomach cramp up. Then you have to spend over an hour and have three people stick needles in you 10 times to try to find a vein. Then you have to try to stand up, after being stuck in a chair for that hour and getting stiff. Then you hobble over to the machine without moving your arm for fear the IV will pop out. Then you have to hold your breath for up to 10 seconds at a time while you are moved through the machine. Then they insert the stuff into the IV and it makes your nose, mouth and groin area feel like it is on fire. Then you go back into the machine a few more times. Then you sit up and they take out the IV. Then you squirt blood all over the room and they wrap a compression bandage around your arm to stop the bleeding. Then you hobble out to your long-suffering husband and beg him to take you home.

Or at least that is how it happened to me.

6 comments:

  1. It would be so wonderful if they could just solve this puzzle for you. xox

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  2. I do hope treatment that works is offered soon. I've had Irritable Bowel Syndrome and complications due to it for many years now. A diagnosis wasn't formally made until colonoscopies, investigative surgery and a second opinion took place. It was mostly to my lower left side that the spasms and pain occurred. It was severe enough at times to require morphine and anti nausea shots.

    The scan sounded an awful experience - here's hoping some good news follows.

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  3. (((HUGS))) I hope this helps them figure out what has been ailing you.

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  4. Goodness, I hope someone can give you definitive answers soon. I'm sorry you've been suffering so.

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  5. I do hope you find some answers.

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  6. You have had quite a miserable time, Anita, not onky with the pains and not knowing the cause but also in the diagnostic procedures. Wishing you better days and finding answers wiuld be a good start so hope this complicated procedure yields results.

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