Hi,
I REALLY appreciate the well wishes. I find this site so reassuring!!!!
I got through yesterday with flying colors, may I say! Everything was either on time or early. It ran like clockwork. There is no doubt they know what they are doing and everyone was kind and very informative! My husband and I arrived mid afternoon, parked in their special convenient password-only parking lot. That i a first very nice touch. The parking garage is FAR away!
I first went to the CT scan room. There on the table was a mask already made and my perfectly flat mask. The one that was to be done for me by the technicians. She put hers on for me to show me what it looks like. It was firm and you could see the face imprint on top. Then she showed me my mask telling me it would be soaked in very warm water making it malable. I was to lay on the table and had a special CK "pillow" that held me head in place. She put in an IV which is always an issue with y non-existant veins, but I am so used to that I had no trouble with that.
On the table were attachment places beside it for the mask. I was to close my eyes as she stretched it over my head. (It was hot like towels in a spa, but the texture was more like stretchy tight fish net stockings....very strange but not unpleasant at all.) I could see through it fine once it was on, although most of the time I shut my eyes. A nice touch also, they had a photograph of sky and clouds backlit on the ceiling. Quite peaceful looking.
As I said the mask started out flat - looking something like a disposable vacuum bag before use. After she stretched it over my head she attached it and sent me through the CT scanner as it was drying (and tightening). By the time the scan was done, it had solidified into the imprint of my head and looked from the side like a new version of the old movie, "Alien". OOOO how proud I am!
Being claustrophobic, I was worried ahead about being "stuck" in the tight mask. I had a moment at the beginning I had a moment of panic that I was able to short circuit by overloading my brain (I did not notice any effect of the "happy" medicine after I took it). After I kept my mind going in more positive direction this part was not too slow, so I managed quite well. She then called MRI and they got me in earlier than the appointed time. She escorted us over there and got us started on that process.
I do NOT like MRI's. I was determined I would get through this. This is a specialized MRI just for the head. It is the small tunnel quite snug. The good news and I was pleasantly surprised, the lighting inside it was just right, the soft breeze was calming AND it had a window to see out. It really was mirrors, but I could see the technician throughout the procedure. Ib the long run it was easier for me than the open MRI with no way to look out. She also took me out between scans when I asked as opposed to the guy who argued with me at the last one. This one had padding on each side of my head and held it gently plus there was a helmet placed over my head. The helmet is very close to the head, but you can see through it fine.
The scan was only done on the tumor area of my brain so it was about 15 minutes total of scanning. I asked for earplugs because I was told this is particularily loud. I found not only did it help with the noise level but it also felt comforting like swimming underwater sound. This is what I did to keep me calmer. First, during the long 10 minute scan I counted slowly to 600 (I was only off by a couple of seconds when it ended). If my mind started wandering at the same time i was counting, I'd look out the window or close my eyes. In addition I tried to think what the sound reminded me of. DON'T LAUGH....with the earplugs, the machine sounded like a huge cat purring. I said DON'T laugh. No it was not the happy pill, either. It didn't seem to do anything. I just like to have my imagination tapped into and combining that with my counting kept me from staying in a panicky feeling when they did strike.
So we were finished after that and we went out and had a nice dinner, just the 2 of us. Nothing like a romantic evening to the BNI and dinner.
I wanted to take photos, but the technician didn't know if it was allowed, so instead I wrote in details. Sorry about the length, but those wanting details, I hope it helps. Next week I go see Dr. Daspit for pre-treatment appointment. I can ask my last minute questions, if you have any suggestions let me know.
Proud Mary keeps on.....
