Hello everyone again - I had my GK yesterday at Mayo Clinic and I am happy to report I'm doing great so far. Wed. was a day filled with appointments there, plus a meet and greet with the radiologic people that would all be there, the complete team. I was nervous the evening before but managed to sock away a nice dinner complete with the chocolate raspberry cake at the Canadian Honker restaurant across from the hospital I'd be approaching at 5:30 am the following morning. I was awake from about 2:30 on, so no problem getting up on time. I arrived at the hospital, was taken to the appropriate floor in a timely manner, shown my room and instructed to change into gown and long pants (the radiation oncologist had warned me that sometimes people are given no pants and to be sure and ask (!) for them, "because we neither want nor need to see all of that".) Anyhow, I was taken then to the GK suite and had two wonderful nurses that helped me through a mini meltdown. I had been given adavan to calm me, plus something nice in an IV, so I was a bit loopy. After swabbing my entire head/face with alcohol, Dr Link and a Dr. assisting had my headframe on in about 3 minutes, and both were good about keeping me calm and breathing. The headframe was not at all as bad as what I built it up to be, funny how that happens. I was able to move around ok and could use restroom alone even. I took a Dean Koontz book to keep me busy, but there wasn't much downtime. It all went fine; I had an MRI and then a CT; then the team took about a half hour for planning before the actual treatment. The machine looked a bit like an old fashioned hair dryer to be used while you lay down. After the team helped me gently down and bolted everything into place, they left the room. I was monitored throughout the 45 minute treatment, which went quickly and I think I slept through some of it. Strangely, radiation is just the quietest thing. I only heard sounds briefly as the machine was either moving, or the frame was moving, I'm not really sure which. At the end of the treatment, chimes sounded, and it reminded me of church bells. They came and helped me out and sent me back to my room, after doing the big headwrap. I hung out in my room for about 2 hours until nurse was satisfied I was doing fine. My husband brought me a gorgeous plant, and I ate the most bland cheese sandwich I have ever had, but let me tell you, I was starving. I left hospital at 12:45 pm!! So all is well. My one pin site is a little sore and oozy in front, the back ones I can't seem to find. I am kinda tired and dizzy at times, but not bad at all. I have to say that Mayo is world class in my book, I was treated like a princess from start to finish. Well, gotta go for now. Hi yall, Joey
