CT Scan Update

That was eventful!  I left in plenty of time and arrived at the hospital to find the road blocked with people trying to get into the hospital and get parked.  With over 30 minutes in a jam and trying to find a space I left the car park and drove to my friend's house about a mile away, parked and rushed to the Hospital being 10 minutes late for my appointment and pretty stressed about about that.

Luckily, you might say, they were pretty chilled about it and after I apologised they said it was fine as just about everyone had the same problem.  What I hadn't realised is that my much lower blood pressure these days and all that rushing around had lowered my BP quite a bit.  So when the Cannula went in I said I felt a little woozy.  I said that they might find that checking the line might be a problem (I've passed out before when they've pumped saline in to check the flow).  Not long after that I said to the nurse that I was going to pass out and I just remember having a sort of strange dream then waking up with people all around me.  I felt a lot better and though I was in a bit of a cold sweat at least we were able to get my BP back up to around 110 over 70!  My heart rate then came back down and then I realised they'd taken the Cannula out.  

They asked me if I'd like to remake the appointment and I said no, it was that stressful trying to find a space to park that I didn't want to go through that again (although I have to for my partner this Thursday)!  SO I was taken into the Scanning room and we had another go with me lying down and it was successful this time.   There are a sereies of scans with and without the dye they inject into you which gives you a hot flush and makes you feel like you are wetting yourself :-)  They then wait a further 10 minutes adnd re-do the same set of tests.

After 10 minutes or so they removed the cannula and made sure I was feeling OK.  I decided to take up my friends offer and have a coffee and something to eat at his place before driving home.  That was quite nice as it just made sure I felt well and was settled.

It was a shame that it was stressful, it isn't really such a stressful procedure normally, I don't remember it being like that last time but with all the rushing about I am certain that was the problem.

I now need to keep an eye on my BP especially with this Vasovagal problem and I need to make sure I'm lying down for cannula insertions and possibly for blood tests in the future!  Either that or drop my medicine and perhaps allow a spare half a day to park my car!  It's pretty ridiculous that they have such a huge hospital with such crap parking!  

Off For My CT Scan

I feel fine about my scan - apart from getting parked that is!  It's always a bind at Maidstone Hospital but my other half is with me and so if the worst comes to the worst she can drive off somewhere and come and pick me up later!

It really shook me when I got the appointment and it took me a day or so to get over it.  I suppose that, the Root Canal work, other appointments and just remembering how poorly I was back in those days where at the root of it.  

So at the moment, I'm OK, I've had some food - I cannot eat for 2 hours before the scan and I've got 1 Litre of water ready to drink before I go in - this to be consumed in the hour before the appointment - a bit difficult if you are driving yourself there but I am sure I'll manage it.

I also got a copy of the Consultant's letter which confirmed that this, the blood tests and the camera / cystoscopy in 6 months if all prove clear will discharge me from Care/Hospital.  That is something to look forward to and so I should be positive about all of that.  

Fingers crossed that the Scan will show all is OK and that I can go to stage 3 and have the scope and they can finally see the back of me.  Time for a celebration if that is the case.

At least I am a lot calmer than I was a few weeks ago - such a strange reaction to the news about the Scan - it's got a bit of a nuisance with the Cannula and Dye going in but hey, I'm sure it will be fine.