Today I dutifully attended the Dee Why X-Ray & CT facility to undergo a CT (computerised tomography) Scan, to determine the possible 'spread' of the cancer. The hope is that the cancer is contained to the Prostrate and not spread beyond to the lymph nodes and the abdomen.
Prior to attending the facility, I was then given the following instructions:
When you arrive, you check in with the receptionist so the radiographers know you are there. Then you usually take a seat in the waiting room until someone calls you for your scan.
When you are called, you may first go to a cubicle to take off your outer clothing. You may have to strip down to your underwear and put on a hospital gown. If you are just having a CT of your head, you may not be asked to undress. You must take off any jewellery that is in the area to be scanned because metal interferes with the machine.
When you are ready, the radiographer or helper will take you into the scanning room. You will probably have to lie down on the machine couch on your back.
Sometimes the scan is done with you on your side or lying on your front. You need to lie as still as you can, but breathe normally.
Once you are in the right position on the couch, the radiographer will leave the room. This is because there will be X-rays in the room and it would be dangerous for the staff to be exposed to these. They see patients having X-rays and CT scans all day, every day and if they stayed in the room, would be exposed to far more X-rays than any patient.The radiographer will be able to see you on a TV screen and you can talk to each other through an intercom.
The radiographer will control the position of the couch from outside. The couch can move automatically through the CT scanner so that the part of the body to be scanned
is in the machine.
The radiographer will tell you that he or she is about to start the scan and remind you to keep as still as you can. When the scan is over, the radiographer will come back into the room and help you down from the couch.
Lying still for long periods can be uncomfortable. If you are getting stiff and need to move, tell the radiographers through the intercom. During the actual scan, you have to try to keep as still as possible, and not cough or swallow, particularly if your head is being scanned. Mostly, you can breathe quietly but normally throughout the scan.
For some scans, your radiographer may ask you to hold your breath at various times during the scan. If this is going to happen, they will tell you beforehand.
You should be able to go home as soon as the scan is over.
Now of course I felt completely at ease after reading all of the instructions!
"What was that about taking all your clothes off ... I hope they have central heating in there"!
Prior to the procedure, I was asked to drink a milky-white, 'liquid contrast material', which I was told would help provide 'contrast' so that the body tissue would show up more clearly on the scan.
After undressing, and then being made to sit for 'an eternity' ... half naked ... in a 'broom closet'; I was finally ushered into the 'scanning room'.
After a medical questionnaire, which raised my anxiety level to an 'uncomfortable' level; the discussion turned to the likelihood of adverse reactions etc. I was then told:
"Some people feel a bit claustrophobic or 'closed in', when they are having a scan". (You need to tell the radiographers this, before the day of your appointment!!) Like, how am I supposed to know, in advance, how I'm going to feel!
"If necessary, you can have a tablet or injection to calm you down before the scan". (If you had the foresight to organise it in advance).
"If you let us know that you are nervous, we will take extra care in making sure you are comfortable and understand what is going on. Keeping your eyes closed sometimes helps".
Now that was really comforting ...
A 'dye' was then injected into a vein to improve the clarity of the scans. The nurse explained that the injection might cause a feeling of being 'hot-all-over' for several minutes - but that it was normal for most people. She was right, I soon became aware of the 'hot-all-over' feeling - it was a little disquieting, but otherwise OK.
I was also told that I should just relax and try to stay calm while my body was slowly entering into the large (rather ominous) circular looking device in front of me. Stay calm ... sure NO WORRIES!
It was then that I realised that I must be a little claustrophobic! I kept telling myself: "the big spinning doughnut doesn't frighten me ..."
The scan took about 30 minutes.
You just lie there, flat on a table inside the large, circular device (CT scanner) while it rotates around you. Meanwhile you are alternatively told to: 'inhale and hold your breath', while the scans are taken; and then to: 'exhale and breathe normally' while the machine relocates for a subsequent scan. You do this in response to a computerised 'voice' which intermittently invades your 'headspace'.
Come to think of it ... I'm convinced that the 'voice' is activated by a colour sensor mounted close to where your head is located; as I'm sure, that on several occasions, the command to: 'exhale and breathe normally' only happened when I had started to 'turn blue'!
Anyway, I survived the whole ordeal and lived to tell about it and you are my witness!
No comments:
Post a Comment