The MUGGLE Scan
Last Tuesday I had an early appointment with Nuclear Medicine. I go down, get my patient ID band and then the fun begins. I had a brand new Nuclear Med tech. One who was not familiar with my history of being a hard stick. Well, he tried once and after discussing how I worked there decided to call in the IV team. The great IV RN put the IV in my are quite quickly. I think out of the IV RNs I have now had 4 out of 7 put a line in me. No complaints from this end.
Well, there is a new protocol for the MUGA scans because the PYP (the pyrophosphate used to prep me for the Technetium so they can track my blood flowing through my heart) is part of a national shortage. Seriously, someone in America needs to start manufacturing this stuff and some Parenteral Nutrition ingredients too (sorry occupational hazard)!. This meant that a small amount of my blood had to be drawn and I had to be given some Heprin based on my blood draw. The tech was flustered from having difficulty placing the IV that I couldn't get the best explanation out of him. Either way, I am now delayed for being a difficult stick and my actual scan gets moved back 45 minutes. But, I am injected with the Technetium and the heprin does it's trick (and bonus now I know I'm not allergic to Heprin). The tech goes to remove the IV from my arm and it decides it want to bleed for a little bit. He looks and me and says "Technically this is radioactive waste." Great. My blood is toxic waste. Well at least it's the week of Halloween maybe I can get bit by a turtle and then develop my nun-chuck skills and embrace my love of pizza {this is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reference}. He then places a tegaderm (almost like super sticky plastic wrap) with guaze to seal my arm. Then it's off to have 3 ten minute scans. And a nap. Apparently after two weeks of vacation difficulty having an IV placed is too much. Or it's more of a reflection on how common place this test has become for me. No freaking out and watching my heart beat or the PQRS waves. This is growth.
I did however spend the rest of the day trying not to cut myself (Opposed to the reckless abandon of which I usually walk around with). Didn't want spread radioactive waste around the hospital!
Growing and Octocep
Today is officially 18 months in the PRESENT study. Whoa. Both my oncologist, myself and the research RN were slightly amazed by that. I had 6 tubes of blood drawn without issue this morning. My veins decided they would cooperate. The joys of having only one arm to draw from. However, my blood work was perfect. Perfect. My oncologist is quite pleased with how I feel and my limited side effects. My MUGA scan is outstanding. My EF is 75% and she calls it A+ material. Then I provided my cup of urine to prove that I was indeed not pregnant to get the shots. Then the lab lost my "Stat" urine cup. The research RN was not pleased. She attempted to track it down but in the meantime asked me to provide a new sample. Well, at this point it was an hour later and I had nothing. Not even an extra drop. I came out to start chugging water when she let me know, they had found my urine. Phew.
With everything confirmed the research pharmacy mixed my injections up and sent them up. Because it was super busy they let me have my injections in an exam room, and not in an infusion chair. Often it is nice to have the vaccine that is intended to prevent recurrence in the place where I had Chemo (I often end up in the same chair) because it reminds me how far of come and how far I need to keep going. The research RN remembers that I am still slightly anal retentive so she makes sure to make a perfect square. She cracks jokes about making sure she measures a 90 degree angle. All four injections sting. But, only for the injection. They started to swell a little bit, as per usual. Currently (9 hours later) the 4 individual bumps have joined forces to great one super bump. My right leg has grown about a half an inch in height and it's throwing some serious heat right now. You know, the usual reaction that I have. I took some advil as instructed to keep the super bump from become the supreme bump and can ice if needed. We'll see.
As for now I look a little like Michelangelo (just on my overly muscular looking right thigh).
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