CT Scan

I had my pre-op yesterday morning at Whiston then it was over to St Helens for the CT scan to check for any other metastasised tumours. Unlike TV medical shows, where they get the results there and then, it seems I will have to wait until at least next week and possibly two weeks for mine. The nurse and radiologist didn't give me any horrified looks as they released me so I don't imagine I am riddled with tumours or anything. Back to waiting. 

Me being me, I like to know in advance what every procedure is for and what to expect. Part of the reason I started this blog is that most first-hand accounts of melanoma seem to be from America where the healthcare system and subsequently the treatments offered are different to those in the UK which are received on the NHS. When I queried why, I was told that the hospitals get by on billing huge amounts (e.g. thousands of dollars per scan) to the private health insurance companies so American patients are often given treatments as standard which in the UK would be considered either unnecessary or only offered as part of a clinical trial. An example of this is an immunotherapy drug called interferon which anyone researching melanoma will find pops up a lot. In the UK, it isn't offered as standard because the results are not conclusive enough to justify the cost.

Anyway, I digress. I looked into what would happen during the CT scan and came across some horror stories. I am not easily frightened so I paid them no attention, but some people might be worried so hopefully I can put their minds at ease by saying it was nothing at all to worry about there's nothing to it:

Prior to arriving, I had to fast for 4 hours and only drink clear liquids. Then 90 minutes before the scan I had to drink 2 pints of water as fast as possible to ensure the clearest view of my innards. On arrival, I was asked to drink another two glasses of water then change into the beautiful patterned robes that all hospitals seem to rock. I still haven't got the hang of tying them - I never seem to do it right and end up with either my backside hanging out or it all twisted up. After I got changed, I was taken into the scan room which is basically a room with the big CT machine in the middle similar to this (I couldn't take a photo because my phone was with my clothes):

The nurse put a cannula in my wrist:

It would normally go into the arm but my one good vein had been used that morning for a blood test. I won't lie and say it was painless - it hurt a fair bit more than usual although apparently either my "skin is like leather or the needle is blunt!". Either way, the pain doesn't last too long so if you hate needles, just don't look. I used to loathe them and got very jittery and nervous when I gave blood, but it's like anything - do it often enough and the fear dissipates.

Once the cannula was in, I was put through the machine a few times to set the scanner up to take images. As you go through it, an American voice tells you periodically to hold your breath. I was worried at first as I win the record for being the crappest person on earth at this. I have the lung capacity of an earthworm (yes, I know they don't have lungs!) and I think the record for holding my breath currently stands at 22 seconds - this was after I went into a public toilet where somebody had expelled their previous day's food in a very obvious and obnoxious manner.

Anyway, you only have to hold your breath for 10 seconds at a time and the scanner has a countdown plus an image either of someone smiling or puffing out their cheeks with a frown - presumably they'd been in the same disgusting toilet I had been in. Once you've been through a couple of times, a contrast liquid is injected through the cannula. The nurse will warn you in advance that it sends a hot flush through your body. It wasn't a pleasant sensation and some people apparently feel like they've wet themselves - the heat mimics warm urine. The worst part for me was the metallic taste I got in my mouth, which lasted for about an hour after. It's not unbearable by any means, just a bit like you've licked some old money. After that, you're immediately zipped forwards and backwards through the scanner again and then you're done. I had read it can take half an hour, and given that I was having a thorax, abdomen and pelvis scan I thought I'd be in there ages. But I was in and out within 10 minutes. Then, the cannula is taken out and you're done.

I wonder how much I've cost the NHS now?

Also, I am downloading TV series' in preparation for my boring recuperation.