CT scan

Had my CT scan this morning. I had to drink some Barium, which wasn't quite as gross as I thought it would be. Actually, it was totally gross, but I didn't throw it up so I think that's why it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Man, you really have to drink a LOT of that stuff.

Anyhow it was early, and I had a few flushes while drinking it, but nothing out of the ordinary. Toward the end, I got up to go to the ladies room before the actual CT scan. When I went to the ladies room and looked in the mirror, I saw quite a sight!

I was flushed, but in a weirder way than usual. My face was splotchy, with bumps like measles under my eyes. The area around my eyes was very red too, more so than in a usual flush. I didn't think it was a reaction per se from the barium. More like a flush with a barium tinge. When I opened the door, the nurse was standing there waiting for me, and I gave her quite a fright too. I told her that I had carcinoid syndrome, and that although this was a weirder flush than usual, that I would be fine. She asked if I was having trouble breathing or anything like that, but I told her no. I told her we could still do the scan, but we should probably skip the IV injection part of the scan. She agreed.

I went to to change into the hospital gown, and by the time I saw her again (about 3 minutes later) the weird flush was gone. She was amazed.

Did the CT scan, went home and took a nap, and that's all.

Kristin: educating the world about carcinoid one awkward flush at a time.

argh

I finally called the doctor today to get the results of my chest xray. Of course, they told me to call the 800 number. Oy. Why does it have to be such a pain to get an answer. Even if I wait the 14 days that they tell me I need to wait, they still never post the results on the network. That's some serious bull. In order to be seen by any of the carcinoid specialists, I have to a) have an actual diagnosis and b) have tons of imaging and likely a biopsy done. If I don't have these things, I can't even start treatment, so you can imagine my frustration with the snail's pace we are moving at.

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

My arm today

Chest x-ray and no sleep

Let's hope this isn't what mine looks like!

I guess all that napping yesterday really messed me up, because I could not get to sleep last night. Last time I saw the clock it read 4:38, and the next thing I knew my alarm was going off to get up to go to for my x-ray.

I arrived at 9 am, registered at the desk, they took me right at 9:15 and I was out of there by 9:19, in spite of my inability to get in the proper position for the x-ray. It didn't help that I got the trainee x-ray tech, but that's just about my luck these days. Don't know when I'll get the results, but knowing my doctor, it will be at the most inconvenient time!

Time for a nap!

Oh inventory

Three weeks later, my case no longer looks like this!

Yaaay....inventory tonight. I don't hold out much hope for it going smoothly, but I suppose you never know.

In other news:

* Rod is getting new glasses today

* Douv got an iPhone yesterday

* I have a paper due on Tuesday that I haven't started

* Gavin is afraid of grass but likes the pool!

That's all for now, off to "work on my paper"

This is my arm during a flush

Note to self

I'm experimenting with my caffeine levels to see if they affect the flushing that I get, and it seems to have an affect. Yesterday and today I skipped my Starbucks (but not my homemade morning espresso) and the flushing seems to be less. I will continue this experiment this week and see how it goes.