More in the morning

Just a quick post to let you know what is going on.  I had the PET and the CT w/dye contrast today. Thanks to careful diet management, my blood sugar was 77, so they should have been able to get excellent pictures. Well, except for when they had to pull me out of the tube and sit me up so I could spit.  And then start over again.  Sigh.  Lying flat on your back is not a lot of fun when you can't swallow.  During the latter stages of radiation, I spent a lot of time juggling the phlegm, so at least I'm practiced.

The tech, Luke, was amazing, and kind, and patient.  It is a hard thing to let me keep a shred of dignity while you are trying to get the best results possible.  No, I can't be completely flat. No, I can't spit into a cup while lying down (try spitting sometime without moving your tongue). No, my head doesn't go that way. The woman working with him was neither as gentle nor understanding as he, so I wasn't sorry to see her go on break.

I've been pushing through fluids all day to clear my body of the radioactive sugar and the iodine.  I've also been dumping down Mucinex in a desperate attempt to clear out my lungs after yet another sleepless night last night.  At some point Kelly brought the nebulizer in because the noise from my inability to breathe was unbearable. We had thought maybe a recliner would be better, but after spending over an hour in the recliner at the imaging center, I can say it isn't that much different.  The key just has to be getting the gunk out.

The downside to the Mucinex is that I coughed so hard I started bleeding from my mouth. Bright red blood pouring from your mouth will get anyone's attention, but when you've been through the wringer like me, it is a total freak out. Hopefully that is settled down.

They pushed the test results through to Dr.A, so hopefully we will hear something tomorrow.  I am pretty much terrified at this point.  I am still so swollen and sore from the surgery four months ago that the thought of another is almost unbearable.  Needles, and trach tubes, and all of that. But the fear that there will not be options is greater.  Or that this will be extensive.  Since I have learned that it can always be worse,we will plan for the worst and hope for the best.

The sun was out, the crocuses are blooming, and tomorrow is another day.  Hopefully it will be a day filled with promising news.

Until then...