Well, That’s Over!

As promised last week here is the report on this week’s exciting adventure. ¶ Thursday was the appointed day for the hi-def MRI at 7:15 in the AM. I was a little early but there was still reception area time. This MRI seemed shorter than the others and considerable shorter than last week’s 1.5 hour marathon. ¶ Since my port was already accessed, with difficulty, I decided to head on over to the Cancer Center for my blood draw. The difficulty was that there was no blood return to begin with. Raising my arms had no benefit. I finally had to go prone and the blood reluctantly began to flow. That’s only the second time this has happened in 1.5 years, so I guess that’s really pretty good. ¶ Returning in the afternoon for my appointment with the radiation oncologist I received the news that the larger lesion had not grown but they found three more tiny spots that may or may not be cancer so they would “zap” those while they were at it just to make sure. After promising, rather profoundly, to eat or drink nothing after midnight I was dismissed until Friday.

¶ My friend picked me up at 6:55 AM for the quick trip to the Cancer Center. When the lights came on in the department we headed in and were greeted by the first of three nurses that would be a part of the procedure. My port was accessed and behaved itself this time. My head was prepped and the metal frame attached by the neuroradiologist. I was given some topical anesthesia and another IV drug which relaxed me a little, but not much. I really didn’t feel the bolts until they were removed. Then the medical physicist plopped a clear plastic dome over my head and inserted a measuring device through several holes. The radiation oncologist dropped in to welcome me and explain that the “team” would meet right after my CT scan to formulate the “plan.”

¶ I was wheeled off to the CT scan machine and spent a short time there, and then returned to my cozy room. After the “plan” had been confected, off I went again, this time to the real thing, the Gamma Knife room replete with all kinds of warning signs about radioactivity, etc. My head was clamped to the table and I received the cheery news that I would be in the machine for about an hour and what kind of music would I like? I asked for classical and ended up with instrumental Broadway. Some of the tunes I actually recognized! At this point, who cares. The machine was blessedly silent and I felt nothing. Following the hour’s session, the announcement was made that my head had to be tilted a little for the remaining 15 minutes. They forget to mention this before or just didn’t. I would estimate that my head was raised about 20º or so, just enough that breathing was difficult. The doctor was kind enough to remind me of the number of minutes remaining until the procedure was complete. ¶ Off I was wheeled once again to my cozy room for the removal of the frame. That’s when the pain began. It wasn’t awful but it was uncomfortable. I was given a couple of Tylenol and had bandages fixed to the four “bolt” holes. Then my head was swathed in gauze and I was dismissed. I had no problems after my return home and there was no further pain. Excellent. ¶ The week, weatherize, was interesting with some days of heavy, wet snow, and then the warming trend began for which we are all grateful. I would call your attention to the picture of the whirligig on the deck which refused to do its thing for a couple of days.

¶ After flipping though some pictures of my Egyptian trip on the computer, Sophia concluded that she would be a worthy replacement for the Sphinx should the need arise. I tried to convince her that she is big but not that big. She thought from the picture they would be about the same size. It’s hard to argue with a cat who really has no concept of the difference between a photo and the real thing. ¶ That about sums up the week of the Gamma Knife. One assumes that everything was successful, but we won’t know for sure until the next MRI which is set for some time in the future.

¶ Once again I am so grateful for all of your prayers and the messages that I’ve received in the post and by email. All are precious and I hold you near and dear to my heart. ¶ I believe spring officially begins this weekend. Although the season is a mixed bag in South Dakota we welcome it. The daffodils are peeking through the ground and will persevere no matter the weather. They are an example for us all.