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Scans and other ailments-- need feedback

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Posted 12/4/2011 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
OK, this is the place where I share my innermost concerns, so here we go again. I'm sure many (probably most) of you have been here/done that.

Well, on Tuesday I have my whole body bone scan and also a CT scan with oral and IV contrast. I am not looking forward to this.

(I did my bone density test last week -- that was a total non-event. I'll get the results of everything on the 15th).

I start my day by having to drink the awful looking stuff (contrast -- I suspect it is barium) at 5:30 AM (who gets up at that awful time!). Then I drink a second jug of this crap at 7:30 AM. Then I go in for an injection at 8:00 AM (register before that time). At some point later I'll also get the IV.

Oh, well, I should be done by early afternoon.

But here's my question/worry.

Obviously, the big concern is that they will find cancer metasticized to the bone. I suspect that is unlikely at this stage (PSA climbing rapidly but stll low). Am I correct in that assumption?

My other concern is this: are they going to find all sorts of suspicious stuff that will have to be investigated. More aggravation. After all, I am 65 years old with calcium deposits in my knees and a chronic back problem over the last 30years. I suspect just by having lived this long, stuff will show up.

My question: what has been your experience resulting from these scans? Have the scans found other things that had to be investigated? I'm very curious? Hopefully, the "things" can be identified immediately as NOT being PC!

Mel

 

Posted 12/4/2011 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
i had to pee right before my bone scan.  i was dressed out in a hospital smock and i had already gotten the IV.  tiny spots of urine lit up my pelvic region like hotspots of cancer on the first scan but the technician knew right away that it was urine.  had me going at first though cool .

one of my ribs had a spot on the end and my shoulders were lit up like i was wearing linebacker pads.  my urologist said the my shoulders had been injured alot (weightlifting) over the years and he said the spot on the rib was of no concern because of where it was located.  i believe i cracked that rib when i wrecked my bike a few years earlier.

when i went in for my CT scan there was this lady in a wheelchair with her daughter.  she spoke to her daughter in a foreign language and was obviously in pain.  they looked eastern european to me.  i has just slugged down two bottles of prep -- apple and banana in record time.  my gusto really freaked out the receptionist. 

anyhow this old lady started getting louder and louder and soon she was babbling like the priest's mom in the exorcist and i felt the hair standing on the back of my neck.  they wheeled the lady into one of the scan rooms and soon paramedics came bursting through the door all wild-eyed.  so my ct scan was delayed for about 30 minutes.  my wife said she thinks the lady didn't make it.

one thing that has gotten to me throughout my PC experience is i am always the youngest guy in the room.  my bone and CT scans were both negative and i believe yours will be too cool .

ed

 

Posted 12/4/2011 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
I had been warned about old injuries showing up on the bone scan, so I went back and made a list of the ones I remembered. The tech used that to help precheck things, and passed it on to the doctor who read the scan. I also had MRI reports from a few years back that I sent them.

I had the same "last drops" issue, and they redid the area, so I spent a lot longer on the table than I wanted. Had about forgotten that.

Posted 12/4/2011 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Mel,

I think it will be a non-event .. unlikely to spot anything with your PSA as it is. I suspect they are doing this to get a good baseline for future scans if needed. Yes, it is a barium smoothie .. yum! I chose two flavors: vanilla and very berry. It was not that bad. The IV contrast feels strange when it goes in ... warm feeling moving across your body .. you will swear you are peeing on the table when the warmth moves through your pelvic area. Again, no big deal.

From a timing point of view, I had the bone scan material injected and then had the CT scans and went home for 2-3 hours and came back for the bone scan.

On the scan, like F8 mentioned, old injuries or arthritis in the joints will show up. The radiologist sees that all the time and knows how to interpret them.

I too, had a dribble issue. I kept my pants on but just pulled them down to the knees. Well, I had gone to the bathroom just before the scan and apparently got some on my pants. The tech asked me if I was having any pain in my knee. It really showed up on the scan. So, tried to avoid that.

I did get called back after my surgery for a follow-up CT scan because of the pre-surgery X-ray .. they found a nodule on my lung. It was nothing.

I think it will be a tedious, "get it over with" kind of day for you.

Posted 12/4/2011 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
That's funny. A friend of mine in our support group was having problems with continence at the time. He had a bit of a dribble and everything lit up. It did lengthen the exam and caused him a lot of aggravation, despite the fact that he told them the spots were where he dribbled!

Mel

Posted 12/4/2011 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Many years ago (probably about 15) I made the dreadful mistake of going in and having a total body scan as a preventative medicine process by some shonky medical group pushing the scanning. Bloody hell! It showed up oodles of things ------- all minor (arthritis in various spots, harmless cysts on kidneys etc). But when I took the results to my GP he felt compelled to have each and everything looked at by various specialists (everybody covering their backside). Although it didn't really cost me (apart from the initial scan) it did waste a lot of tax payer's money. Yours is a different scenario though Mel. Here's to all being well with the results.
Bill
Posted 12/5/2011 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
mel, with you psa at a little over 1.x, it's highly unlikely to have or spot any mets. mine was 5.x in june and rising fast, and no evidence of mets, and sonny's was 9.x, and still no evidence. other than the hassle of the tests, i wouldn't be worrying to much about it, best benefit would be a good baseline if things continue to grow in the future. if you are still going to go for the HT real soon, even less reason to be worried about it in my opinion.

david in sc
Posted 12/5/2011 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses. Yes, the purpose is to establish a baseline for down the road (I hope FAR down the road).

Mel

Posted 12/6/2011 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Update:

Everything is going smoothly. I drank the contrast this morning at 5:30 and again at 7:30. It was not as vile as I feared (not as thick and not as chalky tasting as I remember barium from tests 30 years ago).

My local large medical center had their act together.

I am done with the CT scan. I had the radioactive stuff injected via the IV port for the CT Scan. I am now cooling my heels and will return there in 45 minutes for the completion of the bone scan.

I'll get the results next week.

Mel

Posted 12/6/2011 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Well, the tests are done.

But afterwards they asked me if I've ever had an injury to my right shoulder. That answer is no.

Worrisome.

I'll get the reports next week.

Mel

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