Issue on Recent CT Scan

[QuittingGirl]

How are you doing after the treatment Reci? I hope all went ok!

[Reciprocity]

Sorry I didn't post yesterday after my 1st radiation treatment. Just got busy around the house & forgot to come on the site last night.

 

First treatment went great! Was kind of surprised that there was really no big deal to it. Not sure what I was expecting but there simply was no sensory stimulation at all during the treatment; no weird sights, sounds or vibrations ... nothing!. Just laid there on the flat bed for about 15 mins and let the Radiation gizmo do it's thing. Was not ever aware of when it was actually zapping me or not. Of the 15 min. session they told me the actual time I would be receiving radiation would be for only about 5 mins total.

 

Starting at the first of my session; I arrived and checked into the radiation clinic then was directed to a hallway where the radiation treatments all happen. There seemed to be about 3 or 4 separate clinics there. I was in Clinic B. There's a small waiting area outside of each clinic where you have to wait to be called. It was a little unsettling seeing some of the people that were there waiting in the Clinic B waiting area. Some of them looked like they were about to keel over. Really in rough shape. That was kind of depressing. I eventually got called in and was lead down a short corridor to a large open room where the radiation machine was. All the people there at the clinic were really very nice and seemed to understand new patients were a bit nervous not knowing what was going on so they were quick to explain everything calmly and matter of factly.

 

The radiation macine they have was just recently put into operation at the cancer centre and is the latest & greatest technology available; apparently. Here's a photo of the actual one that they were using on me:

 

They told me it was referred to as "The Ferrari of Radiation Machines". I told them, "I like Ferraris!"

 

So during the session I didn't have to change into a hospital gown or anything. Just wore what ever clothes I came in with. Even taking my flip-flops off was optional. The first thing they do is lower that flat black board thing down and I climb up onto it and lay flat on my back with my arms and hands over my head. They have a head rest so I don't move my head around and a triangular foam pad under my knees which make your legs more comfortable when laying flat. Then all the people scurry away behind a partition and the session begins. The radiation maching is pretty much right over my head so I can't see what's going on behind me but the whole thing starts turning around; revolving around overhead. It stops turning from time to time and remains stationary for a brief period then starts turning again. I couldn't tell why it was stopping at any particular point but I did figure out that the radiation beam was probably coming at me from that circular thing you can see in the photo. It has a dark, rectangular glass screen which appears to have a grid in the glass. There was no noise or vibrations or anything while the maching was doing it's thing. It was actually a little erie?

 

Anyway, it just kept doing it's thing for the 15 minutes or so then they said; "session's over" and came back into the room, lowered me down and I got off the bed and left.

 

Didn't feel any effects at all after the session so I texted the wife who had driven me there and dropped me off and told her I was done. She came back, picked me up and we drove home. I was kind of waiting to see if I would feel any symptoms that evening or at night but ... Nope, nothing! Still feeling completely normal today as well. The doc did say it often takes some time before side effects happen or are at least noticed so we'll see. 

 

For now it's wait and see then go to the next session on Friday  

[Doreensfree]

Wow , wonderful 

technology is amazing 

I’m really happy for you P 

You know what to expect now , next time you won’t be as nervous 

Take it easy Buddy xx

[johnny5]

Glad to hear things went well, Reci.  Thanks for keeping us up to date with what is going on and continue to take care of yourself.

[QuittingGirl]

Thanks for letting us know. Glad it went well for you!  Hopefully the side effects will be very minimal.  

[notsmokinjo]

Tell them it can't be a Ferrari unless its red. Lol.

 

Glad your first session is done and dusted. You got this mate, no wukkas.

[SD2026]

I'm so pleased your first treatment went well and thank you for the update @Reciprocity 

[Reciprocity]

Had my 2nd session yesterday mid-afternoon. Again, no immediate issues. Was sitting on the couch later, about dinner time, and suddenly out of nowhere it hit me! A feeling of complete and utter exhaustion washed over me in seconds. It was like nothing I've ever felt before. Can't even really explain it accurately; not a feeling of being tired and wanting to lay down but simply a feeling like I wanted to melt into a puddle right there on the couch and just not move anything!

 

I eventually forced myself to get up and go to the kitchen for a glass of water then back to the couch. It was not a pleasant feeling at all! Felt OK again this morning, maybe a little slower/weaker than normal but not too bad. Hoping not to see that happen again Monday after my next session? We'll see ...

[Doreensfree]

Aww P …Hope you feel better after your session on Monday 

Take it easy buddy

[Stewbum]

I guess being bombarded with the radiation therapy is going to have these side effects.

I hope things get easier on you as you go and Monday's treatment isn't as exhaustive.

 

[QuittingGirl]

So sorry you had a bad reaction Reci. Hopefully the next treatment won't be as bad. Relax as much as you can.  We are all here pulling for you!!

[johnny5]

Sorry to hear this, Reci.  Take care of yourself.  I hope your next treatment goes better.

[Nancy]

Keeping you in my prayers, Reci!  Sorry for the bad experience and hoping it will not re-occur.  Thanks for keeping us up to date. 

[SD2026]

I hope today goes okay for you @Reciprocity  I'm sorry your last treatment wasn't a good experience. 

[DenaliBlues]

So sorry that you hit that fatigue wall @Reciprocity. One step at a time, my friend! You got this. 

[catlover]

Sorry to hear you felt like that, a bit scary when you thought you were all ok. I hope you’re next treatment will be better.

take care.

[GonSo]

Your body is very hard working cleaning up the cells that are killed by radiation. That might have caused it. 

 

No harm to mention this at your next visit.

[Reciprocity]

My 3rd session was yesterday. Went smooth as silk and NO reactions at all later that day or evening. Tip-top this morning too so that's a relief.

I actually think I'm getting off easy so far only having a brief period of sudden and complete exhaustion. There were a number of other possible bad reactions I was warned about during my initial meeting with the Doc and I haven't had any of those so far 

 

For these sessions of getting the radiation I don't see the Doc. He's not at the actual sessions; just the technitions are there. I did get a message that I'm to see the Doc just after my second last radiation session. I thought that was kind of odd and that he'sd maybe want to see me after my last session? I guess I'll see when the time comes.

 

And I can tell you the most uncomfortable thing I experience each time I go in is waiting around for 10 or 15 minutes in the waiting area just outside where the radiation gizmo is. I usuall see anywhere from 2 or 3 people to maybe 6 or 7 people all waiting to be called in and in most cases they have someone with them as many of them look like they are at death's door. It's sad and a little depressing actually but I thank my lucky stars that I am not in their shoes. I feel kind of bad because maybe they look at me and think ... why doesn't he look as sick as we are? It feels a little embarrasing like I shouldn't be there or something. It has taught me a lesson though and that is "don't feel sorry for yourself cuz there's always others who are worse off than you are."

 

[Doreensfree]

Thank you so for the update 

Good to hear you feel more comfortable this time around 

It’s tough watching other people go through thier treatments 

As you say there is always someone worse 

Stay positive Buddy

[Stewbum]

That's good news Reci I hope you continue to handle this that well with the future treatments.

 

It's been two years since my last scan. Your situation gave me the push I needed to schedule a lung scan, and with tremendous fear of the outcome! They read it yesterday and it came back clear thank goodness. 

[Reciprocity]

1 hour ago, Stewbum said:

That's good news Reci I hope you continue to handle this that well with the future treatments.

 

It's been two years since my last scan. Your situation gave me the push I needed to schedule a lung scan, and with tremendous fear of the outcome! They read it yesterday and it came back clear thank goodness. 

That's GREAT news @Stewbum Keep getting them in future if you/your insurance can afford them because you never know when something might pop up, like it did in my case. Staying poactive is a must for us non-smoking smokers (wait ,,, does that make sense???