21/01/2010

CT scan and released again

What an anxiety. I want to go home...meaning I want to run away from hospital food. But what is the point to go home if you are not fully re-established? Since I am isolated they tend to "forget" me a bit. Consequently, I got a bit irritated when by 09:30 they still hadn't shown up for the blood samples (despite my requests to do it asap). Yesterday they did the blood samples but didn't count the neutrophils. At 10:00 today I had to be at the CT scan. So if they didn't do the blood samples, I would be stuck here due to bureaucracy or lack of organization. They finally arrived and I could go to the scan. I was supposed to drink a liter of water, but the instructions were unclear. I only had 450 ml expecting to have more at the CT office. They think 450 ml is OK, though it left me with the feeling that the results could be wrong because some water is missing. Anyway, they are the pros. The water is to help making the scan clearer. Plus they inject you this fluid that gives a warm feeling and nausea and helps highlighting the parts of the body they need to scan. Since I am so accostumed to chemicals by now, I didn't feel anything. Little fight between departments, the ward had to put me a canular. As they didn't, a doctor had to come downstairs to the CT office to do it!! For your info, last time I did a scan here the CT people did the canular, so why couldn't they do it this time? The doctor did it, but I had another of these doubtful moments: as the doctor is not used to do it, the needle was not correctly positioned and there was a bit of pain. There wasn't really! To complete all this one of the staff comes to me spdaking in Spanish: "You are Spanish no?" Well, indeed no mate, I am Portuguese. But I still showed him my language skills. So there I went to the machine. You lay back, arms behind your head, they give you the fluid and off you go. A voice tells you to breathe in and hold it, you pass the round circle that scans you and then the same voice tells you to breath normally. This takes place twice and you are done. Results available on 01/03. Back to the ward the doctors come to see me. It is OK to leave, though you don't really figure out where their decision lies compared to the previous day. That is, they don't have the neutrophils results yet, but since I am feeling OK, no fever, the white cells are much improved, I can go home. Well, I was like that yesterday as well. Of course, I am back Monday for a routine consultation and they will check the blood again. Interestingly I learned that if the neutrophils are low the machine doesn't count them automatically, a specialist needs to count them manually, like litterally manually, 1, 2, 3....Another team of doctors shows up: I am OK I say, he is OK they say and off they go. As I trust doctors, I shall not play the perfectionist and insist on scientifical bullet proof results that would keep me here for weeks and I go happily home.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Ai Migu, tu arranja lá paciência onde tiver que ser...

Cão Traste said...

lol ja estou em casa com a paciencia toda

Carlota said...

Olha, vai lá ao meu blogue e entretem-te com as fotos e os meus doutos pareceres.
Beijos e bom fim-de-semana!