Week #2 at Mayo began with a gastric emptying scan. This was scan #3 for me, so I'm a bit of a pro. The appointment started with a "mouth-watering" breakfast of radioactive eggs and a piece of toast. Every time I have this scan, I spend approximately 30 seconds being excited that I get to eat real eggs and wheat toast...two foods not normally on the menu. The enthusiasm lasts typically until I take the first bite, at which point I am reminded that radioactive eggs, no matter how much they look like regular scrambled eggs, taste like...well...rubber? The only new and different part of today's GES was the following conversation:
Radiologist: "Mrs. Buschenfeldt, have you ever had abdominal surgery?"
Me: "Yes, I have a PEG-J feeding tube."
Radiologist: "Hmmm, well is it clamped?"
Me: "Yes, but it leaks and I'm having a procedure next week to fix it. Is that going to be a problem? Am I going to leak radioactive fluid?"
Radiologist: "I'm not sure, let me go ask my supervisor."
5 awkward minutes later...
Radiologist: "Well, it is what it is. Let's get started."
Umm...okay?
So I ate my delicious breakfast and then stood in a scanner for two minutes, every hour (for 5 hours), to see how slowly the meal moved through me. Life changing, let me tell ya. The verdict is still out on whether or not I can give free xrays.
Next I went to the department of physical therapy to meet with a hyper mobility specialist. The doctor spoke with me for awhile, asked about my exercise habits (before and after hard drive crash) and analyzed my flexibility and strength. I know this may come as a shock to my blog readers, but the doctor made a life changing discovery.
"Mrs. Buschenfeldt, I must admit, your symptoms are a little weird."
Dude, if I had a dollar for every time I heard that...
So turns out it's a bit bizarre to be both hyper mobile and...well...the complete and polar opposite. I can fold my 6 feet in half and put my palms on the floor, but as anyone who has ever taken a work-out class with me can attest, I am hardly a gigantic version of Mary Lou Retton. One time a substitute teacher for my boot camp class told me that my squat looks more like I'm learning to dive. Whatever, I'm multi-tasking!
In other news, my surgery has been moved to the 26th and my tentative departure date is the 28th (although it changes almost daily.) The doctors decided they didn't want to cut any part of me until they knew a bit more about the manifestation of my hard drive crash. Don't worry, the longer I'm here, the more time I have to practice my red carpet wave.
Hi Lyddie,
ReplyDeleteGlad today went well. Sending lots of hugs and wishes for a good day tomorrow.
Love, Mom xoxox
Wow Lydia, your symptoms are sooo weird.
ReplyDeleteJust kidding, I just wanted to be one of your annoying, stumped fans.
Great Luck to you with this stupid puzzle. I am truly sorry you have to deal with this....I will follow, write on.
Estimated departure date the 28th? I think spending almost a month in freezing Rochester, Minnesota entitles you to add it to the list of places you've lived. However, on one hand, you might want to forget about all the "fun" you've had there (excluding finding the answer to the riddle: what's causing all these weird symptoms?). On the other hand, where would you have gotten such great material to express your inner writer? I hope it's cathartic-you're developing a huge blog following!
ReplyDeleteHi dear Lydia --
ReplyDeleteWe're keeping track. Talked to Eric last Friday, to your mom on Monday. You are strong and resilient, and your sense of humor is unbeatable. I expect that underneath it all there is significant fear and trembling ... Give our love to your dad -- and give each other a hug from both of us. -- Bill & Lorain
Hi dear Lydia -- we're keeping track. Talked to Eric last Friday & your mom on Monday. Your spirit seems unflappable (and your sense of humor unbeatable!) -- I hunch there is fear and trembling as well. Hang in there. Give our love to your dad ... and give a hug to each other from both of us. -- Bill and Lorain
ReplyDelete