June 22, 2024

While we were on Texada I had a phone appointment with my oncology doctor in Vancouver. He arranged for some blood work and a bone scan. The scan was originally scheduled in Vancouver but when we saw the cost for a one-night’s accommodation I called back to see if I could have it done in Comox. I was waiting all week for “the phone call” booking me in for an appointment. Late Thursday afternoon the hospital called. They had slotted me in for the scan in the middle of July but they had a cancellation for the next morning if I wanted it. I said yes, knowing that Pat had some commitments. Although I’ve not done it before, I knew I was capable of getting myself to the appointment. Pat responded immediately that he would do the driving and I hurried up to the clinic to get my TAP form (free ferry if you are travelling for medical appointments).

We left on the first ferry and went straight to the hospital when we got off. Although I was a bit early for my slated time I didn’t wait long before they called me in. The scan is a two-part process; first they inject you with radio active dye and then you come back in a couple of hours for the actual scan. I had a scan prior to my treatments so I knew it wasn’t scary. I failed, however, to take into consideration that finding a vein to inject the dye would be challenging. After an initial look and a poke the technician got warm blankets for both arms to see if she could find anything. A few minutes later she was back and after a couple more unsuccessful pokes she found a spot. She said she was pretty sure she got enough of the dye into the vein before she lost it again.

While we waited for the second part of the appointment we hurried over to Costco – just a block away. Before we took the ferry I printed out my list and checked the cupboards to see what we needed. For the first time ever we walked up and down every aisle on one side of the warehouse without adding anything to our cart. I remember the first time we went to Costco we hadn’t gone down more than a couple of aisles before we went back for a second cart. We got everything on the list, although there were a few things on the list that they don’t carry (I’ll have to update my list). We even found ginger beer which was something I added not really expecting to find it.

After we finished at the checkout we stopped for lunch – a Costco hot dog and drink. Since we still had a bit of time we stopped at Home Depot because it was on the same block between Costco and the hospital. The scan went well although it brought back some memories of my radiation treatments. I managed to pull myself together and they were very kind when they saw my tears. We weren’t even home before we got a call from the oncology doctor saying the radiologist had read the scan and everything was fine. When it works, our health care system is wonderful. We were home, unpacked and with the groceries put away before the puck dropped on the hockey game.

Now that I know there is nothing wrong with me it is time to “suck it up” and quit babying myself. That being my state of mind, this morning I did the vacuuming and then Pat and I moved a bit of furniture around (a chair from downstairs to upstairs and a chair from upstairs to downstairs). I’ve done a bit of sewing this morning and I’ll continue for a bit. I’m unlikely to finish anything but I’ll keep going.