Long Hot Day

Yesterday I got up at 4, to meet Linda by 5, so I could drop off my car at the shop by 5:30, so we could get to the hospital by 6:45 for my test at 7. In the summer I am not normally up by 7, so this was a lot to have happen so early in the day. Linda was driving her husband's truck, which is a trick to climb into because it sits so high, and has no AC. Yes, the hottest day of the summer and no AC. Lucky us.

There was nobody at the hospital so early in the day. The first thing I had to do was swallow a pill with the tracer in it. Then we had six hours to kill before the actual test.

So we went to Cracker Barrel and we each had a breakfast fit for a lumberjack. (Luckily, I was given permission to eat. I had to fast before taking the pill.) It took two people with trays to bring everything for just us two of us. It was fabulous. I ate every bite.

Then we went to (cough) Wal-Mart (cough). Normally I don't shop there, because they are evil, but for back-to-school, when I have to buy so many supplies, they are the only store with truly cheap prices. I got 20 composition books for 50 cents each, and 21 notebooks for 17 cents each. I got some glue, too. I am thinking I don't have too much else to buy this year, I have quite a bit left over from last year.

I also got root beer in bottles, because it is better in bottles.

Linda picked up a few things too.

And there we were with 2 and a half more hours to kill. So we went back to the hospital with the idea that we would sit in the waiting area and read. But first we stopped by the fountain and then we started talking. As the sun moved, we moved to keep in the shade. Finally it was time for me to check back in.

The next part of the test they called "taking pictures." I joked with Linda later that they must have been using old-fashion glass plate technology, because each picture took ten minutes to take during which I had to lay perfectly still with my neck stretched out. It seems it would be easy to just lay there, but have you ever tried to hold one position for ten minutes? It's pretty hard. Plus, I was so tired by that point that, even though I was in an uncomfortable position, I kept nodding off. Just as we started the last picture, another technician came in and started to roll the machine back, so we had to start that one all over again!

After that I was taken to another room, where they pointed some sort of scanner (it looked like a telescope) at me to read the radiation.

That was it. Except,  oh, yeah, didn't anyone tell you? You have to come back at 7:00 tomorrow morning for Part 3 - the 24-hour reading. See you then!

We went out to the blazing parking lot, got into an oven on wheels, and drove for an hour 'over the mountain' without AC back home. As Linda dropped me off, she said give her a call when my car was ready. As soon as she was out of sight down the road, the phone rang and my car was ready.

It was not brakes, as I thought. My mechanic used the words 'axle' and 'exploded.' I'm still not sure what happened (isn't the axle the thing that holds the wheels together? How could it explode? How could I even drive with an exploded axle?), but he told me I'd have never made it to Ohio with the car in that shape.{ok, 'axle shaft' is the term on the invoice, whatever that is} He also changed the oil, cleaned the brakes (he said they looked like new), and really went over it with a fine tooth comb. So that really relieved my worries.

So I called Linda and get her answering machine. It is a couple of hours before we go pick up the car, during which I just collapse. I am worn to a frazzle. I manage to nap a little.

Finally Linda comes, and I get back in her hot, hot truck. But soon I'm back in my own air-conditioned car with my own music playing and the car rides like a dream. Even on those back country roads, I don't think I've ever had a smoother ride in that car.

My instructions were to not add any salt to what I eat before the next test in the morning. I try to pick low-salt things to eat, but ja-ever notice how salt is in everything? I settle on baked beans and a chicken patty sandwich.

This morning I did not have to get up quite so early, since I was able to drive myself. I was the only person in the waiting room when I checked in, and was quickly taken to do the 'telescope' test again. Then I had my ultrasound test of the thyroid. I tried to look at the screen while she was doing the test, but I could make out nothing. That took maybe 10 minutes and I was done. It was not even 7:30.

Having come so far, I didn't want to waste the trip to M-burg. I wanted to buy a shower gift, look at school supplies, and pick up stuff for camping; but nothing opened until 8. So I sat in the lobby and read my book for 20 minutes.

Then I went to Kmart and Target. I got most of what I was looking for, and a few new treasures. I think I may be done with back-to-school shopping, unless I come up with something else I need.

They said the test results would be sent to my doctor in the next 2 or 3 business days, so I'll just have to wait until then to know anything.