Coming up on another week...

After my trip back to Royal City on Friday, I felt puny (weak, aches, dull pain) and have had bright red urine.  It seems that everytime I bounce around, or do anything mildly strenous the ureter stent bothers me.  Saturday morning I called the doctor.  Of course he was out of his office, but called me back right away.  His answer, "to be expected..."  I guess that is why he prescribed Vicodin.  I had not been taking the prescription as it makes me alert, ready to go, go, go!  So, I am trying to remain inactive and drink more water which is helping to flush out the blood and keep my urine moderately clear.  It feels like waddle, not walk, because of the liquid I  have consumed, and have frequency of urination.  So, a long nap is out of the question.



Kidney ureteral stent, one end in the bladder, up through the ureter, ending in the kidney.
Image from photobucket.com

 I have been reading up on ureteral stent removal.  That is coming up on November 4th.  First of all, let me say that I have read on more than one site the procedure for men and women are different.  Of course, due to the anatomy... but, many men get general anesthesia for the removal and women get a local if they are lucky?  Sorry, but I want something for the "moderately uncomfortable, but usually not intolerable" procedure!  I didn't even do natural child birth.  I like drugs that stop pain... call me a coward. 

Image from photobucket.com

The first part of this coming week, my oncologist is supposed to call me with an appointment to get a PET/CT scan.  I believe he wants the results back for our meeting on Thursday.  The PET/CT is a continuous full body scan, and both can be completed at the same time.  The PET takes pictures of the very small changes in the body metabolism.  This change is caused by growing abnormal cells.  The CT part pictures can let the doctor pinpoint the exact location, size and shape of cancer growths. No pain... and doesn't bother my claustrophobia!  If you notice, the tube is short in length. 

I am remembering my brother, Robert, today.  Birthdays come and go, but this is the first since his passing away recently.  Cancer is having an impact on our family this year...

Life, we can't choose what happens.  But, we can choose how we react to it. (author unknown)