Last week I was sent to Salisbury District Hospital for a CT scan as part of the ongoing investigation in to blood in my urine. This has now been diagnosed as bladder cancer and I think the scan was to check that as well as my kidneys.
I’ve never had one before so it was a totally new experience. I wasn’t so keen on the idea of another needle, though.
Anyway, my letter said that the appointment was at 13:20 although I had to be there 30 minutes in advance. I also had to drink 2 pints of water during the 4 hours before the appointment. Good job I didn’t have to attend with a full bladder :)
Luckily, I live in Salisbury so it didn’t take too long to get to the hospital, which is also known as Odstock. I’d elected to park toward the front of the building, close to the main entrance. This is level 3 and the MRI CT (Computed Tomography) department are on the same level, on the North side.
I walked in and noticed that the reception desk was unmanned. I sat down and realised that there was a signing in computer screen on the wall. I walked over and scanned my letter. It’s a good job that I brought it with me although it does mention that on the letter.
Inside the CT scanner room
I didn’t have to wait for long until a friendly chap came out and called my name. He lead me to the room where it would all happen and I got my first view of a CT scanner. It was like a large, white doughnut and it all looked very technical. As you would expect, this doughnut had a hole and that’s where I would be going. Eeek,
The chap asked me to lay on the motorised examination couch and get comfy. Shortly afterwards, a nurse arrived and stuck a cannula in my arm.
That was followed by a tube that was attached a very high tech device with a touch screen. This turned out to be the machine that injects the contrast dye. I believe it contains iodine and helps to enhance the scan of soft tissue.
It did feel a little strange when the contrast dye started pumping and I felt a slight warming sensation. I also felt a metallic taste in the back of my throat and an urge to pee. Neither of these sensations lasted for long.
During the time that I was in there, I was moved in and out for several scans. Each time, there was a recorded voice telling me to ‘breathe in and hold your breath’.
Once they had all of the images that they needed, the cannula was removed and I was free to leave.
All I need to do now I to wait and see what the results are. I don’t know whether a doctor will discuss these with me or just do so if they’ve detected a problem.
I guess the next step in my bladder cancer journey will be to have the tumour removed.
Many thanks to Salisbury District Hospital for all that you’ve done so far, and in the future.
Next post - Bladder Tumour Removal At Salisbury Hospital (TURBT)