31 days. Today, it's been a month since Dr Berardinucci told me what he thought was going on. In a month I have changed countries, put my life on hold, had several doctors appointments, had an operation, had a CT scan, and am now recovering. I remember around Day 5, I commented on how slow everything was going, but now I can't believe it's been a whole month. So much to change in a month. So, so much.
I had a few medical encounters in the last few days. Three days ago I went to my local GP, as I was worried about my swelling. I set up an appointment in the morning, then headed there near midday. I talked to a Dr Sharif, who I am not sure if I've talked to before. He checked my wound and checked my swelling, told me the wound was healing fine and the swelling feels like just blood and should go down on its own. He did put me on antibiotics however, which I've been taking and they have been helping.
Strangely enough, he seemed more interested in me emotionally than physically. He asked me how I'd been coping with the whole situation, and asked exactly what happened since the circumstances are quite odd. I told him my amazing tale, about how much things would have cost in the USA, and about my visa. He laughed when I told him the woman at the USCIS counter in Texas cried, and joked that I seemed to be taking it better than she did. He told me he has a sister who lives in Texas, and advised me that the visa should be easier now we're married. We'll see.
I still haven't heard anything from the US government, but Megan hasn't hardly been in touch with home, so maybe some mail has come by now?
Anyway, the antibiotics seem to be working, so that's good. I'm weaning myself off painkillers now too, so I'm a bit tender and have little stabs of pain from time to time, but it all seems to be going okay. Well, it will be, if my scan results come back clear.
So, my scan. Day before yesterday, 21st Sep, I went to MK hospital once again for my CT scan. I arrived on time, and I'd followed the eating/drinking rules, no food for 3 hours beforehand, no drinking for 1 hour beforehand. A few minutes after I arrived, a nurse came out bearing two medium sized bottles. I was told that my scan would be in about an hour, and I had to drink all the milky white solution between now and then. Megan seemed more interested in it than I was, all I can remember now is that it was some kind of sodium solution, diluted with water, that contained barium. Fun.
I assume it was so stuff would show up on the scan, so I started drinking. I was still allowed to use the restroom during the hour, which is good as I did need to a few times. About 50 minutes later, another nurse comes by to take me to the scanning area. I tell her I hadn't quite finished my solution, but she told me it would be fine and disposed of the bottles.
I got changed into a fetching blue gown and took another seat. A little uncomfortable sitting in a gown in a small waiting room with people in normal clothes, but hey. About 15 minutes later I was called in.
I'd never had a CT scan before, and wasn't sure what to expect, but basically it is this: you lay on a table which has the ability to raise and lower, as well as move lengthways. You raise up and slowly move lengthways until your legs are inside this giant mechanical ring, which contains a spinning device that takes the scan. Everybody has to leave the room for the actual scan, and the machine tells you to hold your breath while it takes them. A few scans in, the radiographer comes back in and tells me it's going fine, but I need an iodine injection and then a few more scans.
To this day I am not sure if everyone needs to drink and have an injection, or if the drink just didn't work its way around my system. I didn't think of asking. Regardless, my recent luck with needles resurfaced as neither man could find any of my veins. I had a man on either side of me, tapping my arms and hands, all fruitlessly. Eventually they decided to try putting the drip into my right hand, again fruitlessly, so now I have a bruise there to match the anaesthetic bruise on my left hand.
They then got who I assume was a master phlebotomist in, who found a vein in my left forearm and injected immediately. I wish everyone was that fast. I felt the iodine flow around my body, it makes you feel very warm and funnily enough it makes you feel that you are peeing. I'm glad it just makes you feel, not actually do.
Regardless, they left the room again, and a few more minutes later I was done. I got up woozily, went and got changed, then waited yet another 20 minutes for them to remove the drip syringe from my arm. Once that was done, and I was covered in tiny pinprick holes once more, I was free to go.
So at this point, medically, I am waiting for my appointment with Mr Andrews, the urologist, which will be in about another 2 or 3 weeks. Non-medically, I am now seeking work, I guess, although I have half a mind to just wait until I see Mr Andrews in case I need anything else done. But still, I have to do something, I feel kind of useless just sitting around.
But we'll see what happens. And when something does, I'll let you know, blog.
Smell ya later.
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