PET-Scanner
Another test completed successfully. Another step closer?
I have now been for the PET Scan as prescribed.
I was told to fast for 6 hours previous to the scan. That meant NO food or drinks for 6 full hours. I was told to drink only water and to try to drink 4 – 5 glasses of water both before and immediately after the test.
They injected Radio Active Sugar (tracer) into my vein and I was told to lie down and relax for an hour to allow the injection fluid to be absorbed into my body. Then I lay down on the scanner bed. The Scanner machine was much like the CT Scanner I had already had so there was no mystery in that.
I was maneuvered back and forth gently for approx 25 mins while the scanner took its appropriate pictures. This was to examine my lungs and see the damaged caused by years of smoking. Results should be with my Doctor within 48 hours.
After the scan was completed, I was able to go straight home. I didn’t need to be accompanied. I was still going to be Radio Active for approx 8 hours following the injection and was told NOT to come into contact with Pregnant Ladies or very young babies and infants.
Not a test to fear or worry about at all. It was very relaxing and there are no side effects from this procedure.
PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography. It is to produce images of the lungs in my case to show how they are functioning.
Hopefully now, my Doctor will send these results to the Transplant Hospital in Wythenshawe, Manchester and they will send me a further appointment to go one more step closer to being accepted for a Transplant Operation.
As always on this journey, any one of these tests may exclude me from being a Candidate for Transplant so each step is an important one.
