I took off work today, after logging on this morning for a meeting that ended up being canceled. I had a PET scan scheduled this afternoon and I knew it wasn’t going to be a pleasant day for me. Not just for the worry of the test, but because I had to go 24 hours without caffeine, sugar and carbs AND do a complete fast for the 6 hours prior. I was kicking myself for scheduling the appointment at 2:00 pm.

I had the PET scan because I mentioned to my doctor last time I saw him that I had a spot in my leg that was bothering me. That along with the nerve pain I’ve had in my foot prompted him to order the test. He mentioned he has had patients with similar complaints because of tumors in the spine. I really think it’s muscle issues for me but better safe than sorry. 

The hardest part of today was not going without food, but I think going without caffeine caused the headache that stayed with me all day. It made me nauseous. I called the clinic to ask if taking something for it would be ok, but no one called me back. I found out once I was there that it would have been fine.

I’m thankful the test wasn’t terrible. After getting a glucose test, then the dye injection, I was left in a dark room for an hour so the dye could be absorbed, and I fell asleep. Then I was taken to the lab for the test. Unlike an MRI, my whole body wasn’t inside the machine at one time. It was more of a moving slowly through, so my head was outside most of the 20 mins it took, which helped me not feel claustrophobic.

I probably won’t get results until Monday. The tech told me not to worry over the weekend but to “eat, drink, and be normal.” I’m not sure if that meant I have nothing to worry about or implied I will come Monday. Or maybe it was just a reminder to eat since my blood glucose level was so low. Whatever it meant, I’m going to try not to worry.