Janet's blog

Am used to having to do a lot of peeing after scans - a litre of liquid in 25 minutes followed by instructions  to drink more than normal in order to wash out the oral and intravenous contrast media. But after the scan before last at the end of January, done at a hospital in Westmorland Street, the world also fell out of my bottom. Luckily, I had paid attention to an unexpected unsettled feeling and returned to the hospital soon after setting off for home. I spent a couple of hours there getting well acquainted with the loos before feeling safe to venture out again, and still took the precautionary measure of popping into the John Lewis mother ship, buying a quilt and checking out their refurbished comfort suites on the way home. At the April scan, which was back at the UCLH Cancer Centre,  I had asked about this unwanted effect and whether it was now likely to happen every time but not much information was forthcoming. And in the event, not much happened - a slight  un...

Scan day has come around. Like last time, it's all a bit different in the time of Covid-19. We are now in the habit of Chris driving me to the Cancer Centre to avoid public transport or potentially grubby taxis. Last time it was easy peasy with sparce traffic and suspended congestion charge. Today the air is less clear, we were in traffic queues especially towards our target and HS2 works are creating havoc with our mental maps of which roads are open, or one-way and in which direction. But we still arrived in plenty of time. Chris will drive home and return later. I've had my bloods done - it's busier but still no queue - the phlebotomist said they are at 60% capacity now. Mask on as I arrive; to stay on while I'm here - a mildly psychedelic pink Mark III. Am now passing time in the Living Room but can't take advantage of the free tea or coffee as I've passed the one-hour pre-scan moment when drinking must cease. Last couple of weeks have been a bit dismal. ...