i have been debating on whether or not to make this my new outlet for all things medical (e.g., yellow diaries). i got aforementioned iPhone the day after i found out that my xray was abnormal. so i’ve been obsessed with my iPhone and mastering every feature and shortcut and, at the same time, giving myself over to medicine to fix what is broken. there has been a lot of waiting and wondering. finally, i saw a bone cancer doc – let the tests begin! but it’s better than waiting.
i had to ask the technician how a bone scan works. basically, a radioactive isotope combined with/containing a phosphorus compound is injected into my bloodstream. since bone naturally absorbs phosphorus, the bone also absorbs the isotope. the bone doesn’t realize the compound is radioactive. absorption takes about 3 hours. therefore, i found myself with a radioactive substance floating around inside my body and crutches on the outside of my body and i had to keep myself busy for 3 hours (iPhone very handy for this type of thing).
(fast forward 3 hours…)
the scanning machine picks up on the isotope and the images of my bones are recorded by the camera. the device works best at close range so i spent an hour supine as cameras took pictures of my front and back from head to toe. a few of my body parts (ankles, knees, and side view of hips) got special cameo roles. the camera plate was literally hovering just above every surface of my body. initially i was draped with a heavy white blanket and secured with a large velcro belt to keep me still while being scanned. a straitjacket image comes to mind, but it was cozy and warm – completely non-threatening. i even got a pillow and a support for my knees. the scanner wasn’t like an MRI tube but with the plate close to the tip of my nose, a slightly darkened room, and my “cotton envelope,” i found myself drifting off into a light, daydreamy sleep throughout the hour.