A Fresh (and Productive) Way to Mitigate Scanxiety:

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Tina2
Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
edited November 2021 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

During two weeks leading up to scans, choose painter for exterior of home. Obtain estimate. Explore color possibilities with spouse. Argue. Get chips at paint store. Discuss. Argue. Return to paint store for more chips. Discuss. Spend most of day before scans deciding on paint colors. Stand outside in drizzle looking at paint chips taped to siding, door, etc. Discuss. Agree. Text color names and numbers to painter. Argue about composition of text. Yell. Agree. Send text.

Et voila, it's mid-afternoon!

Tina

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  • Moissy
    Moissy Member Posts: 550
    edited October 2021

    Tina - Thanks for sharing this! What a good laugh I had! Good luck on your project.I’m sure it will be worth it!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2021

    We LOVE this Tina2! Great laugh (and very realistic!)

    Any other productive ways to mitigate scanxiety folks?! Let's get this rolling!

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited October 2021

    Love it Tina.

    How about doing Christmas shopping now? From what I've been reading, even at this point there will be many things that don't make it to the shelves.

    (edited to say - I guess "productive" rules out drinking?)

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited October 2021

    Fantastic, Tina2. What color?

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited October 2021

    LOL, Tina. I've got a week more before scans and mammos. I've got a ton of things to get done before my life is upended again (being dramatic). I hiked 5 hours a day this weekend to get some of the edge off.


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  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited October 2021

    Tina,

    Loved it. Great way to distract.

    Hope those scans went/go well. Thinking of you.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited October 2021

    Tina,

    You give excellent advice 😂.

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  • Zillsnot4me
    Zillsnot4me Member Posts: 2,687
    edited October 2021

    While I wouldn’t recommend it, I totally had no scanxiety because my son tested positive for Covid. The number of people you have to call and arrangements to make is staggering. I was so sick of my phone.

    He’s 12. His symptoms have been mild and he’s been quarantined to his room. Had to call his school and my DD school. She’s furious to miss school. Call their dad. Order supplies. Arrange pickups fir said supplies. Take calls from friends and family on what they can do. Talk to the pcp multiple times. Do contact tracing with health dept. Make arrangements for kids while I have scans. I tested negative and have had both shots and a booster.

    And then I had to chase down masks, hand sanitizer, meds, thermometers, pulse ox, vicks vapor rub, paper towels, disinfecting wipes.I have three thermometers in the house and couldn't find a single one that first day.

    My sister came up with the cutest idea ever. Instead of an advent calendar to countdown Christmas, she made up some treat bags to be opened every day of quarantine.

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited October 2021

    Hope your son recovers soon! Hope the DD remains well.

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  • nopink2019
    nopink2019 Member Posts: 329
    edited October 2021

    Tina - I've got a scan in 2 weeks and think I'll take my mind off of it and start arguing with my DH right now! LOL! Life goes on...do something. Great advice.

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  • Brendatrue
    Brendatrue Member Posts: 1,830
    edited October 2021

    Hi, Tina! Great advice. Throughout way too many doctor appointments and scans over a two month period, I settled into a new home, ordered furniture, donated furniture, returned two mattresses, endured an electrician, praised a plumber, obtained an estimate for a home repair project, fired a PCP, found and visited a new PCP, transitioned to a new insurance provider, and gave both myself and my husband two haircuts. My dog, who seemed to be the new reservoir for my left over scan anxiety, required three vet appointments just to get annual exam and vaccines.

    I agree with nopink2019, life goes on.

    Zillsnot4me, I hope your son is stable now.

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  • Elderberry
    Elderberry Member Posts: 993
    edited October 2021

    Heidi: Lt NED will put his name on your dance card again. I have a PET on Oct 21st. Full-blown scanxiety hasn't happened --- yet. It is the wait afterwards isn't it? I have to get up at F' o' clock in the morning and no coffee!!! We are getting kitchen made more presentable. I can do some long overdue purging. We have so many shoe polishes in a side cabinet. . Why!? Neither of us worked and my last job clean sneakers was part of the dress dress code. You could wear fancy shoes so long as they had no open toes. I worked in an immunization clinic so there was fear, I guess, of an errant sharp flying through the end and jabbing one' toes. My husband last few years at work he could dispense with the shiny shoes and suits. So - polishes will be gone and a lot of old fashioned light bulbs. Recycling Depot is close by so bag 'em up, ship 'em out. Keep calm and muddle through. Heidi.

    Brendatrue: I had a good laugh about your handymen. We have been referring to our kitchen and bathrooms renos as our "Year In Provence"

    Best wishes to anyone with a scan coming up or waiting on the edge for results.


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  • Elderberry
    Elderberry Member Posts: 993
    edited October 2021

    Heidi: well cleaning the cabinet of shoe polishes and ligh bulbs occupied my mind for awhile. I had a CT scan of my head last Thursday so I expect to hear soon from my MO. I have had chronic headaches for weeks now but Dr S didn't think I met the requirement for a PET scan. Yet. So I am anxious about that - especially if he says MRI in his next call.


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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited October 2021

    All,

    Update! I'll start with the best part. The scans indicate the cancer is stable.

    However, my visit to the hospital was so awful it was almost funny. First, the parking lot was insanely overcrowded, with incoming cars backed up into the driveway. Desperate drivers followed people walking to their cars, hoping to grab a space. Tempers flared. I heard myself yelling in frustration and wondered if the hospital still had a Psych floor. My car is small and low to the ground. When I finally spied a space near a curb, I turned too sharply and heard the crunch and scrape of metal on concrete. Argh!

    I reached my appointment on time, got injected for the bone scan, drank the first bottle of barium, then the second, and had the CT scan.

    I dutifully hydrated, as instructed.

    As I ate lunch in the cafeteria, I felt a strange sensation in my nether regions and realized what I thought was a fart was unfortunately not.

    I hobbled to the nearest ladies' room and exploded noisily into the toilet, making a horrendous stink. I heard someone enter the room, let out a horrified gasp and leave. If I could have flushed myself down the bowl, I would have.

    I cleaned myself up the best I could and went on to the bone scan, apologizing to the tech for my odiferous state. "I can't smell anything," he declared, pointing to his mask.

    Now there's a gentleman.

    Tina

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited October 2021

    oh my, but still 🤣🤣

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited October 2021

    Oh no, Tina, that is awfully funny, indeed, but a nice ending. I should try to avoid that bathroom situation by going home for lunch. Probably not a good idea to drop by the Frida Kahlo Immersive Experience show during the break as I had planned, scatologically and psychologically speaking.

    Elderberry, keeping my fingers crossed no MRIs. Love the idea of the dance card, Bridgerton-style.

    Brendatrue (long time no "see"!), hope things quiet down soon in the home and health fronts.


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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited October 2021

    Heidihill,

    Love "The Frida Kahlo Immersive Experience!"

    Tina

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  • nopink2019
    nopink2019 Member Posts: 329
    edited October 2021

    Tina - LOL! I think you missed the title of this forum "Fresh......"Loopy I've got a CT next week and think I'll carry baby wipes in my bag.

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  • Elderberry
    Elderberry Member Posts: 993
    edited October 2021

    Tina: oh my! Parking at health facilities. I blame Lions Gate parking nightmares for allowing visitors back in. Limited visitors but it still creates spots that used to be open. I circled around the lots like a last minute shopper Christmas Eve at a Mall. I finally timed it right to arrive as someone was leaving. A car immediately took my spot when I backed out. As I left the lot and was signalling to turn left into the street I counted eight cars turning right to totally full lot. Waaaaaaa. Right now parking is free at all hospitals. Maybe that has also increased the number of cars. I will have to scope out Paid Parking places near Lions Gate. The strain of trying to find a spot with an appointment time to me is a stressor.

    Your story is both hilarious and awful . At least you didn't have to leave an apologetic note under some other driver's windshield wiper.

    Is this story a good "Depends" ad material? Ha ha

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  • Kikomoon
    Kikomoon Member Posts: 350
    edited October 2021

    Tina- yay stable scans! your post cracked me up! That is indeed a gentleman. I always fear the gasp when entering after I’ve fouled up a restroom at the clinic. Gotta get outta there quick! I wish more people were as open and funny as you about these instances. I try to convince my coworkers why they need a bidet and they don’t want to hear about it. That’s life folks

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  • Elderberry
    Elderberry Member Posts: 993
    edited October 2021

    Heidihill: Head CT scan back all clear. Now to figure out what the trigger is. Please don't it let it be cheese. PET tomorrow. I am okay with the test itself. I hate the waiting for results.

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  • Elderberry
    Elderberry Member Posts: 993
    edited October 2021

    Head CT scan was normal. I think mets can be ruled out. Like in the past, I'll be tormented by headaches, then I am absolutely fine for days and days. So maybe it is bad posture. That would kill my father if he wasn't already dead. We were not allowed to slouch. Stand up straight. My mother would say "George, leave the girls alone, they aren't your soldiers" My eyes were checked only a few months ago. So - maybe it is my doll-making, strumstick playing, computers, reading books for hours....... Seeing if I can rule things out.

    Waiting for my PET scan results. I HATE THE WAIT

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  • Elderberry
    Elderberry Member Posts: 993
    edited October 2021

    I tried to edit. I cannot absolutely rule out mets but the long periods of feeling absolutely fine makes me think it is something else.

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  • Zillsnot4me
    Zillsnot4me Member Posts: 2,687
    edited November 2021

    My son and then I tested positive. My daughter never got it. Both returned to school last week. I got the antibodies and felt good after a couple days. Still have some fatigue.

    Scans show progression in the liver. Have met with RO to discuss Y90. Start new chemo (carbo) on Friday.

    I hate that drink. Ugh. Always mean to bring lemon slices.

    Poopouri works wonders. A drop or two in the bowl before is absolutely amazing. Amazon. They sell a little purse sized one but sometimes you don’t have enough time. Been there more than once.

    Thanks fir the stories and the concern.

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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited November 2021

    Zills,

    So sorry you have progression--on top of covid, yet. When it rains...But it's good you have a plan in place.

    I had forgotten about Poopouri! I saw some near the checkout counter at Ulta just today. Guess it's a popular item.

    Thanks for the tip!

    Tina



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