Gallium Test

Today is one of those not so great days - I am just feeling so much pain in my back and the exhaustion is just killing me - I can't even blog. So, no more bitching about radioactive or nuclear material imaging tests. I will keep it brief. Here is the good news - remember yesterday my Oncologist was concerned about the cells in my chest and wanted this Gallium scan done urgently so that he can determine whats going on in there. So, I told you people, this guy is just amazing! After coming home feeling really down because I was not sure if this test was going to be done in a timely fashion, granted this is beyond my doctors' control, it happened sooner than I anticipated. To cut a long story short, I received a call this morning that the part one of this test had been scheduled for this afternoon. A Gallium scan is a nuclear medicine test that uses a special camera to take pictures of specific tissues in the body. This test involves at least two separate visits. So, my first visit today I received an injection of Gallium radioactive (a type of metal in a liquid form) intravenously. I will return for the second part 48 hours later which is Friday to have the scan done. The only interesting thing was the notice posted right in the tiny waiting room which reads, "If you will be crossing international borders in the near future be sure to inform your technologist". Well, apparently you need special documentation declaring your recent nuclear medicine test to avoid for instance, the homeland security nabbing you ha ha ha. Nuclear imaging test can trigger homeland security detectors. Wow!