Today we went to UCH for two tests using radioactive material at the department of nuclear medicine; a kidney function test and a cardiac function test. It was a long day!
The first thing they tried to do was insert a cannula, but my veins are so well hidden it took several attempts. Eventually we got one inserted, for the purpose of administering the radioactive stuff for the kidney test. You have to come back after 2 hours, and then at hourly intervals, and at each return they take a blood sample. But they had to take the blood from the other arm!! So, another cannula was inserted, this time by a doctor. I have well and truly been stabbed today!
For the first 2 hour break we went for a walk to Russell Square, to the post office. We came back via Pret's for lunch (I had soup). The rest of the time we spent waiting in the hospital, rather successfully doing a crossword.
The second test (heart function), involves being injected with more radioactive stuff, and then lying still inside a scanning machine for 10 minutes with your left arm stretched out above your head (so the machine gets a good look at you heart). It doesn't sound much, but I could not feel my left arm when it was finished.
We were finished at about 3:30, and home by 5. We left home at 8:45am, so it has been a full day, and for Rose, of basically sitting in waiting areas. I am so grateful she was with me.
Last night for dinner we had a potato pie that was really delicious. The recipe comes from Yotam Ottolenghi's book called "Plenty".
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