Radiation

Hey everyone. Sorry this has taken me a few days to compose, I've been feeling really sick.

On Tuesday Shaun took me downtown to the IU hospital so I could get my nuclear scan, but they gave me 2 radioactive iodine pills and told me to come back in 24 hours. I was told I would be having a scan that day so I was bummed.

Fast forward to Wednesday morning. I had the scan, the read the results right away and called me in. They didn't find any more cancer! Yay. I'm so glad the lymph node in the back of my neck wasn't cancerous. They wanted to do another scan on me after they had me drink some water so I drank the water then they sent me for blood work that they decided they wanted me to do. I had another scan so they could get a better look at the side of my neck and said they still don't see anything. I was given a medium grade dose of radioactive iodine..that I had to drink Just thinking about it makes me sick.

They SAID it shouldn't make me sick, but I spent last night throwing up and getting to know the bathroom floor a lot better for part of the night. This morning I could barely move my head. All my glands from my neck up are swollen and hard. My face is swollen and I couldn't even smile if I wanted to. I look like John Goodman . They said that my glands would have some "slight swelling" and I would need to take Advil and keep sucking on hard candy to stimulate my saliva glands. I get to eat candy...Dr's orders. The swelling has gone down a bit, but it's still uncomfortable and really noticeable.

So I'm radioactive and in "isolation" which also isn't what I was told it would be. Shaun didn't get kicked out of the house after all. I however got kicked out of bed and now reside in the living room. We have to stay at least 8 feet away from each other and not share a bed or bathroom. I can have visitors as long as they stay the 8 feet away. No kids though. Karsen is staying with my parents.

So what I thought would be 5 days to myself to scrapbook hasn't been that so far. I've felt too sick to do anything. As of today at 12:30 I am off my special low iodine diet too, but I've been too sick to eat much. What a horrible twist! My last day of isolation will be on Sunday so as of Monday I'm a free woman. I have to go back to the hospital on Wednesday for another scan, I think they are checking to make sure the radiation killed off any residual cancer cells.

Thanks to everyone for your support in the many forms it has come my way. I can't believe I'm showing this picture, but I wanted you to see for yourselves just how swollen I am.