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Can I drive home (3 hours) after a PET scan? What to expect?

Posted by tascamman @twitt1949, Mar 22 5:31pm

This week I am going to have a pet scan. I have a 3 hr drive to Ann Arbor to get it. I have a couple questions. Will there be a problem driving home? Safely? What can I expect getting it? Is it uncomfortable will I get sick or anything? Thanks

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randman | @randman | Mar 26 10:09am
In reply to @twitt1949 "Well I had my pet scan today and it was a piece of cake. No problems,..." + (show)
Profile picture for tascamman @twitt1949

Well I had my pet scan today and it was a piece of cake. No problems, I didn't feel anything but the needle prick but it wasn't bad, not worse than getting a shot. The nuclear solution was nothing at all. Couldn't even feel it. They did let me put my arms by my side while in the scaner machine. No results yet.

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@twitt1949

Oh great news! Glad it went well.

-- Randy

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aoifet | @aoifet | Mar 26 7:56pm
In reply to @twitt1949 "Well I had my pet scan today and it was a piece of cake. No problems,..." + (show)
Profile picture for tascamman @twitt1949

Well I had my pet scan today and it was a piece of cake. No problems, I didn't feel anything but the needle prick but it wasn't bad, not worse than getting a shot. The nuclear solution was nothing at all. Couldn't even feel it. They did let me put my arms by my side while in the scaner machine. No results yet.

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@twitt1949
Good to hear! Sorry I hadn't shared a bit earlier. I am glad it was fair for you and here's to good results, also. Being able to reach out here and ask others about their experiences can be quite valuable, as can sharing your own!! Take care!

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amberl99 | @amberl99 | Mar 27 5:28am
In reply to @blakeman "@twitt1949 Good luck tomorrow! I've not had a PET scan, but I have been in many..." + (show)
Profile picture for blakeman @blakeman

@twitt1949 Good luck tomorrow! I've not had a PET scan, but I have been in many "tubes" for plenty of spine MRI's or abdominal/pelvic CTs. I almost love the experience. I go into a Zen-ish state and get totally relaxed. This is not because I practice meditation or am trained to do this. Not at all! It's more like there is-nothing-to-do and no-place-to-go.
Oddly, I am now finding bone marrow biopsies to be similar. (I hesitate to say this because so many people hate them. So I apologize in advance.) Maybe I have lucked out with a really talented doctor: no pain (too numb). So I lie down and I quite relax. Weird, I suspect.
But I have a question. I have AML. And probably had undiagnosed MDS for a long time (low RBCs, chronic dyspnea, severe altitude problems with NO ability to adjust over time). Why have most of you gotten PET scans? How standard is that? I have severe spine problems (F; 78 y.o.) and untreated osteopenia (or osteoporosis?). Plus constant back pain and occas. new rib pain. My bone "demineralization" gets mentioned on Xrays and CTs. But no one has requested a PET scan. (BTW, NSAIDs, Tylenol, and even ASA are now forbidden rx due to neutropenia form AML. Thus no pain meds....)
Any thoughts?

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@blakeman
I get annual PET scans to look for lytic lesions. If any are seen then treatment for multiple myeloma will commence. It’s an early way to know instead of letting organs get damaged, hopefully.

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