Needles

So tomorrow is the big scan day and I'm starting to freak out about the needles. I'm assuming that they will start an IV line to inject the radioactive stuff for the bone scan and I'll be able to keep it in for the CT contrast material, which means one stick instead of two. Unfortunately, since I have to stop drinking even water four hours prior to my CT scan, my little veins will be even tinier and harder to get into.

Now as a grown woman who has been through major surgery and three rounds of chemo, I should not be so scared of a needle that hurts for 30 seconds -- even if it's the same needle they try to stick me with two or three times. Okay, so maybe it stings for 90 seconds in total, what's the big deal??? I'm feeling a little foolish for being so scared about it.

I know, you're all thinking that I'm not really afraid of the needle, I'm afraid of the results of the scans, but I don't think that's true. Once they get the IV in, I'm fine. I really believe that the scans will be what they will be. I've done everything I can do to fight the evildoers (with some help from the gemcitabine), and the scans will reveal the results and we'll go on from there. So it's the needle.

My plan for today is to drink as much water as I can tolerate and to stay up as late as possible (10 p.m. is like the middle of the night for me) to keep drinking. I'll be on the 5:15 bus tomorrow morning so I'm sure I won't have a great night's sleep (imagine how many trips to the bathroom I'll be making) but hopefully my veins will stay puffy enough that it isn't a struggle to get the needle in. Tomorrow at 8 a.m. EDT if you want to send me a mental image of big, juicy veins, that would be terrific. Otherwise, just keep your fingers crossed that it's a one time stick.

Thanks for the support. It helps ease the anxiety a bit. :)