No problems other than a severely reduced walking capability, My son dropped me off at the rear of the hospital, so I did not have to go through the main building and have to wear a mask whilst walking. I have nowhere near recovered, from the virus, as much as I had thought. Walking was very difficult with getting breathless very quickly. Finding the PET Scanner building was hampered by a lot of the back area being fenced off, resulting in getting a little lost and increasing the distance to walk.
Having found the unit I waited outside as I was early and took a puff on my Bricanyl, in preparation of having to wear a mask when entering. Nobody was in the waiting room. Wearing the mask was uncomfotable but not impossible and tolerable. The staff wore full PPE at all times with just one nurse and one radiographer in the unit. My kidney function was checked before the radioactive isotope injection was administered. Scan performed and back outside again all done in an hour.
My real point of this post being, at no time did I feel unsafe or at risk by the visit or the procedure. Wearing the mask for an hour, although uncomfortable was not too much of a problem and doable.
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2greys
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No results yet, the radiographers are not allowed to do that. I have a followup appointment with my Oncologist on the 27th of this month to get the results. Probably by phone if all is well and the tumour remains in remission. Perhaps a face to face appointment if there are any changes and should there be any Covid scarring he will/should refer me back to the respiratory clinic. For now, it is back to that, intolerable, waiting game.
Actually I realise that I was being careless and read PET for PFT. Sorry. In my experience the radiographers sometimes give a little bit away by saying "When are you seeing your consultant next?" Hmmm.... That has happened twice with me and means that they have seen something.
Thank You 2 greys, hope results are Good for you. Reassuring about the Hospital, I have to go on the 16th, First time out & still Shielding so I'm a bit Nervous. I shall be going by Taxi and Will Take my Wheelchair & Oxygen as is the norm. Have a Relaxed day. xxxx C.
thanks for sharing this info experience 2g I think the mask is easier when sitting still. I have the face shield now as well if things get difficult, I got the flat shield ones.
Hi there @Bkin, and i hope you don't mind me butting in and asking where you managed to get the face shield from? It's not a bad idea for some of us to have one:- like you say, in case you need to use one if certain situations occur. It would make me feel like i had another layer of protection. 🐿🌈😷
its Flat Shield. co.uk. quite reasonable I got myself a hat too for cool weather which has a removeable shield that goes round the brim, got that on ebay but amazon do them as well. I am prepared for dodgy situations
What a good girl you are, being prepared for any dodgy situation- were you a Girl Guide as in "Be prepared?" Thanks for your reply and I'm definitely going to go on-line as you did. Stay safe. 🐿🌈
Morning 2greys and its a bitter sweet post you write. Bitter because you say you weren't quite aware of how the COVID-19 recovery had still left you feeling breathless, after a walk in the 🏥 hospital. I do feel for you, as you have always, always been so up-beat about all medical problems/issues that faced you ....yet COVID-19 shows no mercy. I sincerely hope, that after some time, knowing you'll not be "sitting on your laurels ", you can regain your mobility and get past the breathlessness. The rest of your post seems very promising for anyone worried about wearing a face mask, or worried about the Hospital being a place to avoid during this pandemic..Its given some 1st hand knowledge which beats anything you hear from the media generally!
How long do you wait to learn the results of your PET Scan? I hope it is the result you need to hear 🙏. Thank goodness your son took you to your appointment as I'm certain after your visit, it was fantastic not to drive or pay for a taxi. Well done to your son👍. Hoping that you will try and relax and regain that inner strength, which will take time. 🐿🌈
I have to wait for another 25 days for the results. I honestly thought I had made a full recovery and felt back to my normal self, it did come as a shock/surprise, but it was my first excursion in 114 days!
No doubt 2greys you will keep us posted on your "i know i need a bit more recovery time!" as it shows other members just what this horrid virus takes out of our bodies. You are considered as a very valued member, who by all accounts, is extremely active and certainly has good core strength and mental strength - so no wonder you were taken aback whilst going to your PET Scan. 114 days (did you do cave man style lines and crosses to mark off each day,lol😀 ?).I'm making light of the situation as usual for me and you've another 25 lines to make until you get your results. Take care and go easy on yourself. 🐿🌈
Haha. No lines, I asked my (smart)phone how many days it had been, as I know the date I started shielding, the technology is there so I tend to use it.
Thank you again for posting so honestly on your ongoing experience of the virus. I hope you get very positive results on the scan.
Just one note of possible consolation on your recovery, I am constantly surprised at how my anxiety levels can take my breath away, literally! I have noted, or am learning to note, that how far, how fast, I can walk can be reduced by as much as 50% when I am worried, tense or anxious. It is only when I am relaxed that I notice this difference and I still haven't got used to it. Very likely because I am forever checking myself, putting myself under pressure in terms of what I can and can't do physically and hence tense a lot of the time!!
So I just wanted to say that you have obviously been through a huge trauma to your system and this first outing, I imagine was not in any way relaxed: you might have had very high expectations of yourself, put pressure on yourself by way of requiring physical proof of your recovery on this outing, with the added worry of how safe it all was in terms of covid, along with the diffiuclties of navigating the hospital... suffice to say I wonder that you could breath at all!
Not a good instance to measure the level of your recovery is what I would say.
Thanks for sharing 2 greys Hope your results are positive for you. I too went to the hospital for blood tests yesterday. Anti bacterialed my hands 3 times and donned a mask. Felt safe. The nurses were keeping people away from each other. One way in and another out now. X
I hope you will get some good results from your PET scan. 🌹🌹🌹
Yes I to have problems when wearing a mask, it's very uncomfortable for me to use it, I always struggle to breathe normal, it's getting warmer and wet from breathing. My nurse told me not to wear it when it getting to difficult for me, lots of people with lung condition have this problem wearing a mask and it's not healthy over long time either for us.
But good that you feeling safe in the time you were there.
Hi 2greys, It appears you had a bit of a testing time during your hospital visit. I sincerely hope the results will be positive and encouraging.
Out of interest, as you had Covid19, is the hospital feeding back the details of the aftermath of your recovery? Even though you felt you were improving, the walking you endured at the hospital, demonstrated you actually still have a long way to go to full recovery.
I read somewhere that it was recognised that recovered patients of Covid19, faired better with controlled breathing exercises. As a result appropriate classes was hopefully being set up via zoom in different parts of the country.
I have had nothing from the NHS relating to my Covid illness other than a glowing report from the Oncologist to my GP about how I had managed the illness and thus, had avoided hospital admission.
I did tell the radiologist of my infection and my concern with possible fibrosis, but she just said she was not allowed to discuss what she saw, that I would have to wait for the followup appointment.
I'm sure you will have a great deal of useful information to impart at your next appointment 2greys.
I have no doubt that you keep a record of your illness and progress which, in the long term will be so useful. With hindsight is there anything more, you feel, that could have helped you during or afterwards?
How do you think you can further your progress in the future?
I ask, as I feel that you, with your knowledge and determination, would be an ideal candidate to make a positive contribution when researching the consequences of Covid19.
Sounds like you were seen to pretty quickly at the hospital 2greys and glad they made you comfortable. Lets hope you dont have to wait too long for the results. Do you think that your breathing was worse due to being at home more and exercising less after your covid illness. I only ask as my breathing is worse after I had my shoulder done which I put down to lack of exercise. I too was at the hospital yesterday and found the walk difficult due to my arthritis as there was only one way in. After seeing the consultant, getting bloods and xray was so glad to get out and take the mask off as they steam up my glasses and make me hot, but I do feel safer with one on, regardless of what they say. Keep us updated on your results x
I think you might be right about the exercise I have only been using my exercise machines for a month after what was a long break, and possibly slightly agoraphobic, it has been a long time since having the open sky above my head.
Yes, I was seen pretty quickly, just the two staff and myself were there and it was at 5pm. All done very swiftly as they did not have to explain the procedure having done it a few times before and many CT Scans. Kidney function test only took only a minute, a finger prick for a drop of blood in a handheld machine. Canula and injection in five minutes. 30 mins of laying back, for the isotope to be taken up. 20 mins inside the scanner. Canula removed, out of the door and gone before the next patient arrived.
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I got myself a hat too for cool weather which has a removeable shield that goes round the brim, got that on ebay but amazon do them as well. I am prepared for dodgy situations 
COPD and face masks, my experience
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