We arrived at the hospital at 8:50 am and were easily directed to the waiting area of the Nuclear Medicine Department. Most of the nurses and doctors here speak, German, French, and English and it was quite entertaining watching them switch languages, seamlessly, from one patient to the other.
We arrived on the 4th floor and were greeted by my nurse, Kerstin Portmann, who showed us to my room. Its a large room for two, with a bathroom and shower, a table for two, two beds with thermopedic mattresses and a bench seat running along the large picture window. There is also an iron half wall, near the door that the nurses and my husband will stand behind, after I have been treated. This is to reduce their exposure, but of course, some things do require them to be in closer contact.
There are two of us in this room, but my roommate speaks French and German, we manage to communicate with pictures and the internet translation sites, and then, some things are just universal. There are two more nurses, Pierre, and Martin, as well as, a student nurse, that come in to check on us and deliver meals.
Kerstin took right over, explaining the room, procedure, schedule and then translated and ordered my meals for the next three days. It felt more like a guest experience than a hospital stay. Let me explain. First, you receive an invitation to be treated. At the hospital you will wear your own clothes, there are no johnnies. The room is large with a double door entry, so it is very quiet. There are no wristbands, and no continual blood pressure, or temperature checks. We are, after all, radioactive, no need to get to close.
Dr. Mass, came by to see me, he works under Dr. Wild, and explained the procedure again, I signed some documents, and he proceeded to give me my IV for the treatment. Right there, in the room, on the same table we eat off of ! My hand was placed on a pillow, wiped with alcohol and the IV went in smoothly. Again, this isn't surgery it is a procedure, I felt comfortable and relaxed, but I am so used to going to a special hygienic room with a fresh, clean paper pad, for IV placements. I come from a land of Mercers hospital infection scares, and Purell everywhere. So at first, I was taken aback, but then, I had to laugh at myself. Maybe we overdue it a bit here. The Dr. had everything neatly prepared on his tray and it was a relaxed, easy, comfortable placement.
After blood tests to confirm that my cell counts were acceptable, I received a treatment, through IV, to protect my kidneys from the harmful effects of radiation. I received an anti nausea pill to dissolve under my tongue. An hour later, I was brought down to the treatment room. Dr. Mass came in, put on protective clothing and gloves, and prepared the Radioactive injection. He then placed it in a protective case, put on glasses and gave me the injection, which lasted about 5 minutes. I was surprised it was that quick.
I was asked, with a smile, if I felt anything. No, honestly I didn't. Back to my room I went, waiting to feel sick, but I never did. At 2:45 exactly, as they said, I was brought down for a scan of my kidneys. I am now resting comfortably in my room for the night. This roller coaster is riding smooth, and I like it.
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