The Colon Club

Utwo wrote:CRguy, are you saying that liver ultrasound is as effective as CT scan?

In my situation I have had many CTs and started u/sds / xrays at intervals between CTs since Dx in 2007.
I have an extensive image baseline in all 3 modalities which gives the docs a view of "me" at Dx, at Sx, during chemo,
during follow up and after being kicked out of follow up surveillance protocols.

More images, viewed by more specialists, more often = "more eyes on me" if you take my drift.
I like that A LOT !!!
This way I cover chest/abdomen/pelvis every time. It is very important to me to do so, because
my lung met was missed on an initial CT with regular surveillance.
It got picked up " on a regular chest xray by an eagle eyed radiologist "

NOT saying per se that CTs are inferior to other imaging, just that I had a shitload and the docs have mentioned radiation issues.
The older, lower resolution machines, sometimes fail to image smaller lesions properly. Most new Hi res ones are way better, with lower radiation exposures.

While my u/sds / xrays plan works for me so far I would NOT say they are superior to a hi resolution CT scan.
CTs will be used again as required and my doc and I are probably planning one for next year or late this year.

If I were to have any questionable screening findings with bloods, checkups, imagings ... we would get CTs / PETs / MRIs as needed.

SO if the docs recommend a CT my "advice" is : get one done and go from there.
Most radiologists prefer hi resolution contrast CTs for imaging, where indicated.

Hope that clarifies things a bit
Cheers
CRguy

Just witnessed the most beautiful sight off my back deck.
Almost a full moon ( actually tomorrow ) and a full rainbow halo around this moon tonight.
Perfect colour, perfect symmetry.

Moon halos I have seen ... BUTT ... never a perfect spectrum rainbow around one in a perfect circle.
I don't "impress" easily BUTT this is amazing.

I am in the middle of a ginormous downsizing move .. SO all my good photo gear is packed or moved AND
cell phone cam did NOT capture the image ( YES I tried !!! )

SO
I will just share the feelings
amazing
beautiful
unexpected
unique

despite what we all go through, there IS always
something beautiful which can impress and move us.

On the Journey
CRguy

CRguy wrote:Just witnessed the most beautiful sight off my back deck.
Almost a full moon ( actually tomorrow ) and a full rainbow halo around this moon tonight.
Perfect colour, perfect symmetry.

Moon halos I have seen ... BUTT ... never a perfect spectrum rainbow around one in a perfect circle.
I don't "impress" easily BUTT this is amazing.

Is this what it looked like???

nailed it

Perfect rainbow halo around the moon !!!

Thanks buddy
Cheers
CRguy

CRguy wrote:In my situation I have had many CTs and started u/sds / xrays at intervals between CTs since Dx in 2007.
I have an extensive image baseline in all 3 modalities which gives the docs a view of "me" at Dx, at Sx, during chemo

CRguy, could you please clarify the following abbreviations for me:
sds = ?
Dx = ?
Sx = ?

I had quite a few high dose CT scans back there when they were troubleshooting my leak and infection.
My situation looks stable except new "density anomalies" regularly appearing on a chest CT (on the next CT those "anomalies" look stable).

Utwo wrote:

CRguy wrote:In my situation I have had many CTs and started u/sds / xrays at intervals between CTs since Dx in 2007.
I have an extensive image baseline in all 3 modalities which gives the docs a view of "me" at Dx, at Sx, during chemo

CRguy, could you please clarify the following abbreviations for me:
u/sds = ?
Dx = ?
Sx = ?

NB: CRguy is a veterinarian. He might be using acronyms from veterinary medicine, in which case Sx would refer to "surgery". I think that the three modalities he is referring to are (1) ultrasound, (2) x-ray, and (3) CTscan, but I might be wrong.

Please note also that CRguy is from Western Canada, where Sx can have an altogether different meaning :
19th February 2004 post-reply by 'Melodie' from Western Canada

Yes each specialty develops its own "vocabulary" complete with abbreviations !
Guilty as implied

BUTT I have never heard Sx/SX related to schizophrenia, despite being from the left coast up here !!!!

Sx = surgery
Dx = diagnosis
U/sds = ultrasounds
Tx = treatment
Rx = prescription designation from "take thou" as I learned it from my pharmacology professor

Stay safe
Cheers
CRguy

Just a quick update on my home brewed MacGyver'd follow up monitoring results :

Blood tests in July and imaging in June ...
ALL within normal ranges, NO issues presented ... and ...
Continue as planned for October bloods and December annual physical.

C-scope being set up for fall of 2022 and likely get xray/ultrasounds as well in the spring.

Love Peace and Harmony to ALL
On The journey
CRguy

CRguy wrote:Just witnessed the most beautiful sight off my back deck.
Almost a full moon ( actually tomorrow ) and a full rainbow halo around this moon tonight.
Perfect colour, perfect symmetry.

Moon halos I have seen ... BUTT ... never a perfect spectrum rainbow around one in a perfect circle.
I don't "impress" easily BUTT this is amazing.

I am in the middle of a ginormous downsizing move .. SO all my good photo gear is packed or moved AND
cell phone cam did NOT capture the image ( YES I tried !!! )

SO
I will just share the feelings
amazing
beautiful
unexpected
unique

despite what we all go through, there IS always
something beautiful which can impress and move us.

On the Journey
CRguy

So true ! Thanks for this reminder
Ksue

Just a quick bump here :

Had my full blood tests pulled today and shoulder xray yesterday ( suspect rotator cuff and non CRC related )
SOooooo I will update with details and results as they happen !!
And get the nitty gritty at my Dec annual exam with my GP.

as an aside : have had 2 Pfizer Covid vax, got the flu vax last week and will set up a Shingrix in the future
that's what happens as you age I guess >>>> MORE medical stuff

ADDENDUM :
had blood pulled at 9:35 a.m. today and checked the online portal at 5:00 p.m. with 90% of the results already posted !!!!
Gotta love that turnaround time.
So far, so good.

Cheers All
stay safe
CRguy

I had Shingrix a few years ago (after 3 bouts of shingles over the years, ugh). The second shot really hit me hard... But it's worth it!
Good luck with the rotator cuff! Mine got repaired (laparoscopic surgery) a while back, painful but also worth it

I also had Shingrix a year or two ago and the second shot knocked me flat (way worse than either Covid vaccine) but I would rather not get shingles so didn't mind.

Good to know !
Second dose is 2-6 months after initial dose, so I will check to see if interval relates to severity of side effects !
Without jinxing myself I rarely get severe vax reactions ...BUTT ... do get good titer levels as I have had a few
checked over the years. Had the older Zostavax a while back so ready for Shingrix soon.

Cheers all
CRguy

I got my first Shingrix vaccine right before COVID hit. I delayed getting the second one until a little late, because pandemic -- I think I was at 7 months. Both my parents experienced shingles well before retiring, and I would very much like to avoid that. I turn 52 next month.