Technetium-99

Bone scan done - check!
Results from bone scan - in progress

Technetium-99 has a half-life of 6 hours, and is produced by beta-decay from Mo-99, or as a by-product of nuclear energy production. It's one of the most common tracers used in nuclear medicine, including the bone scan I had yesterday.

It was definitely an interesting experience. The technician took scans of my leg to check bloodflow before injecting the tracer, gave me the injection (oh, did I mention I HATE needles?!!) and then sent me on my way for 2 hours. I came back later and she did scans of my legs on various angles. I managed to get a bit of information out of her, but she's not the one who interprets the scans nor writes the report for my doctor. I did get a chance to watch the images forming and note that there is a definite 'bright spot' (ie. high concentrations of technetium) exactly where the pain in my left leg is localized. However, the bright spot could be anything - healing bone, bone disease, cancer, shin splint, stress fracture. So, I have to wait a week for the results and talk to my doctor. Very frustrating, but at least we're closer to solving the problem. I'm pretty convinced it's a stress fracture. At least it's not aggrevated by Muay Thai.

I went to CycleLogik and got fit for my new Cervelo today. Yeah!! I fit perfectly onto a 51 cm frame. Ian is going to set me up with a 2nd seat and headpiece for the seat stem so that I can easily switch to a tri position for TT's. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my finances!) the bike won't be in until April. The tubes are made in California, shipped to Taiwan for welding, and then back to Toronto to be built. Strange trip this bike makes!

I am giving a trombone lesson tonight... in French. This is Claudia's 2nd lesson (she's 11) and it's always an interesting time as she doesn't speak much English and my French vocabulary does not include musical terms! Her father generally acts as a translator. I have to find something for the dog to do - the last time she was here, he was acutely interested in what was happening, and would start howling along with her playing! Especially in the upper range.