Mama Pham had a PET scan today at 11:00am. She arrived at City of Hope at 8:30am for preparations for the procedure. To prepare, she was told to eat high protein, low carb foods. Two days before that, she had a kidney stent put in and the urologist told her not to eat high protein foods. It is always interesting to make decisions based on the different recommendations and requirements from different departments! Anyways, she ate the high protein, low carb diet yesterday and stopped eating after 8pm. She was originally scheduled for the PET scan on Friday after the kidney stent procedure. However, she was so exhausted and in pain after the procedure that she went ahead and ate food that the urology nurse gave her. The urology nurse did not know that she had to fast for the PET scan. She was sent home without the scan on Friday since she had food in her system. It turns out it was good that she went home because she couldn't have had the PET scan anyways, due to the Oral Contrast she drank the previous day for a CT scan. To have a PET scan done, patients cannot have oral contrast in their system. There was miscommunication between scheduling and nurses, but it all worked out in the end.When my mom came home from the PET scan, she said it was a little like being in a coffin. They bundled her up and put her in a machine. She also said they "tattooed" her, so I'll have to talk to her doctor and nurse to find out the purpose of these tattoos. She was in high spirits so I guess that's a good sign!Next appointment: Thursday with the oncologist and rheumatologist.