Barbara J. Hamby

The Very Old and the New

For many years I’ve been fascinated by the Mayan civilization history. I had the good fortune to visit Mayan ruins in Belize on a Caribbean cruise. It was a wonderful experience. Today, I ran across a story about an ancient road discovered in a Mayan Village in Yucatan. You can read it, if you’re interested at:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/uoca-ctd100511.php

The new is a C.T. Scan I had this morning. The test entailed several hours preparation drinking over a quart of a barium milkshake and taking prednisone pills to avoid an expected allergic reaction to an intravenous injection of contrasting material (probably containing iodine). Then I was taken to a room, and in a prone position, arms above my head, I slid in and out of a huge metal doughnut twice, being advised by a disembodied voice when to breathe and hold my breath. Not too scary. After that, I was given the i.v., and slid through the doughnut one more time. All over.

I probably wouldn’t have been as nervous if the procedure had been fully explained to me beforehand. I hope they do that for children. The attendant did warn me of possible effects during the test, such as flushing, pressure, a feeling of losing bladder control, which is a false signal.  The only one I noticed was the flushing, which was much milder than Niacin has caused for me previously.

I should get the results tomorrow. I’ll probably skip my writing class to stay home for the doctor’s call unless the call is very early.

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