Bone Scan Results and First Week Back

BONE SCINTIGRAPHY (THREE-PHASE and SPECT/CT)

EXAM DATE AND TIME: 10/3/2023 14:18 MDT

INDICATION: Myalgia of mastication muscle.

TECHNIQUE: 24.3 mCi technetium-99m MDP was injected IV. Radionuclide
angiographic, immediate static blood pool, and delayed static images
of the head and neck were obtained. Delayed planar and SPECT/CT
images of the head and neck were also obtained. Low-dose CT was
performed and utilized for localization purposes.

COMPARISON: CT of the maxillofacial sinuses dated 11/11/2022.

FINDINGS:
The angiographic and immediate images demonstrate normal blood flow
and blood pool activity in the head and neck.

Changes of left mastoidectomy are again noted on CT. The delayed
images demonstrates mild asymmetrically increased uptake in the left
mastoidectomy bed diffusely. This is nonspecific and may be reactive
related to the prior surgery. No abnormal uptake is identified in the
temporomandibular joints. Increased uptake is seen at the right C3-4
facet correlating with degenerative facet disease on CT.

IMPRESSION:
1. No scintigraphic evidence for osteomyelitis. No abnormal uptake
in the temporomandibular joints. Mild diffuse uptake in the left
mastoidectomy bed which is nonspecific and may be reactive from prior
surgery.

So this means this is all salivary gland / Soft tissue related. Thankfully this sounds like I won’t need intervention with my jaw.

The cervical spine part I already knew about it, it’s just gotten worse (go figure), but that’s managed with the pain meds.

Ivig was delayed again. But will happen tomorrow thankfully.

Ketamine is Saturday.

First week back at work has been extremely hard. My body still hurts. But I’m able to get to work and sit at my desk. Something I haven’t been able to do for almost 5 months. So far all I e really done is just focusing on reacquainting myself with “the work day”. Everyone has been so supportive, which was a nice thing to see. Would like to call a solid shout-out to Bob. His patience and understanding has been instrumental to me getting back to this point.

This point is something I honestly didn’t think I’d make it back to. It’s crazy to think that the infection in my mastoid came back.

I’m pretty sure the antibiotics were much needed. I’m still disappointed that the pus cultures were lost. I feel like I lost some momentum in trying to figure out once in for all what the fuck this has been. I’m still in camp actinomycosis. Everything that it’s done has 100% mimicked it.

The surgery as far as I know is still on for Oct 25th. I still haven’t heard from Hepworths office regarding any pre-op appointment, so I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. I did message anthem today regarding the auth for the surgery, I’ll just wait to hear back from them if anything has happened there.

I just need to close this very long chapter, and I think the surgery will get me there. I still feel all the shit in my face. In my cheeks. Under my tongue, and those 2 painful bumps in the front of my jaw.

Getting this out will give my immune system a much needed break. It will be nice that maybe for once I’ll get to use vacation time for actual vacation instead of pseudo-sick time.

20 days to go …