I wouldn't by any means call it a "super power," but I tend to have the capacity to see ahead to the end of things. It's not clairvoyance or anything as magical/mystical as all that, but rather - when I have an undesirable task or test or procedure ahead, I can bend my mind around the present moment and see myself after the fact (done with the unpleasantry) and moving on. For examples:
- The single most conclusive test for the presence or amount of multiple myeloma cells in my body is measured by a bone marrow biopsy. This is rumored to be a very unpleasant experience (ie: painful). I've had two of them so far, and frankly once the local anesthesia set in, I honestly could feel no pain as the . . . (never mind). Point being (pun intended), that I concentrated on having optimal results and before I knew it, it was all over.
- As the seven-year anniversary of my diagnosis approached, my Onc wanted me to have a PET Scan to review the presence of Multiple Myeloma in my body (a PET scan can pick up potentially cancerous areas or other abnormalities as these will use/highlight the injected glucose 'tracer' at a much faster rate compared to normal cells). I'm not claustrophobic, nor is the scan painful in any way, but as the process began and I slid into the chamber, I just focused on sliding out, and, poof - out I slid.
- One Saturday a month (each month / every month) I go into the Clinic for my regular session of a Darzalex subcutaneous shot, IVIG infusion and a quarterly drip of Zometa (to combat bone weakening - a potential convolution associated with MM). Though the processes for administering each is always the same, between prepping and waiting my turn, it can take an hour or two or more - I just never know. Fussing or fretting (or complaining) doesn't make it go any faster, so I just assume that it will take 4-5 hours and plan my day accordingly. Anything less than that is time back. When the greatest of patience is required, I attempt to imagine myself back in my car driving home, and soon enough - I am.
Like I said, by no means is this a special power or capability (anyone can do it). I just try to think past the present and envision the future. Besides, anyone who truly knows me is aware that my real superpower is getting stains out of clothes (kid clothes are my specialty :-)
