Blown veins are a thing of the past now that I have my port-a-cath inserted just below my collar bone. It was a whole morning affair with one doc teaching another how to do it so hopefully they did a great job between them.
It's quite technical, done by a radiologist cum cutter/sticher/pusher. The catheter has to go into a main vein into the heart so mustn't be too long or short. The new ports are plastic so should not set off airport alarms. This doc made a pocket, tested it with a wet swab, removed the swab (ah, good..) then gently slipped it in. All done under local freezing so I could listen in on the whole procedure.
Afterwards I got to rest in the day unit for a couple of hours, fed and watered and observed closely. Now a couple of easy days at home. Just feels like a small horse kicked my upper chest this time, unlike the major surgery three months ago!
Today I finished my anti-nausea post-chemo drugs, which were not needed again.
Next hurdle will be in 2 weeks starting on a new chemo drug matched with Herceptin, the immunotherapy drug which I'll get every 3 weeks for a year. Hurray for a port!
No comments:
Post a Comment