The surgeon doesn't feel confident about putting in a port with the potential of lingering infection, so he's going to put in a PICC ( peripherally inserted central catheter) line. This is like a long IV that goes into a vein near the elbow, up the vein in the arm, and around to the big vein in your chest, right before your heart. The port is essentially the same thing only it is under the skin on your chest, a couple inches above a bra line. I saw a woman's port scar today, so I was pretty happy with the change to the PICC line. That happens this Wednesday. It's just a procedure, so no anethesia, no need for special washing, no need to find someone to drive me there and back.
Originally they thought perhaps they'd use the PICC line for the first, maybe second treatment and then switch to a port. But I'm thinking I may be happy with the line. I just up and ordered a water proof cover for it, so I could take showers with it in. Also because I'm taking a "before chemo" break to drive up to Glenwood Springs and meet some old friends for the day on Saturday.
Boy, count your blessings, you 21st century folks! I have not been able to take a shower for most of the last 3 months! A luxury of life that one can easily take for granted. This Thanksgiving say a blessing on your shower!
Nice that you're going to see friends in Glenwood Springs Saturday!
ReplyDeleteNancy
Isn't it amazing how a simple thing like a shower becomes a treasure after you've been deprived!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving and enjoy your break.
Ann
Boy, and I thought I was deprived by not being able to shower for a week after my ACL surgery! We do tend to get a bit spoiled. Hope you had fun in GS!
ReplyDeleteI am reading a book (actually I listen to it on my ipod) called My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. The story is about the life of 13-year-old Anna, Kate, Anna's older sister, suffers from leukemia, and their parents conceived Anna through in vitro fertilization to be a genetic match donor for her sister Kate and so they could ‘harvest’ her genetic material for her sister. Yes, they actually used that word in the book. They talked about the ‘port’ that had to be inserted into Kate for her chemo. When I read that I thought I wonder if Maryanne will need that too.
ReplyDelete