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Andrea Barnett Budin · 06-26-2007, 09:59 AM

I love my port. I do not have good veins. So they stab around and dig and dig. Veins roll over and collapse. That's weird, I hear them say as they don't get a bld return or whatever. Not weird for me.

Last wk I had my Vit H. Whenever I see the onc (at this stage only ev 3 mnths) they do labs, access my port, tape it down really well, I see the doc, get undressed and dressed and in the process the needle moves). It starts to pinch then hurt and then burn. I mention it to the chemo nurse as it begins to happen in the chemo rm. They have to take the needle out and go back in. I have asked not to have labs prior. But that's the way we do it.

So, same scenario occurred last wk. OOOHH, she was pumping saline into me before H. She had to disengage the needle and then I saw 3 nurses standing around my comfy chair staring and ooohhhing. I could not see the port from my angle, but I saw their faces. What's going on? I NOW HAVE ORDERS TO HAVE LABS AFTER SEEING DOC EV 3 mnths. They had to give H to me "peripherally", poking and prodding to get a good vein. Once found, they told me not to move that arm. That was annoying. They put an ice pack on my port as it was swollen with saline, which the doc said would dissipate. The nurses kept saying, Thank God we hadn't started the H!

Now, getting Vit H in the vein, they had to do it over a 1 hr period, vs a 1/2 hr. I mix H w/500 cc saline for little side effects (generally given w/250 cc saline, according to guide lines).

Had to add my little story for your consideration. Feedback is what this board is all about, after all. Sending loving, healing energy to all... ANDI

06-26-2007, 09:59 AM	#6
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Herceptin Via Veins I love my port. I do not have good veins. So they stab around and dig and dig. Veins roll over and collapse. That's weird, I hear them say as they don't get a bld return or whatever. Not weird for me. Last wk I had my Vit H. Whenever I see the onc (at this stage only ev 3 mnths) they do labs, access my port, tape it down really well, I see the doc, get undressed and dressed and in the process the needle moves). It starts to pinch then hurt and then burn. I mention it to the chemo nurse as it begins to happen in the chemo rm. They have to take the needle out and go back in. I have asked not to have labs prior. But that's the way we do it. So, same scenario occurred last wk. OOOHH, she was pumping saline into me before H. She had to disengage the needle and then I saw 3 nurses standing around my comfy chair staring and ooohhhing. I could not see the port from my angle, but I saw their faces. What's going on? I NOW HAVE ORDERS TO HAVE LABS AFTER SEEING DOC EV 3 mnths. They had to give H to me "peripherally", poking and prodding to get a good vein. Once found, they told me not to move that arm. That was annoying. They put an ice pack on my port as it was swollen with saline, which the doc said would dissipate. The nurses kept saying, Thank God we hadn't started the H! Now, getting Vit H in the vein, they had to do it over a 1 hr period, vs a 1/2 hr. I mix H w/500 cc saline for little side effects (generally given w/250 cc saline, according to guide lines). Had to add my little story for your consideration. Feedback is what this board is all about, after all. Sending loving, healing energy to all... ANDI __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...