Friday was a go

rinaina · 06-17-2006, 01:37 PM

Friday proved to be a less frustrating day for me than Thursday, however, it was a very long day. If you remember, Thursday they were unable to administer my chemo due to vein issues but I was still on a drip for about 2 hours before the final decision was made. I was at the onc office for about 3 1/2 hours total between having my labs drawn and having an exam with Dr. Bitran and then the chemo room for my treatment that actually was not a full treatment....everything but chemo. Yesterday, Friday, I registered at outpatient at Lutheran General Hospital, thank you Sherry for driving me. I then went to radiology and waited for someone to take me to special procedures. Before long, I was escorted to a recovery area and prepped for my surgical path port placement. An I.V. was started and I was given some great conscious sedation meds, I mean great! They then wheeled me into the surgical procedures room and prepped me some more and they successfully placed my new buddy, my port, which could very well be a part of me for a full year, throughout all my treatments beyond chemo, as I may be getting a drug called Herceptin for a year following radiation. So of course I named this foreign body that is to be a part of me now.....and keeping with the trend of all the celebrity's unusual names for their babies, I decided to name my path, Peonie, since that is my favorite flower! So in my loopy state, Jill and Brad drove me to my onc office for my chemo where we spent almost 3 hours talking, nashing, (have a bag of goodies I bring each time and I always bring a sweet treat for the staff and any other chemo patients), and watched some tv and played games. Michael was already there at the onc office when we got there. Peonie Port worked great thank goodness. I was still loopy after chemo. Brad and Michael took me home, we ate dinner, I iced my surgical sites, yes there were two, took the appropriate meds, ate, and then off to dreamy land at about 7p.m. until this morning about 7a.m.......I told you they were great drugs!

bobbiw · 06-17-2006, 03:55 PM

Here's hoping you and Peonie get along fabulously...haha. I too have a port and am so glad to have it, hate needles!!!
Bobbi

rinaina · 06-17-2006, 06:08 PM

Haha Bobbiw, I am sure Peonie Port and I will get along famously, more famously than the needles I had to endure. It wasn't the needles really that were so bad, it was the hand behind them that couldn't acheive what they were suppose to but that wasn't their fault. My veins are just so tiny and superficially under the skin. I forgot to mention that the antibiotics they gave me before doing the port gave me an allergic reaction by the time I got to my onc's office so I had to be treated for an allergic reaction as well. I am now officially allergin to vancamycin in addtion to erythromycin, cephalasporins and sulfa drugs so I better stay well because I don't know how many more antibiotics there are. Yikes!

Chelee · 06-17-2006, 07:33 PM

I think you will be quite pleased that you got your port. I know I was totally against the idea. I was so overwhelmed when I was first DX that I didn't want to hear about putting a port in. But in fairness to my nurses...I ONLY had one arm like many do to access for lab work and chemo. (Since I had the SNB in the other arm.) That one is off limits.

So I had just the left arm and I must admit..after the first infusion it didn't look like I would last long. My infusion nurse very nicely insisted pretty much I consider getting a port...she said I would be glad I did and it would make things so much easier.

Long story short (I hope) it did make things so much easier its not funny. I was against one in my chest due to other problems I have. But they said that was no problem as they put them in the arms all the time. So I have one placed in my upper left arm and so far so good. Its been there since the end of Feb. 06 and I haven't had ANY problems with it at all. (Knock wood) Well..Once it did get a little red and warm to touch like it was going to get an infection in it. But with some antibiotics...the redness went away and all was fine.

But I must say...it is nice to just go into see my infusion nurse...have her hook up to my port...draw my labs....get the results and once I get the ok...they just hook up the chemo and away we go. It saves to much time and TROUBLE.

There is nothing worse then to HAVE to go to chemo...only to have to sit there forever while they TRY to find a good vein. (Not their fault.) But it is time consuming and quite frustrating. Then if they can't get one...your out of luck. You will be so glad you got "Peonie". I think its cute you named yours.

I am glad it went well...at least you won't have to go through all that hassle again or having your chemo stopped due to not being able to find a vein. I know my chemo nurse was SO HAPPY when I came in with my port. Did you get yours in the upper chest like most people do...or your arm? Glad it all went so well.

Chelee

rinaina · 06-18-2006, 07:00 AM

Hi Chelee, I couldn't be more pleased with my Peonie Port! I wanted it from the beginning but the onc said let his nurses try so I went along against my better judgement and they did get it but after they blew one vein. Like you, I only have my left arm to work off of because of the snb. My port is in my lower arm just below bend in elbow. Hopefully all will be okay with it and I can keep it thoughout entire treatment. Halfway through chemo now then rads then herceptin. do you know if they will keep the same port throughout herceptin if it stays okay? Thanks for writing.

MJo · 06-18-2006, 01:29 PM

I have been lucky so far. My veins held up through chemo and I've had two triple Herceptin treatments. But my oncology center hired some new nurses and one of them couldn't get the needle in last week. She actually got teary eyed and had to wipe away her tears. One of the experienced nurses came along and got the needle in easily. She said my veins have taken a beating, but I think the new nurse was the problem. I felt for her, but I hope she learns fast!!

Peonie is a lovely name for a port. I wish they looked like peonies. Or maybe tulips.

rinaina · 06-18-2006, 02:54 PM

sorry you had a bit of a problem. i love all flowers but peonies are definitely one of my favorites. tulips and rose and hydrangeas are up there too. hope all is well.

Chelee · 06-18-2006, 05:13 PM

Hi rinaina, I like the idea that they put your port in BELOW the bend of your elbow. It never crossed my mind until mine was put in that now that they put mine ABOVE the bend of my elbow...there is NO way to take my blood pressure anymore. That bummed me out. They CAN'T use my right arm due to the SNB like you mentioned.

But they never even talked to me about being able to place it in different places on the arm. I just thought that is where they do it...in the upper arm like mine. Now months later I find out they can put it in several different places of your arm. One lady down at my infusion center showed me hers...and its almost by her wrist on top of that bone in her arm. She likes it there.

At least where yours is...they can STILL get a blood pressure reading. They do my blood pressure in my left leg...which believe me...is NOT a very accurate reading to say the least. lol

As to your question about keeping that same port. (Peonie) :-) Yes...as long as it keeps working and you have a good drawn on it...they will use that throughout your herceptin and then some if needed. I can't see you having any problems with it...so life will be much easier for you when you sign in down there. You will be getting it flushed often since you do the herceptin like me...so I don't for see any problems at all with your port. It really does make things so much easier with a port. Glad you got Peonie.

Chelee

rinaina · 06-18-2006, 06:30 PM

Chelee, I won't be able to get blood pressure readings in my port arm anymore either because no matter where it is in your arm they still have to take it in your leg due to the compression of the blood pressure cuff. You aren't kidding when you say blood pressure readings are not accurate in your ankle. I am usually about 110 over 70 and in my ankle or leg, I was 144/70. Quite a discrepency and that concerns me. How would I ever really know then when my pressure could be a problem? Amazing how b.c. can mushroom into other predicaments. I am not getting herceptin as of yet. I still have 2 more chemos to go and then radiation and then herceptin. So I still have a bit of a road to travel. Glad to hear that if all goes well with "Peonie" then I can keep her around for all. Thanks for your input and stay well.