Today I become bionic

epphd

Today we begin the "pre-game" festivities for chemo. I get my chemo port.  It's a small device that sits under my collarbone and snakes into one of the major veins that goes into the heart.  The "business end" is a small synthetic "pad" that can be punctured with a needle, allowing access of the chemo drugs to go right into one of the largest veins in the body and rapidly distrubted via the pumping of the heart. It's a huge advantage over using an IV every time because the drugs are thick and can easily collapse veins, and since I'll have a pump connected for 48 hours every two weeks, having the connection via the port will be much simpler than having needles in my arm or hand the whole time.  The port also allows the docs to inject contrast meds for CT scans, and even allows them to easily do blood draws.  It's placed entirely beneath the skin so there is a small poke each time, but it's not so bad (from what I hear). 

So anyway, the placement is in a few hours.  I guess the good news is I get good drugs (twilight)

 

mrsolsenk12

GL with the placement. That is a lot better than IV's everytime. It stinks you need it but good that it will save you lots of extra pain. Enjoy your "good drugs".

sescms2004

Sending good thoughts to you today......hugs

dusk42

Good luck!  Lots of hugs.

firsttogo

Thinking of you! 

JackieMac824

My mom had a port put in and she said it was so much better than having an IV every time.  Best of luck to you - keeping you in my prayers.

dana316

I'm soooo glad you are getting a port.  It will maket things so much easier.  The accessing does hurt a bit, but I've had patients tell me that it doesn't hurt nearly as much as getting an IV.

Good luck!!

 

perry7285

enjoy your twilight sedation! maybe you can get some morphine out of the deal? that's good stuff . . .

hope all goes smoothly! 

beebe929

It pisses me off that you have to do this.  Keep on task and kick this cancer's @SS!!!

 

ladychicago

Good luck, lady! Hope it proves to make things easier for you!

vandelay

That does sound like a great advance.  Good luck today!

epphd

dana316:

I'm soooo glad you are getting a port.  It will maket things so much easier.  The accessing does hurt a bit, but I've had patients tell me that it doesn't hurt nearly as much as getting an IV.

Good luck!!

 

Cool!  I have a Rx for Emla cream, and I am supposed to apply it and cover the area 30 minutes before each poke, so hopefully that will make it painless!

MyShellyBelly

Sending lots of good thoughts your way!

MontyMrs

GL with the port, it does sound much easier than constant IV's.  I hope today is the beginning of cancer's ass being totally kicked. 

 

sweetpea18

beebe929:

It pisses me off that you have to do this.  Keep on task and kick this cancer's @SS!!!

 

This was my exact thought. Good luck today.

njdcgirl

epphd:

dana316:

I'm soooo glad you are getting a port.  It will maket things so much easier.  The accessing does hurt a bit, but I've had patients tell me that it doesn't hurt nearly as much as getting an IV.

Good luck!!

 

Cool!  I have a Rx for Emla cream, and I am supposed to apply it and cover the area 30 minutes before each poke, so hopefully that will make it painless!

Seriously, with all the pokes, shots and blood draws you did during IF, these pokes are going to be a peice of cake.  And sounds like the port will make it even better.  Thinking about you, and wish you didn't have to go through any of this.

Mouseygail

good luck!!!

emmyloustu

GOOD LUCK!!

cara-n-steve

Good Luck!  Sending you lots of hugs!

CMM05

GL sweetie! I will be thinking of you.

My cousin had this same type of port when she was going through chemo and she said it was much easier than being poked constantly. 

 

SeaSoul

I hope the procedure goes well and from here on out things go smoothly for you!

dundasgirl

That sounds like a great option compared to getting an IV every time.  Good luck!

 

newsbaby

Good luck and hugs hugs hugs.

tapgirl

Thinking of you.  Hope the placement goes well.

here4u

GL!  The few people I know who have gone through Chemo had the same ports. 

alchris

Good luck!  Indeed that does sound like it will make things easier once in place...unpleasant but efficient.

I'll be sending you a message about next month, BTW!

LisaMarisa

Good luck!  I hope everything goes well!

Thinking of you.

PeachyKate

Good luck, I will be thinking of you!

MBandBud

Ports rock! And so do you... you are an inspiration with your spirit.  GL and keep moving forward one day at a time. 

nolachick11

Thinking of you, Epphd! (((hugs)))

yankee42

whew! i wish my mom had gotten that, her poor veins were so beaten up!! 

enjoy the drugs, and i hope the placement goes super smooth!  

JillRock96

Good luck.  I haven't been on too much, but please know that I've been thinking of you and sending lots of thoughts and prayers.

kme930

I hope it goes well! My MIL had a port for her chemo and she sang it's praises! You remain in my thoughts! (((hugs)))

kthappy76

So sorry you are dealing with this.  A port is definitely the way to go, my sister is just getting hers out as she just finished her chemo run for fallopian tube cancer.  It sucks, but I hope you'll come out much better on the other side.  Best of luck.

nicolita14w

Hugs, prayers, and good thoughts coming your way!

cheekyali

My aunt had one and it made things much easier. She just had it removed. You will too after you kick this.

epphd

Thank you, everyone.  The procedure went flawlessly, and the doc even stepped down the size of the port - he commented on what good shape I'm in and said that I don't have enough "subcutaneous tissue (fat)" to merit the standard size.  So I got a lil one   It's pretty sore where the incisions are but I'm feeling better after a percocet!

Step one, down...

jenwill

Glad to hear it went well!! Ports are awesome (and since you mentioned being able to get CT contrast through it, I imagine you got the PowerPort?). My patients love there's-just a little pressure with the stick...then done!

jlcrane78

Sending positive thoughts, even though you've had this done by the time I saw the post.  Hope all went well for you!

epphd

jenwill:

Glad to hear it went well!! Ports are awesome (and since you mentioned being able to get CT contrast through it, I imagine you got the PowerPort?). My patients love there's-just a little pressure with the stick...then done!

yep!  I won't "get" to use it until Monday though since we're doing both CT and PET scans on Wednesday, and they can't deliver the labeled glucose for the PET through the port since it collects there.  Honestly, it's kind of tender so I'm happy to let it heal a bit longer.

oct11bride03

Thinking of you. I still can't believe you're dealing with this. ((HUGS))