April 1, 2009
The Portacath Procedure
Yesterday, Tuesday, was the day for the procedure to install my portacath. A friend drove me from home and my son met us at the hospital and another friend drove me home. The reason for this is because my son lives and works on the other side of the river and tunnel and I am trying to minimize the amout of time he has to miss from work. My friends are so loving and willing to do whatever they can. I am so blessed.
Anyway, as I was escorted back to the day surgery area, I could see my waiting hospital bed at the end of the hall. I slowed down and almost stopped walking completely. It just came up and hit me in the face when I saw that bed —- I AM REALLY SICK. This is not just going to go away by itself. I had to stop for a minute to regroup then I kept walking with the nurse to the waiting bed.
Even though I was wanting to get the port and even though I had no fear about the procedure, I think the finality of this event really came home to me. What they will do this day, will be with me for the rest of my life. I will most probably have this port until the day I die. It is designed to make the rest of my treatments easier — for me and for the staff.
Since I have lost some weight, my upperchest and shoulders look rather “boney”. I insisted on a conversation with the doctor who was going to do the procedure. I also informed the nurse that “You will not take me anyware until my son arrives and I see him.”
Once I was in the actual procedure room, it took the staff a while to prep me and the room for the procedure. One of the staff members insisted on using my abdomen as a table to keep the items she was using to hook me up to all the monitors. It was bit uncomfortable and I strongly reminded her that I have Peritoneal Cancer and she was hurting my abdomen. Her snippy reply “ I am doing my job, I know what I am doing. I do this several times every day.” Later she apologized. Tomorrow I am calling her supervisor and if she gets fired, I don’t even care at this point. She hurt me and used me a table for her convenience even after I asked her not to do so. I might be sick, but by golly, I am not going to let anyone hurt me needlessly.
The actual procedure went fine, I guess; I was sleeping! After some recovery time, I was given some juice, water, yogurt, and a turkey sandwich before I was sent home. There was no mirror in my room, so I didn’t get to see the results until I got home. One big patch on my right upper chest wall with a big bulge where the port is placed under the skin. Then there is a small “cotton ball size” patch right where my collar bone meets my neckline. That patch is protecting the tube that is inserted under the skin into my jugular vein! I am pretty sore in that entire area and so I am taking tylenol, which my ride home went to the store to buy for me.
I felt like having some Mexican food after I got home, so I heated up some taquitos and cheese enchiladas and half of an avacado. M-m-m-m, tasty. It’s time to go and watch a movie in the recliner and hydrate!!! I’ll sleep well! Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and notes. I can’t tell you how much they help.
