As individuals we all have our defense mechanisms that are
programed into us through genetics and through experiences in life. My defense
mechanism is to withdraw within myself. I become quiet and if the situation is extreme
enough I will strike out verbally or walk away and remove myself from the
situation. I was being tough yesterday as they were preparing to place the
power port but I did notice I was not my usual outgoing and happy person. I
didn’t think I was nervous but possibly I was. The prep, procedure and time of
observation was about 2 ½ hours. I am glad that they placed the port catheter
in my chest to help with chemotherapy and prevent multiple IV procedures in the
future. My right arm has a wonderful vein that everyone has accessed in the
past two months to the point my arm is sore when I bend it. I was talking to
one of the lab guys and he told me that squeezing exercises will help develop
my veins in my left arm for the future but most of the technicians will access
the port but the main lab will still go for the vein.
I sat at home trying to not think about how sore my chest
was due to the procedure the day before and I get a call from the medical
center (yep I have memorized that number). The chipper young lady said that she
was from the infusion center and I was to be there tomorrow for beginner’s
class. I laughed and said should my husband come to? (I was not about to let
John get out of dealing with this) The young lady was excited and told me how
they prefer that you bring someone to help you remember the process and to be a
motivator at times that I would need one. Then she dropped the bomb….
“Mrs. Manuel your first treatment will be Monday at 11am”.
Glancing down at my black, red and blue chest covered in bandages that I was
told to leave on for two weeks I wondered if she knew that this was my first
full day with the contraption that had been crammed into a pocket of skin that
had been made hastily by a young doctor named Steve less than 24 hours before. “Don’t
worry we will cover everything tomorrow at 2pm” escaped from the phone before I
could mention the newly place alien eradicating device in my chest. I assured
her that we would be there then said my goodbyes.
After placing the phone down I looked over at John laughed
then said so much for getting used to the alien eradicator first chemo is
Monday after the appointment with financial. “I had a feeling they would call
today” John whispered under his breath. I smiled and said “And so it begins”
2 comments:
Fight girl fight. so glad you have Johnny there to hold your hand. You can hold his to help him too
Cindy, there is a cream that they should give you, and should be applied an hour before your infusion. It's applied to your port site and if this is done, you should not experience any pain at the time the procedure begins.. It is Lidocaine and Prilocaine cream 2.5%/ 2.5%.if they don't offer it at your orientation! ask for it. It is by prescription, and more than likely they will have it for you. My first time, the port was brand new, and the tech had it done and finished with absolutely no pain. They know to protect the port while it heals.
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