Life Event

[Titan X]

so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. you will be in my prayers.

 

[Spc369]

Side effects of the treatment continue to mount. At the recommendation of the doctors and nurses I am having a port a cath placed in my chest tomorrow. Surgery takes about an hour. I’ll be in recovery and most likely discharged later that afternoon. I’m being told I’ll only have it for four months but it is less damaging to my vascular system. Hoping I made the right choice. As long as it goes smoothly there is a ten to fourteen day recovery time. The port will be used for future infusions and the drug travels through a catheter under the skin to a vein in my neck. If all of this sounds glamorous feel free to make the mistake I did or get checked like I told you to and potentially avoid being in my situation.

I had the uk version called a ‘central line’ the procedure is uncomfortable but nothing more. If your having regular infusions it really is much better than getting a needle every time. Just keep it clean and dry. Bathing with it was the only concern. When fitted i could feel the line if i turned my head a certain way other than that it didnt get in the way daily under a tshirt. I had mine in around 4months. Another uncomfortable hour to remove as the tissue grows around the inserted line. It was not at any point painful though so you will be fine.
Definately the right choice. It will make any treatment much quicker for patient and doctor.
Just stay strong and fight the fck out of it

 

[Medusa50]

I had the uk version called a ‘central line’ the procedure is uncomfortable but nothing more. If your having regular infusions it really is much better than getting a needle every time. Just keep it clean and dry. Bathing with it was the only concern. When fitted i could feel the line if i turned my head a certain way other than that it didnt get in the way daily under a tshirt. I had mine in around 4months. Another uncomfortable hour to remove as the tissue grows around the inserted line. It was not at any point painful though so you will be fine.
Definately the right choice. It will make any treatment much quicker for patient and doctor.
Just stay strong and fight the fck out of it

I have no idea what expect so hearing of your experience makes me more at ease with the decision to have the procedure. Thanks.

 

[OakleyGuru379]

I will not sugar coat. As you know, death is the most probable outcome.

Your wife does not want your guilt, you should not have any. This life distracts us from the real, but what a gift it is. You have done what you wanted to do, it appears, and who can blame that?

The Lord will bring all of us peace, including the ones we leave behind. This was a reality my mother faced 5 years ago when my father passed.

You worry more about what those left behind will face and less about your own fate, which shows your priorities are in order.

Do not burden yourself with the hardships we, left behind, will face, and do not worry about Tomorrow, Tomorrow will worry about itself.

I pray that you are healed and overcome this struggle but even if you do not, all you know, as well as yourself, will be taken care of.

That being said, fight the hell out of this thing!

 

[Medusa50]

Home recovering. Procedure went well. Long day between arrival, prep, the surgery itself and recovery. After sticking me again and getting the IV I spoke with at least a dozen people. They asked me questions and I asked if they had been drinking last night. You know, the usual DUI conversation. Once I felt satisfied I signed the forms, got wheeled in and onto the table. I asked them to play Hail to the Chief over the loudspeakers but the DJ couldn’t find the song I am told. A few moments later it was lights out and I woke up an hour later in recovery. I got two cool scars. One in my chest and one in my neck. I’m telling people I was in a knife fight on the subway. Living here in the Northeast I figure most people will buy that.

 

[Wicked]

Home recovering. Procedure went well. Long day between arrival, prep, the surgery itself and recovery. After sticking me again and getting the IV I spoke with at least a dozen people. They asked me questions and I asked if they had been drinking last night. You know, the usual DUI conversation. Once I felt satisfied I signed the forms, got wheeled in and onto the table. I asked them to play Hail to the Chief over the loudspeakers but the DJ couldn’t find the song I am told. A few moments later it was lights out and I woke up an hour later in recovery. I got two cool scars. One in my chest and one in my neck. I’m telling people I was in a knife fight on the subway. Living here in the Northeast I figure most people will buy that.

Glad that went well.....and I bet they love your sense of humor

 

[Medusa50]

Glad that went well.....and I bet they love your sense of humor

The nurses all said we haven’t seen anyone quite like you before.

 

[Wicked]

The nurses all said we haven’t seen anyone quite like you before.

I'm not surprised

 

[Mistermugi]

Just came across this thread and so sorry to read all this--puts life in perspective. Get well and recover soon.

 

[Medusa50]

Next round of chemo is Wednesday. Can't say the port in my chest is painful but you definitely know it's there. Certain movements with my arm or lying on my side compress the area around my pectoral muscle which causes discomfort. Looking forward to the day I can have it removed.

The hypersensitivity that results from the chemo has intensified. Taking a shower is uncomfortable. The water feels like needles on my skin and washing in general is like rubbing your body if you have a sunburn. Drying off with a towel is similar to sandpaper.

They say you have good days and bad. The feeling in my thighs is similar to burning. It's as if someone pointed a heat gun at them. I didn't mention it to the doctor last time but I intend to tell him I'm having a great deal of aches in my groin. It literally is like getting kicked in the testes without a cup. Only men can understand what that's like.

Overall I'm OK about 3 days each week. That's not 100% but at least I'm functional. I've lost about 24 lbs. I know things could be much worse so I'm thankful for what I'm given. I know a lot of folks have said You got this! Writing about it is one way to cope.