2nd July 2012: Had my PICC Line fitted. I was somewhat nervous of having this peripheral insertion of a catheter into a deeper vein. It was with a local anaesthetic into my upper arm, over the area where the ultra-sound showed the vein into which they wish to insert the tube. So, not really painful after the L.A. but a very uncomfortable feeling as they pushed the catheter along the vein, until it reached the larger vein into the heart!
The good news is that I do not have to have any more probing of surface veins, which had become very sore, and of course it was difficult for the nurses to find a vein for my chemotherapy. I now have a ready-made connection for the duration of this treatment. Having a dressing over the insertion once a week will be no problem, but having a shower without wetting it might be!
Today is my consultant clinic in the morning, and off to have lunch with my sister, who is taking me, then return for the afternoon when I have my chemotherapy, attached through my new PICC line! Hooray! No more needles!
There could be a a slight problem in that my white cell count is slightly down, and usually they delay giving the chemo until it gets back to normal. However, this is crucially timed to allow me to carry the torch on 17th July in my chemo-free week, so if possible I do not wish to defer it, or I will be walking my 300 metres attached to the chemo drip!
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