Post Treatment Milestone

judyv3
judyv3 Member Posts: 143 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

 I was deported yesterday.  This was done by the general surgeon who did my second biopsy and who placed the port.  He is a very nice man, BUT because of his bedside manner - quote I hear most about him, "he makes you feel like you're his only patient", his appointment times are a joke.  When I had an appointment with him to get the results of my second biopsy (which would let me know whether I needed chemo/radiation) I waited 3.5 hours.  Yesterday, my appointment was at 11 and I got in there at 3:30.  I made arrangements myself to be followed by a colorectal surgeon because I knew I couldn't stand to deal with all this waiting and wasting time.

But the port is gone.  I am sore and had difficulty sleeping last night so I can't wait for this to heal up and have one less reminder of treatment.

I'll celebrate when I heal!

Hope everyone is well.

Judy

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Judy

    That surgeon sounds like a real gem--NOT!  However, if he did his job right and caused minimal trauma to your port site during removal, then all is good!  Congratulations on being deported--one more reminder gone!  Heal quickly and celebrate!

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #3
    such a hassle

    I'm sorry that it was such a hassle to get in to see this doctor.  Something is seriously wrong there. 

    I remember getting my port removed and was so sore and so happy

    I hope you'll be celebrating soon

    Janet

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #4
    Describe the procedure, please......

    I'm glad that you are doing well, judyv3. Would you describe what happened and how they keep you from exsanguinating after they pulled the catheter from your superior vena cava? Was the vena cava sutured closed? Did you have a big pressure dressing applied to the area? Do you have to return for suture removal?

    (Why are there consequences if we leave an MD waiting, but not when they leave us waiting?)

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #5
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

    Describe the procedure, please......

    I'm glad that you are doing well, judyv3. Would you describe what happened and how they keep you from exsanguinating after they pulled the catheter from your superior vena cava? Was the vena cava sutured closed? Did you have a big pressure dressing applied to the area? Do you have to return for suture removal?

    (Why are there consequences if we leave an MD waiting, but not when they leave us waiting?)

    what I remember

    It was an office surgery.  Many injections of anesthetic.  Internal sutures.  External surgical superglue.  Layers of dressing.  Caution to not get it wet (maybe a dary or a week?  I don't remember for sure -hooray I'm forgetting parts of that past!)  Pain treated with Percocet.

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #6
    jcruz said:

    what I remember

    It was an office surgery.  Many injections of anesthetic.  Internal sutures.  External surgical superglue.  Layers of dressing.  Caution to not get it wet (maybe a dary or a week?  I don't remember for sure -hooray I'm forgetting parts of that past!)  Pain treated with Percocet.

    Yikes!

    Thank you, jcruz, I was afraid of that. Yikes! No wonder I've been putting it off.

    Congratulations on foretting some of the noxious experiences! May you forget more.

  • judyv3
    judyv3 Member Posts: 143 Member
    #7
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

    Describe the procedure, please......

    I'm glad that you are doing well, judyv3. Would you describe what happened and how they keep you from exsanguinating after they pulled the catheter from your superior vena cava? Was the vena cava sutured closed? Did you have a big pressure dressing applied to the area? Do you have to return for suture removal?

    (Why are there consequences if we leave an MD waiting, but not when they leave us waiting?)

    Ignorance is bliss!

    I was fearful of blood loss.  I had no idea what exsanguination meant while reading your post so I looked it up.  Thankfully, it was after the procedure!  I do not believe the vena cava was sutured closed.  Like Janet said, I was given several injections of local anesthesia (pinch and burn).  The stitches are internal and I have steri-strips over the area.  I went home with gauze taped over the area.  Instructions:  keep this on for a couple of days, don't get it wet, the steri-strips will fall off.  I removed the gauze last night.  The area looks good.  While doing the removal, the doc did cauterize a couple of places.  I tried my best not to pay too much attention.  As I said, ignorance is bliss.

    I was told not to lift anything heavy for a couple of days.  I got a prescription for some pain medicine.  I don't like pain meds, they make me feel weird and sick.  Doc said I would probably hurt and I should fill it just in case.  I did not.  The first night (Wednesday) sleeping was uncomfortable.  Thursday and Friday were each better than the night before.  No pain, just a little uncomfortable.  

    I think your nursing knowledge is both a blessing and a curse.  It's really helpful for us, but must be terrifying for you.  

    I will not be seeing this doctor again.  When I left, there was a full waiting room of people and it was 4:30 p.m.  When he placed the port, he told me he would be the doctor who would follow me post treatment.  I knew that would not work for me.  I found a colo-rectal surgeon that I really like and he is following me.  I do not have any appointments till APRIL!  Ahhh.

    Peace!

    Judy

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #8
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

    Yikes!

    Thank you, jcruz, I was afraid of that. Yikes! No wonder I've been putting it off.

    Congratulations on foretting some of the noxious experiences! May you forget more.

    worth it for me

    One of the infusion center nurses told me she'd had a patient who kept her port in for well over 5 years and just kept getting it flushed.  She was superstitious about cancer coming back so it was kind of like warding off the evil eye.  I, on the other hand, had it removed 4 months after treatment.  When I asked if it would be accessed anymore and was told no I made an appt. the next day.  I see my scar every day but I'm glad I don't see that bump where the port was.

    Put it off - don't think too much about it.  Give yourself time.

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #9
    judyv3 said:

    Ignorance is bliss!

    I was fearful of blood loss.  I had no idea what exsanguination meant while reading your post so I looked it up.  Thankfully, it was after the procedure!  I do not believe the vena cava was sutured closed.  Like Janet said, I was given several injections of local anesthesia (pinch and burn).  The stitches are internal and I have steri-strips over the area.  I went home with gauze taped over the area.  Instructions:  keep this on for a couple of days, don't get it wet, the steri-strips will fall off.  I removed the gauze last night.  The area looks good.  While doing the removal, the doc did cauterize a couple of places.  I tried my best not to pay too much attention.  As I said, ignorance is bliss.

    I was told not to lift anything heavy for a couple of days.  I got a prescription for some pain medicine.  I don't like pain meds, they make me feel weird and sick.  Doc said I would probably hurt and I should fill it just in case.  I did not.  The first night (Wednesday) sleeping was uncomfortable.  Thursday and Friday were each better than the night before.  No pain, just a little uncomfortable.  

    I think your nursing knowledge is both a blessing and a curse.  It's really helpful for us, but must be terrifying for you.  

    I will not be seeing this doctor again.  When I left, there was a full waiting room of people and it was 4:30 p.m.  When he placed the port, he told me he would be the doctor who would follow me post treatment.  I knew that would not work for me.  I found a colo-rectal surgeon that I really like and he is following me.  I do not have any appointments till APRIL!  Ahhh.

    Peace!

    Judy

    Not so.

    "I think your nursing knowledge is both a blessing and a curse.  It's really helpful for us, but must be terrifying for you."

    Actually, I have next to no experience with oncology, so I'm a baby as a cancer person, too. I kind of wish that I was still working and could translate my experiences into some use for others. I think I would have switched to oncology nursing in some capacity.

    The port has always been uncomfortable and downright painful at times. My kitty, Panda, has insisted on using it as a spring board ever since I got it. In the car passenger seat, the seat belt goes right over the top of it. The infusion center gave me a foam pad that attached to the seat belt to make it more comfortable......until Buddy have to slam on the brakes one day. That thin piece of foam was no more protective than a sheet of newsprint. I thought the port was going to be punched right through my chest wall! It was bruised for a while. I got a 2" thick piece of heavy packing foam and made a bridge for the seat belt so it would not come near the port.

  • qv62
    qv62 Member Posts: 434 Member
    #10
    judyv3

    Congrats on being deported, hope you get a good nights sleep soon !

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