Got my port implanted today

Pixie Dust said:

Great

Pixie, good news to hear. I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Hope chemo goes well for you. Seems like you have an attitude that you need to fight this ugly beast Hugs

thank you.

desertgirl947 said:

I think you could have a

I think you could have a normal kind of day tomorrow, really. Get out there and enjoy the Flower & Garden Tour.

e

Had first chemo today, class from 8-9 and chemo from 9 to 1. Got 3 strong IV anti-puke meds, then the 2 chemo drugs. They provided a free sack lunch, wonderful caring nurses.

Came home and took an hour nap and then went on the second day of the garden tour with a friend, she drove. Then another friend gave me some awesome homemade soup, and another made me a soft knitted cap to wear after I lose my hair.  And Lew's there doing anything and everything else I need. Everyone is taking such good care of me.

Looks like my first side effect is going to be swollen feet/legs, so I've got them propped up. Tomorrow I go back to get the shot that makes the bone marrow produce more white blood cells and I'll have the nurses take a look at my legs then.

Rague said:

Neulasta

Were you told about taking Claritin (reg. - not long lasting) before and after Neulasta to minimize pain effects?  Many do get pain from Neulasta but I didn't - just went to sleep, almost to the minute, 2 hrs after injection for 2 hrs.

Were you given Emend and other meds for post infusion?

I bought the non drowsy Claritin to take, is that OK? But actually don't mind being drowsy, especially with the dexamethasone waking me up up 4 AM. Just don't want the bone pain.

Yes I got Emend, and and bunch of other stuff, don't have the list right here

CypressCynthia said:

Yay!!!  Your port is in!!!  I

Yay!!!  Your port is in!!!  I love my port and have had it with no problems for over a year.  My advice about port care is: don't let anyone other than a chemo nurse touch it!  After my first chemo round in 2012, I ended in the ER with a fever and neutropenia (low white blood cell count).  Anyway, the ER nurse did not mask and use sterile technique which is a huge no no with a central line. I later shared my concerns with my onc.  Because the typical hospital nurse does not often use a port, they may not remember the proper sterile technique involved in accessing one.  The hospital actually changed its policy in response.  Can you believe it?  Now, if a patient is on active chemo, a hospital nurse is not allowed to use the port (unless there is an emergency or no other access). 

I also do my blood draws separately - not from my port.  The chemo nurses probably think I'm crazy, but as an NP, I saw many central lines clot off with blood draws.  I use my port only for chemo.  Period.  My port, my choice.  I am on chemo indefinitely and doing my darndest to keep my port. 

I hope you make your flower and garden tour.  I love my garden too!  But do let your body guide you and, if you are too tired, you can do it another time.  Gentle (((hugs))).

Thanks for the port suggestions.

Yes, I did get to go to the garden tour, had a friend come with and she drove. Yards were beautiful and inspiring.

Today is day 2 post chemo, day 1 post neulastin shot and I can tell the premeds are wearing off. I took my Claritin pre neulastin and will continue it a couple days and so far no bone pain, but woke with a little sore throat and tummy not feeling right. Have to take my thyroid pill on an empty stomach which I've done. I can also get a funny stomach just from being hungry, so I'll try eating a little somthing before I start compazine, I have yogurt and hard boiled eggs ready.

Pixie Dust said:

Chemo

Pixie, glad you are doing well with chemo. I hope also that you do very well after Nelusta shot. After I had Neulata shot is when it really hit me hard. Some people are lucky and it does not bother them, others it does. I hope that you are the one that is does not bother. Good Luck&Hugs

I've been taking the Claritin and drinking Carnation Instant Bkf as recommended by some and OK'd by my Dr. Don't care why they might help, or even if it's a placebo effect, as long as I don't hurt! So far no pain. Took both my compazine and zofran to get stomach settled but was able to have a nice lunch of chicken/bean cold salad on lettuce leaves and some grapes. Think it's time for another nap though.

cinnamonsmile said:

I am not sure but you may

I am not sure but you may want to find out if you can eat raw veges and fruit because your immune system is compromised by chemo. I have seen others write that they couldn't because of the effects of chemo on the immune system.

Uncooked veges and fruits can carry bacteria that a compromised immune system from chemo might not be able to fend off.

Lettuce can be particularly bad because of the bacteria that can be on it...like e coli and others.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/293442-foods-to-avoid-during-chemotherapy/

Glad to hear things are going well for you so far!

\

I asked about that too and got the OK as long as they were either peeled or washed first, except no raspberries cuz they can't be scrubbed. I bought a special organic veggie wash to use so even the lettuce got cleaned good. The grapes and cantaloupe were part of the fruit cup they served me at the infusion center.

CypressCynthia said:

Yay!!!  Your port is in!!!  I

Yay!!!  Your port is in!!!  I love my port and have had it with no problems for over a year.  My advice about port care is: don't let anyone other than a chemo nurse touch it!  After my first chemo round in 2012, I ended in the ER with a fever and neutropenia (low white blood cell count).  Anyway, the ER nurse did not mask and use sterile technique which is a huge no no with a central line. I later shared my concerns with my onc.  Because the typical hospital nurse does not often use a port, they may not remember the proper sterile technique involved in accessing one.  The hospital actually changed its policy in response.  Can you believe it?  Now, if a patient is on active chemo, a hospital nurse is not allowed to use the port (unless there is an emergency or no other access). 

I also do my blood draws separately - not from my port.  The chemo nurses probably think I'm crazy, but as an NP, I saw many central lines clot off with blood draws.  I use my port only for chemo.  Period.  My port, my choice.  I am on chemo indefinitely and doing my darndest to keep my port. 

I hope you make your flower and garden tour.  I love my garden too!  But do let your body guide you and, if you are too tired, you can do it another time.  Gentle (((hugs))).

I've taken your advice Cypress about using the port only for chemo. So far they haven't had trouble drawing blood from my arm, and I don't have to wait an hour for someone from the infusion center to come draw from my port. I've heard those horror stories too of trying to unclot ports.

GlowMore said:

Hope it's going ok

 

Hope week is going ok Puffin....how often will you be having your chemo?   Mine was a three week rotation....well...it was 3 weeks after they tried to do the FAC one week and the F the next week but couldn't because the whites had dropped too low.  Hope you are still doing well .....I had my port placement as surgery and was out all afternoon but went home that day.  That was back in 2002 and I kept that port for over 5 years with no problems...and did have some blood draws thru it...did not know how dangerous that was I guess...and the nurses didn't either maybe.........but later I wanted the Port out ...........Oncologist said ok and that if it comes back we can put in another one MAYBE....I'm Triple Negative Stage 3-A  ...but still here ....was just starting my chemo 12 years ago about this time too....thinking of you and hope all continues smoothly....

 

I have my second AC chemo on Thursday. Days 2-5 were tough the first round, made worse because it caused my diverticulosis to flare up. The nausea meds were effective and only had to take them one day. Legs felt like jello and had to use my hiking stick to get around the house for several days. But now I've had 14 good days where I've been able to eat whatever I want and pretty much do what I want as long as I pace myself. No mouth sores, doing my baking soda/salt rinses and drinking more water than I've ever drank in my life. I start the dexamethasone tomorrow so am preparing for short nights and long naps the next 3 days. I'm also making more meals to have on hand for Lew to eat since I have a better idea of how long I'm down after the chemo.

Hope you're feeling better and getting your mojo back.