Port Is In!

So we showed up at the hospital at 6 am, and was easily registered.  My only complaint has been that for whatever reason my records still indicate that I am on OSU's student health insurance.  I've given everyone my current insurance information but for some reason my records haven't been updated!!  We went up to the pre-op area where they had me change into a gown and they wanted to start an IV and draw blood for some pre-op tests.  For those of you that know me, I don't care much for needles/blood draws, and have a history of passing out after giving blood. Well she got the IV in no problem, but because of some valve in there, she was NOT able to draw any blood from that site, so that meant a 2nd prick to draw the blood needed.  This one made me light headed and uncomfortable.  Well about 10 minutes later she comes back to tell me that they need more blood for an update of my blood count because of my zolodex injection last week.  So here comes poke #3.  She evidently got it in no problem, but then the needle must have gone out the other side of the vein because it stopped flowing and she did NOT get enough blood.  Are you kidding me? You have to do it AGAIN?  So she got another nurse to come in and try, this went smoothly and they finally had everything they needed.

We were taken down to the pre-op area just outside the operating room where we waited what felt like FOREVER!  Because of the tissue expanders already in, the doctor needed to come decide where he was going to put the port in so as to not disturb the expanders, and so we were waiting on him.  Once I was taken in to the OR everyone was great, I was sedated but wide awake.  No I couldn't see anything, they had a drape over my chest and face area.  The procedure went very quickly.  They left an access needle in the port for my chemo tomorrow since I was already numb.  They will take that out after the chemo tomorrow, and all that will be left will be underneath the skin.  The took me into the post op/recovery area where they told me I was definitely wide awake and wouldn't need to be there very long.  They just needed to wait for a room for me upstairs where I started in Pre/Post Op.  Once I was taken upstairs and settled I was able to eat a turkey sandwich with pretzels.  I sat up there about an hour where they did a couple rounds of vitals, and then had me go to the bathroom.  I was able to go home about 12.

I am currently home and settled back into the recliner.  Unfortunately I'm on strict orders to do absolutely NOTHING today so Brian did not go into work like he had planned.  I am also not able to get the incision area wet for the next week :(  That means limited showers, which wouldn't be so bad if I weren't covered on the right side of my neck and shoulder in iodine..I hate that smell!!  Driving is definitely out of the question as my range of motion in my neck is somewhat limited.

And now I just need to wait for chemo tomorrow..