Port Installation

Last round of cancer, I had a pick line - a central line. They called it a port, so I was expecting something similar with some updated methods, given that its been 5 years. I had the last one done in the cancer clinic, and it didn't take all that long. I remember it being no big deal.

That was then, this is now. A bigger deal in some ways. The prep was what I expected - an IV, a consent form, an explanation of the procedure. They had a great mockup of the heart and the port and how the two get connected. I laughed when I saw the port - it's shaped like a heart and is Purple! How amazing. I am now getting the purple heart!

They wheel me to the operating room, settle me on the table, and tape my body into a standing position. Don't want gravity from falling fronts to yank this port out of place when I stand up! I get the usual blood pressure cuff, EKG tabs, warm blanket.

The doctor, a pleasant young Asian guy, comes in and chats with me for a few minutes to make sure I understand the process. I am shaking uncontrollably. I'm not cold, don't feel nervous, but my body belies my calmness. Even though I know God is with me, I can't stop shaking. "Don't worry, we have drugs for that!" And he wasn't kidding. I calmed right down after the first push, even though my blood pressure stayed high and required a second push.

The nurse opened a blue tent that covered my upper body, elevated so my face wouldn't be covered, and taped it in place around where they would be working. Then she swabbed the area to make it sterile, doing it twice for good measure. After a few shots of lidocaine, the doctor inserted a line from my right shoulder to my heart, and installed the power pump, stitching it in place. Done!

Now, once everything heals up, I can have bloodwork done through the port underneath my skin - they draw through the rubber top between the three little knobs sticking up. They can give me chemo without having to insert an IV, and if I need a power injection, like for an MRI, the port can handle it. Yeah! no more fishing for viable veins for awhile.

They load me up with heparin to keep me from clotting, and send me home with instructions to not get it wet for a week while it heals, and to leave the steri strips and glue in place until I come back for a checkup. Too bad I won't be able to use if for the first chemo, but it will be good to go after that. Yeah!