Towing the line...

Less than one minute read time.

The dreaded Hickman Line procedure under local is over and I now have a couple of new appendiges sticking out of my chest. Everything went well yesterday and even though I had to wait until late in the day for a bed it wasn't that bad.

All in all I got myself into a bit of a nervous state and could feel myself tensing up throughout the procedure but in truth the staff were brilliant and apart from the initial anaesthetic it was more discomfort than pain. Twenty minutes is all it took.

The first flush through of the lines today was the next nervy moment for me as I didn't know whether to expect some sort of sensation as the saline went in. Much to my relief I never felt a thing so I reckon with a bit of luck and good management I can handle this over the next six months or however long it ends up being. Time will tell! 

After all that the first chemo was in tablet form... but I can handle pills!

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hiya Paul............I loved my Hickman, it made life so much easier, I had everything put through it, no more needles it was lovely, hopefully like me, you won't have any problems with it. Mine was taken out after 8 months. Take care.....love carol x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Paul, how I wish I had had a Hickman line fitted. I had a terrible time with my veins and at every visit had about six attempts by various nurses to find a decent vein.  In the end most of my veins collapsed.

    I bet you're glad the procedure is over though.  I think fear of the unknown is the worst part usually.

    Hope it all goes well for you in the future.

    Christine xx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Thanks Carol and Christine, I must admit that it's much better than having to go through the "will they, won't they find a vein" experience every time they need blood. I think fearing the unknown is very much a part of what makes you so nervous.

    They've pretty much given up on the veins in my arms now too Christine and have just mentioned the possible need for a vascular canula in my groin... here we go again with the unknown!

    Got a feeling that my Hickman will be with me for around the same length of time as Carol's, we shall see.

    Take care, love Paul xx

  • Funny despite what we all go through the unknown with a new procedure still manages to effect us all.

    hope all goes well Paul will watch for updates

    john

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    i wish i had not run off when i was took to hull royal infermary for my hickman line....loads of needles loking for a vain that would give some blood, 7 in my hand once by a mad maniac nurse....arghh...5 in my hand by another nurse with me refusing to let anyone near my hands ever again....at least for my stem cells back in they are going to put me a hickman line in here at my local hospital were i know everyone....theres no way will i go in hull royal infermary for it...had the line in my groin for my r-dhap 3 times and then again for my stem cells out....arghhhhhh. getting the dressing off afterwards is just as bad.....arghhhh.   glad you got your hickman line done paul.....im hoping i will be as brave as you and let them put mine in .....