Portacath

1 minute read time.

26 Sep 2011

Portacath went in today - up at 5.40am and taxi at 6.30am to get us to the hospital by 7.30am.... what an early start!!

The staff were wonderful and very reassuring and cheerful - we met the anaesthetist and surgeon and then my husband was taken to surgery at 8.30.

Whilst he was away I took the opportunity to meet my godson, whom I had not seen for some time as he had been away. We met for breakfast just around the corner from the hospital and it was wonderful to talk about him and what he has been doing and just forget even if only for a few minutes about the time ahead for my husband and I.

Reluctantly I left this wonderful young man and went back to the hospital just as my husband had been brought back up from recovery. Apparently it was a Monday with machinery and equipment in the operating theatre breaking down, so it had taken longer than planned, but husband was in good spirits and remarkably with it. We left the hospital at 1.00pm (in a taxi yet again) and now hubby is resting.

I have realised I must get myself organised with regard to planning meals etc., and not rely on last minute defrosting and panic trips to the shops, and on Thursday when the first chemo is administered so I will have the chance to ask about vitamin supplements and dietary advice.

I shall be glad to see the end of this week, because although it is my birthday on Sunday (and also coincidentally my son's) it is not something that takes priority right now.... I just want to see what, if any reactions my husband will have to the chemo and find out when the next round will start.... so much to learn!

I am feeling tired now and I can feel my control slipping sometimes but at least writing on this blog helps me get my fears out of my system and to cope better with what may lie ahead.

FormerMember over 13 years ago

Hi - I was interested to see a Portacath used here, as not so many talk about them.

I've not had chemo yet - but i really dont like the idea of a picc or other line dangling or on the outside of me for many weeks - so I really like the look of a portacath. Did the doctors offer you the choice - or did you specifically ask for it?.

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Beingtreated/Havingchemotherapy.aspx for those who dont know what a port is.

Mal
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FormerMember over 13 years ago

Hi diamondsgirl.Thats what my dad found hard...all the organising,people ( dr,nurse,carers) calling and the phone going all the time.I live 200 miles away but I did go and stay for a while.HUGS for you!! xxx
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diamondsgirl over 13 years ago

@ Mal - the doctors specifically said that a portacath was the way forward. After yesterday's first round of chemo I can see why. It means much more freedom of movement, no need for otherwise fit patients to be bed bound or dripstanded for 18 hours a day if they were to have drips set up and ti seems a sensible way of administering the chemo. On the downside there is a lot of tubing when the chemo is being infused and the bottle has to be carried at all time for the length of the chemo treatment, in my husband's case two weeks. He finds sleeping a chore and also being able to gauge if the infusion is working is worrying as you cannot see the stuff going in and just have to trust it or get it checked out at the hospital, which is time consuming. I am sure after a couple of bouts of chemo, we will be more used it and not fret so much, but given the choice, it is definitely for us the way forward, especially as hubby plans to continue working at full strength!!
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