Day 1 Picc insertion and first EC 4th January 2024

2 minute read time.

I was diagnosed with TNBC in August, had frist Lumpectomy and SN removal in October, followed by reinsision of margins in November.

Well today was the start of my Chemo Journey January 5th appointment time 9am.

I arrived at the RD&E Cherrybrook unit on time after a drive of 10 miles took nearly 55 mins, bloody traffic. Checked in got my wrist band and 5mins later I was shown into a room to have my picc inserted, had a little chat with the nurse as I knew her from working at the hospital for many many years.  When I worked there I used to take the picc patients for x-rays  after to check position, but now it's much easier and can be done using a ECG machine. Slight smile I wore a short sleeved blouse and vest top but I didn't need to remove either. Everything was explained before the start. I was fitted with ecg monitor, and measured for pic length then I was draped with a sterile sheet under my arm and over my chest, then ultrasound to find the right vein which was marked, I think. You get a local anesthetic injected which stung a little but another nurse offered her hand to squeeze, hopefully I didn't squeeze too hardJoy withing a minute all was done. I was given instructions not to do ironing, stretch above my head etc and given a cover for showering.

Then it was off to the Chemo room, there were 6 of us in there. I was given a reclining seat in one corner which was nice. My nurse brought over all my medication to take home and explained when to take them and wrote instructions clearly on each box. My Filgrastim injections were kept in the fridge until it was time for me to go home. 

I was given antisickness by IV and something else before my Red Devil, wish I asked to use loo first as I wasn't allowed to go unti afterwards incase I had a reaction while in the loo. I will remember to go first next time. After the red devil, they put another flush through and I was done. They changed my picc dressing, got my meds from fridge, said district nurse will see me on Monday to flush picc and change dressing again. 

Had to wait  an hour for hubby to collect me as wasn't expecting to be done so quickly, Told 6.5 hours ended up only being 3.5 luckily he parked in wrong place and we went to the Force Cancer center for a coffee. On hubby looking at my picc site he noticed it had been bleeding a bit, so before our journey home, we went back to the chemo unit and they changed and cleaned the dressing again. Note to self don't go straight home, better wait a while than do a 20mile round trip again.

Felt fine at home, took the pill I was given, had earlier night as up at 5.30am did take a metoclop anti sickness at 10pm as a bit of sick/ reflux feeling. After that I slept well until about 5.35 again. Stayed in bed till 7 then made us both a cuppa in bed. 

Anonymous