This morning I treated myself to a bacon sandwich, a glass of orange juice and a coffee for breakfast as I had been told to be nil by mouth from 08:00 onwards.
I arrived on the ward at 12 o'clock today as requested. A nurse had two unsuccessful attempts at getting a needle into my hand and ended up getting the ward sister to find a vein in the outer side of my arm to fit the cannula to take bloods as well as to administer the drugs for the operation.
Initially I was told I was scheduled for 13:00, then 14:00 then at 15:30 I was told there had been two emergencies and I would be next. I eventually was in the theatre at 16:50.
The scrub nurse decided that she had to leave to make it to a theatre show she had tickets for that evening so, the lovely nurse from the chemo unit that had come down to watch (and learn more about portacaths) ended up being the scrub nurse for the op!!!! What an angel!
The approach was to sedate me... so no anaesthetic as such. I believe someone said what they use is very similar to rohypnol - the date rape drug. Well all I can say is that if anyone tried to get lucky with me using that, they would have to give me a bucket load because I didn't feel even remotely sedated! Fortunately they also used something locally to numb the area so whilst I felt the cutting it was uncomfortable but bearable.
There was a lot of pushing and shoving and tugging in my neck and chest area - but again it wasn't too bad. The final stitches on my chest felt like small scratches and then just put a plaster over the cut on my neck.
I had been told that I would need to stay on the ward for 2 hours after the op but in fact I was up and out pretty much within 30 minutes i.e. by about 19.30. Hubby came to pick me up and I was home by 20:10 when I finally got something to eat!!!
All of the nurses were fantastic. The porter who took me to and from theatre was really lovely. There was even a lady who came and gave me a complimentary hand massage while I was waiting!!! All in all - as days spent at hospital go - despite the delay - I had a great day!
So the port is in. I have two quite big plasters and I haven't quite decided how to explain them away to the kids.... and hiding them in my baldilocks pics will also be a small challenge!
Tomorrow is the big shave and I think it will be the most difficult part for me because at this stage - I'm really quite relaxed about the whole prospect of chemo (mainly thanks to many of the people on this site who make it sound so completely do-able!..). Hubby was stoking my hair this evening saying he should enjoy it while he can. I guess it really will be a case of "Hair today - gone tomorrow"...!
Noj x
FormerMember
What a Brave Bunny you are, Noj. I would never be able to just lay there while I was being cut open and stitched back up again, bacon sandwich or no bacon sandwich.
All the very best for tomorrow - perhaps you should shave your head now and give the fur to hubby, so that he can stroke it whenever he wants to ;-)
...thank you, thank you for your words of support.
My bruising has really come out this morning and I've been trying on all sorts of clothes to see which if any will cover the bandages as it is not exactly scarf wearing weather at the moment!!!
A strategically placed arm or high collar will do for the phot but not for the kids! I have until 3pm today to come up with something that is the truth but will not lead to any difficult questions.....
Hmmm.... time to put my thinking cap on.... (I'm sure I must have one in amongst the wig, bandanas, scrafs and baseball caps!!!!)
Ps. I think I just might take a little plastic bag along to collect some hair.... I will give it to Brendan (hubby) for a laugh - good one Steve - but also because lots of people say your hair can come back a different colour. This will be a good way of checking and letting you all know when that time comes.
It is almost time to leave so I'm off for a quick coffee before I go!
Glad it went well, its so much easier to have your treatment. Isn't it strange how different hospitals do things. I didn't have to be nil by mouth, but I did have a local and something to relax me. Yes explaining the plaster on your neck is a funny one, I found my bra strap just missed the one on my chest so that was fine and wasn't visible. I did find that my jugular was more raised and that sometime my seat belt sat on it - wasn't sore or painful but strange. I found pulling my collar or top up to cushion it helped.
Good luck with the head shaving and the treatment.
