jenny's belly

Bad Idea

I had my port-a-cath flushed yesterday, which you have to do monthly if you're not getting treatment or blood tests. I've had this thing accessed a billion times. Its a double port implanted just below the skin of my left shoulder. You can easily get blood or give meds through this port and get it right into a vein without having to jab my arm. So basically its a good thing, except I don't need it anymore (yay!). I have to wait until after my next CT scan (last week of July) and then if all goes well I can schedule an appointment to have it taken out.
But as I was saying, I had it flushed yesterday, where they put a needle into each of the two ports, push saline and something else (heparin?) through it to clean out the tubing, and then I'm good to go.
I got this genius idea that I wouldn't have the nurse use the numbing spray. I've always, always used the numbing spray. The thing is, they switched to a new company and the numbing spray literally freezes the skin. And it kind of hurts. So I thought, its going to hurt either way, I might as well not use the spray. HOLY SHIT. That was a really, really bad idea. Ever watch someone stab you in the chest and feel like someone's stabbing you in the chest? I'm obviously a big baby, but we are talking all the layers of skin, I don't know why I didn't think it would hurt when she put a needle in me. I watched in horror when the first one went in. Oh, mistake! I've made a mistake! And then the second needle. OW!!!!!
And then it hurt when I was walking so I put my hand over it until I realized I must look like a complete freak (look, she's pledging allegiance to the flag). Its fine now, a day later, but I can promise you one thing, I'll never make that mistake again!

posted by Jen at 6:53 PM