Port Removal! So Happy

January 24, 2019

As much as this port was a life saver for chemotherapy treatments it has been uncomfortable the entire time. The wire going up and into my jugular vein has pulled and tugged anytime I moved my head from side to side. Sleeping has been uncomfortable and the triangle where you access the port has never stopped being sore and sensitive. Now it gets to come out! Some women have this thing for five years. I cannot imagine!

We arrive at the surgery center at 6:30 am. Mine will be local, meaning they will not put me to sleep unless they have an unexpected complication. I am not sure how I feel about being awake while this is taken out. I fill out paperwork and am sent upstairs to be given my cubical. This room has a recliner and a chair for one family member. My vitals are taken and I get into my favorite costume- the hospital gown. The nurse says I may keep my panties though. Why thank you mam, no need to loose my drawers over a procedure on my chest.

When its my turn they take me to the operating room in a wheelchair. Its a strange place to be awake. Usually people are asleep for this view. There are doctors and nursing all in the hallway scrubbing up at big sinks along the halls. It looks like chaos but everyone knows what they are doing and where they are going. I am wheeled into my operating room and there are three ladies there to assist my doctor. This is a no frills area. Everything in the room has a purpose. The only real life thing I see is a stereo which I assume is used to play music for long surgeries.

My doctor comes in and makes small talk for a moment then its down to business. One arm gets a blood pressure cuff and the other hand the pulse finger thing. My mid section is strapped to the table for safety  but my arms and hands are free. The doctor tells me he has to do something that will seem strange to me. Apparently my remaining breast is too large and gets in his way. He has to tape my breast to the bottom of the bed. Meaning there is a long piece of medical tape pulling my breast towards the bottom of the bed where the other end of the tape is secured. HE said he had to do the same thing when he installed the port because while laying flat back it tries falling towards my head which interferes with where he needs to work. Now I can say that was truly a weird feeling.

He gives me several local shots in the area of my chest where he needs to work. These shots hurt. I am not about to lie about that. But I bet that scalpel will hurt more so I suck it up. One I am good and numb I am washed down with beta-dine or something of that nature and a sterile cover with a hole in the middle is laid over me. I can here my pulse rate increasing on the machinery as my nerves ramp up.

He tells me I will feel tugging but no pain and stresses that if I feel anything other pain to speak up immediately. No worries there doc, if I even think I feel pain you guys are going to hear it. Watching that scalpel come down while you are awake is horrifying. But as he said I only felt tugging. I smelt burning and heard sizzling as they cauterized to slow blood flow. Oh my goodness that STINKS. Again my pulse sounds ramp up. I feel the tug as the wire is removed from my jugular and neck. And then I see a suture needle headed my way. I am needle phobic. Eyes shut and try not to hyperventilate. My nose itches. I cannot move my arms from my side because it will interfere with the doctor and nurse. But the aggravation of the itching takes my mind off the stitching.

I’m all done and the doctor says he wants to see me in 3 weeks to follow up and make sure it has healed properly. The doctor wants to know if I want to take the port home as a keepsake. Umm, no. I have had enough of that thing. I can scratch my nose. For some crazy reason I feel lightheaded as they help me stand to get back in the wheelchair. It has only been about a half hour since I was wheeled out of my cubical for the operating room.

As I get back to my cubical my husband is surprised to see me so quick. Thank you Lord its out. No home to rest and heal!