November 24, 2003

FINALLY!!!! I was a little apprehensive, since there was still a chance they won’t be able to use my arm veins and they might tell me that I have to go back to the hospital and have a catheter surgically implanted. I really didn't want this to happen as it would increase my risk of another infection (and I did NOT want to endure another 14 days of anti-biotic treatments!). But at this point, I didn't really have a lot of control over the situation.

Caroline wass my nurse today (thought I was going to have Rebecca….she promised she’d be able to find a good vein and take care of me!) As it turns out, Caroline did a fine job, although there was one little glitch! The first vein she tried in the top of my right hand was not successful. This vein had been used multiple times for various reasons. She bumped into a valve in the vein and the needle would not progress. She was able to insert it enough to draw blood for my CBC (my counts were fine for chemo!) but this wasn’t secure enough for the infusion of chemotherapy. So, she pulled out the catheter/needle and lo-and-behold, it was BENT! Stubborn vein indeed! So, she poked and prodded my arm until she found a “juicy one” (her words!). A vein on the inside of my wrist would be her next choice. Luckily, it worked! YAY!! She started with saline, then the pre-meds (anti-nausea drugs) and finally, the chemo. She was very careful with the infusion of the Adriamycin, constantly checking for a return blood flow through the catheter. This is what tells her the needle is in the correct location, and no drugs are leaking outside the vein. This is a VERY GOOD thing! This went without a hitch…so next was the Cytoxan. This was uneventful. When that was completed, I was allowed to go home. Yay!