Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!

Flower68

Good for you Southern, we were missing you here. Just take it easy today and have fun, miss you

edwsmom

Grey - where the heck are you/is this hospital? Out of the thousands of posts here on this site that I've read, I've never seen even one where someone had their port put in and were awake/aware.

Did anyone have their port put in this way? Seriously, I can't believe they would do it that way...

DLcygnet

Yeah, don't be embarassed. There's a reason medical-use was legalized so quickly in some states. My cousin lives in Florida, unfortunately. He was on NASTY drugs for testicular cancer. His college buddies hooked him up secretly. He never told his Dad, but his Mom was probably wise to what was going on and gave him a 15 minute warning before dinner. He'd run upstairs, come down, and be able to eat normally. It was a miracle.

DLcygnet

Edwsmom... that's how they did mine. It's called conscious sedation. They had curtains up, they put some "you won't care what's happening to you" drugs in my IV (Valium and Phentenol), played some nice music in the background, and then numbed me up with Lidocane everywhere they were poking. Yeah, i felt the shot, the tugging, and a tiny sting when he hit a spot the lidocane hadn't quite reached. But doing this a year after giving birth and dealing with major surgery and fissure-causing constipation... this was really, truly nothing. He was done in 30-40 minutes. I hear it only takes 20 minutes to yank everything out. My scar is also healing quite nicely.

edwsmom

HI DL,

Wow! Interesting. Most of the posts I read, people either had general anesthesia or propofol, like I did.

I'm glad to hear that you found it to be tolerable.

sailorgirl15

Hi everyone!

It is hard to keep up! I've been at school a lot this week because I'm not planning on being here much next week after round 2.

I forget who was fighting indigestion - call your MO! I fought it for 4 days and when I got the Rx which I take first thing in the morning, I was like a new woman! I am always one to figure things out for myself and the last to call for help, but in our situations we need to call! They have something for everything! I also had a residual headache and they gave me something for that. So, from now on I'm going to try to remember to call about any issue in having. Many of you have said to call as soon as there is an issue and I'm here to reinforce that!

Mom2boo - good news on tumor shrinkage and to any of you others in that situation. It gives us all hope that this poison is finding its target!!! Who is your surgeon? I went to Walker (partner with Zannis) and felt very confident.

Have a great weekend! Hope you can enjoy...my steroids have got my energy level off the chart!

edwsmom

OMG! It looks so cute!!

edwsmom

I admit that I'm nervous to start wearing my wig. I'll probably be wearing it in to work on Monday. I really hope I don't look ridiculous...

mom2boo_and_buzz

sailorgirl - I'm seeing Christi Bourne, saw her a few years ago with a scare and really like her. I think she used to partner with Walker, I hear they are two very good surgeons from Dr. friends.

Good luck next week!

Cinque

Hi Edwsmom I had to get mine buzz cut on Monday I had two wigs ready to go.  Penny my first wig is very similar to my own hair.  I wore it to work on Tuesday and pulled it off no worries.  When I went to the gym I didnt wear her, its just not practical one of the girls came up to me and she said she had no idea.  She just thought I had been to the hairdresser.  Im taking Penny into the wig shop today for trim.  Losing your hair is awful Im not sure how I will to when eyebrows and lashes go but one crappy problem at a time.  I love the feeling of water in the shower directly on my head lovely and the hours saved doing my hair are hours I treasure and use moisturising my self, oiling my nails, doing my exercises and getting that extra sleep I need.  So much more maintenance required.  

Southercharm you are a beautiful women inside and out treatment hasn't and won't change that.

I love your mantra 'This too shall pass' I say it to myself all the time.

AnnieB43

well I'm home. What a long friggin day. I was at the hospital at 630. Nothing is ever easy is it? Anyway I'm drugged all to hell. There were issues with the position of my collarbone or the deepness of my veins or some such shit. Surgery took twice as long and I have a huge incision. Oi at least it's over. Everyone was nice though and I got some extra drugs. Jim went to fill prescriptions and get me some food.

Just catching up on the pages. This thread moves fast. Happy Friday y'all!

Cinque

Hello Southerncharm 

Ready to embrance the baldness! Well youve come along way I really marvel at how we take our problems, adapt and get on with it..a wonderful quality to have.  I may need a port or pic line put in..Im having to get my bold little head around that.  Had treatment day before yesterday and the steriods they give me are calling me into the kitchen for an early morning snack....im not going but I really want to☺

DLcygnet

Edwsmom, It really was fine. I was glad the anesthesia they used was out of my system in time to nurse my baby that evening. And that none of it induced constipation. Again, the tugging and stuffing the port in didn't feel any more disconcerting than a baby rolling or kicking in my uterus.

Southern, I think you and I started chemo about the same time. I was sortof hoping to have a head shaving party in another weekend. Sounds like that might be WAY optimistic. Thinking about calling my hair stylist to take donation of my "locks of love" hair and leave me with a pixie cut to shave off in a week. Thoughts?

Cinque, one of my coworkers voiced that he thought long hair styles on women were stupid and I should just shave it already. And that I'd love it. Your post makes me think he's so right. Other than the cold head, I bet I'll love how little time I have to spend in the morning. My husband is already looking forward to fewer clogged sink drains and scary monsters in the shower.

Italychick

grey, they didn't knock me out but gave me fentanyl to put me in twilight sleep. I passed out and woke up after port was placed, no trauma at all. I didn't remember a thing

Cinque

Hi Italychick

I think i may need a port.  Im worried about how it will affect my everyday life.I love going to the gym will I be able to, will I be able to wear tight clothing....in the end I will have no choice but I am very interested to see how you go.  Ive being enjoying the hell out of everyday too...I dont want no port to bring me down. Best of luck xxx

edwsmom

I've had my port for 2 weeks now and unless someone mentions it, I forget it's there. I don't feel it and it's not in the way.

I can't imagine that it would impact your ability to work out. They placed mine over far enough that I can still wear v-neck tops with no problem. It doesn't stick out very far. I was surprised at how small it is. My Mom has an internal pacemaker and it's quite big (the size of an oreo cookie). My port is maybe the size of a quarter.

DLcygnet

You can wear tight clothing. Exercise is HIGHLY recommended while on chemo, even with a port. Once the incision has sealed, they even cleared me for swimming. The first couple days feel a little weird as the tube in the Aeorta settles, after that, hardly noticeable (except when my seatbelt strap hits it).

Edit: I agree with Edwsmom, Standard, V-neck, ballet neck shirts are all fine. I've never seen a scoop neck shirt that'd I'd wear while working out anyway. Tank tops with high necklines (shells) or V-neck/halter top still cover the port.

@Octogirl - Thanks for taking out the spaces! It makes a huge difference on my phone.

Italychick

Cinque, I have been done with chemo for four months, and am doing the every three weeks Herceptin. I love my port. I panicked when I first got it, worrying about blood clots, etc. I have the bard power port and it has worked every time. I had a few days of soreness right after placement, but I rode my bike a few days after port placement, waiting for an alien to shoot out of my chest lol. I forget it is even there, one time I even rubbed my hand across it and panicked and thought it was a new lump! And my grandkids bang on it, no issue. Today I had my post chemo mammogram and they squished the hell out of my port and boobs, the lady doing the mammogram said those things are really tough.

I've heard of women wearing a bra or shirt in to the port placement to ask the surgeon to put it in a place where it doesn't show as much.

I continued all my normal exercise all throughout chemo, and sometimes I was slow, but I really strongly feel that maintaining my exercise routine helped me come through the process.

Best of luck to all!

Cinque

Thanks girls you've made me feel heaps better about the port ☺☺☺

Scotland219312

My power port is about the size and shape of a Chicklet, and I don't think it's noticeable unless you're staring at it. Sure, it jumps out at ME, but I don't think others would notice it. I also don't remember the port surgery. It was far less stressful than a couple of my biopsies.

Day 11, and scalp is a bit tingly. Definitely not shedding yet, and I'm enjoying looking "normal". I'm still getting buzzed tomorrow morning so it doesn't look like I'm breeding guinea pigs in my shower. My husband is determined to get buzzed with me. I think he just want the free haircut, although it would really annoy our kids if we had matching heads so it might be worth it...

About MJ: I've been told that you have to cook it before eating it to get any effect. For dissolving it under your tongue, does it have to be a bud or would leaves work? Smoking gives me a headache. I didn't have much trouble with nausea or sleeping with round 1, but with round 2 looming next week it would be nice to have options if the side effects rodeo is different.

DLcygnet

Chicklet? Must be a southern thing...

I didn't see any more hairs than usual fall out until the night before my 2nd infusion. Now it looks like there's a kitten asleep in my trash basket. Just scheduled my locks donation for Monday. I hope there's something left to donate.

Scotland219312

Chiclets are those little, square pieces of gum. About half an inch or so. My port is smaller than I thought it would be.

I can't donate my hair because I color it. I'm going to see if I can do something with mine. You don't need a ton to donate. My understanding is that they often need more than one donation to make a single wig. Every little bit helps. My scalp feels like ants are crawling on it. It's just delightful.

TFoxy20

I think I have finally made a decision on a wig and might order it today. Is a wig cap necessary or beneficial when you don't have hair? Ladies with wigs have they been staying on without one?

twiggyOR

My wig is more comfortable without a wig cap but the wig cap i have seems too big so that might make a difference. I LOVE the It Stays roll on glue. It keeps my wig in place all day. I did notice this morning that my wig was kind of stinky after 4 days of wear. I'm thinking a wig cap would help with that so that i could wash my wig once a week.

Jabe

Tomorrow is buzz cut day. Nervous. I did a full day of work today (yay) only to have two people I don't work closely with tell me how pale and tired I look but that I "look great considering". My boss, who is awesome, was like "she looks great. Imagine how they'll be next week post-buzz. Ugh

AnnieB43

My port surgery was a little hard because my vein is a little deeper than normal. I took a nap and just washed up a little. It's sore like I got punched after lifting a lot of heavy weights, but other than that I feel normal. My incision is about 2.5 inches which I was told is larger than normal. My BS said he had to dig around a bit but he promised the scar would fade. I am getting a bit of a headache but I think it's just the let down after so much stress. I looked in the mirror and I can't really see any port other than the incision, but I'm chubby so maybe it's just good and padded

Cinque

Hi tfoxy20

Ive been wearing mine without cap and hasnt moved although could be gripping to my buzz cut.  Im going to the wig shop today to get it trimmed will see what they advise.  I looked online trying to decide what I should go for and I had so many questions.  In the end I went into a store where a tried on so many and left very happy with my choices , the ladies on store deal with this on a daily basis and are very helpful.  If you able to easily get to a store I recommend it, even if its just for research.  Good luck I wore my wig all week and I felt and looked great...if I do say so myself.

Cinque

Hi AnnieB43

Even when you are feeling poorly youve taken the time to post about your port, you are very kind.  Thank you.  Stress and more surgery is exhausting you will feel much better after a good sleep.  Take care.

Cinque

AnnieB43

I had IV sedation for the port but really I slept through most of it. I woke up at the end cuz I had to pee like a racehorse and I remember my doctor telling me to be still. Chubby girls and bed pans...that's all I'll say on that!

He forgot that I'm allergic to tape so I had to be unwrapped and glued after I got back to my room. My arm looks like it went through a grinder from that stupid grumpy nurse on Monday and more poking today. I'm thankful that this port will keep that from happening again. My BS is the best. He saw my bruises and asked me if the nurse survived. Gotta love a man with a sense of humor that regularly gropes your boobs!

sailorgirl15

I just saw this - free rides to and from appointments.

http://take.lyft.com/moregooddays/