Free at Last. The catheter is history
I know it has been a while since you heard from me but it has been longer since I have heard from you. You can respond by posting a comment at the end of this article or sending me an email.
This was my first weekend with out any intravenous magnesium. I thought it went well, my appointment was at 9:30 this morning and when I was admitted into my room I was given only saline into my catheter. That was the first sign that things are looking up, they did not bring the liter of Mg that I had been accustomed to. After 4 hours of being pumped with nothing, the nurse came to tell me that my blood results looked good but I had to see my Nurse Practitioner. She was on rounds and I was cranky so I disconnected the IV and left my cell number. They could call if they need me.
I made it to the lobby and the phone rang, after getting scolded for taking off my IV, Cindy said today was supposed to be my day of discharge. She was waiting on my doctor. I got back upstairs with a quickness. Everything is in order and I think I may be doing better than even they expected this quick. I was given the order to have the catheter removed with instuctions to come back on Wednesday for more blood work and my bone marrow biopsy, I agreed to have an IV put into my arm for the anesthesia. At that point I would agree to anything to get this thing out of me. One nurse told me it was a simple procedure and I was tempted to test fate and remove it myself but I listened to the good voices in my head and went down to infusion therapy to have it removed.
The woman removing it would be the same one that certified my daughter in changing my dressing and cleaning the wound site. Kudos go out to my daughter on a job well done. I took off my shirt and laid on the table. This is always a scary thing. To be semi nude with a woman hovering over you holding a scalpel and a pair of scissors. SCAREDOM set in. She said it would be the removal of three stitches and than it would come out. The stitches were no big deal but when I saw what was inside my vein for over four months I started to gag. It was bloody, thick and long. Picture an eight foot piece of garden hose inserted in your chest and jammed into the biggest vein you got. Thats what I saw when she pulled it out. After regaining consciousness and looking at it again I would have to say it was about 8 INCHES and as thick as a drinking straw. She than put a dressing on it and said I was done. In 24 hours I can take a full shower with out worry of getting it wet. Tonight I will sleep on my stomach without fear of ripping my heart out by rolling over one of the catheter tips.
I can even get in a private pool. Going back to Tomball. Me and Tutu can get in the big pool.
*** Bad news alert ***
Right when I have one hole about to close in my chest and it is safe to get back in the water, I am reminded that Wednesday they will put a needle in my A**! And I will not be able to bathe or shower for 48 hours. One hole closes and another opens. Unless something comes up I should be normal by the weekend.
I will be doing a calendar photo shoot for 2010 tomorrow. It will be for the Gulf Coast Blood Bank's Commit for Life calendar.
My social life is stuck somewhere between "nothing there" and "never gonna get it". As you can see from the picture above, I am spending time with new acquaintances. An evening with this man cost me more than a table dance and a beer. Do you know who he is and why I would be waiting in line to shake his hand? The first to answer correctly to both questions in the comments section will receive a gift in the mail from me. (No, it will not be my just removed catheter)
This was my first weekend with out any intravenous magnesium. I thought it went well, my appointment was at 9:30 this morning and when I was admitted into my room I was given only saline into my catheter. That was the first sign that things are looking up, they did not bring the liter of Mg that I had been accustomed to. After 4 hours of being pumped with nothing, the nurse came to tell me that my blood results looked good but I had to see my Nurse Practitioner. She was on rounds and I was cranky so I disconnected the IV and left my cell number. They could call if they need me.
I made it to the lobby and the phone rang, after getting scolded for taking off my IV, Cindy said today was supposed to be my day of discharge. She was waiting on my doctor. I got back upstairs with a quickness. Everything is in order and I think I may be doing better than even they expected this quick. I was given the order to have the catheter removed with instuctions to come back on Wednesday for more blood work and my bone marrow biopsy, I agreed to have an IV put into my arm for the anesthesia. At that point I would agree to anything to get this thing out of me. One nurse told me it was a simple procedure and I was tempted to test fate and remove it myself but I listened to the good voices in my head and went down to infusion therapy to have it removed.
The woman removing it would be the same one that certified my daughter in changing my dressing and cleaning the wound site. Kudos go out to my daughter on a job well done. I took off my shirt and laid on the table. This is always a scary thing. To be semi nude with a woman hovering over you holding a scalpel and a pair of scissors. SCAREDOM set in. She said it would be the removal of three stitches and than it would come out. The stitches were no big deal but when I saw what was inside my vein for over four months I started to gag. It was bloody, thick and long. Picture an eight foot piece of garden hose inserted in your chest and jammed into the biggest vein you got. Thats what I saw when she pulled it out. After regaining consciousness and looking at it again I would have to say it was about 8 INCHES and as thick as a drinking straw. She than put a dressing on it and said I was done. In 24 hours I can take a full shower with out worry of getting it wet. Tonight I will sleep on my stomach without fear of ripping my heart out by rolling over one of the catheter tips.
I can even get in a private pool. Going back to Tomball. Me and Tutu can get in the big pool.
*** Bad news alert ***
Right when I have one hole about to close in my chest and it is safe to get back in the water, I am reminded that Wednesday they will put a needle in my A**! And I will not be able to bathe or shower for 48 hours. One hole closes and another opens. Unless something comes up I should be normal by the weekend.
I will be doing a calendar photo shoot for 2010 tomorrow. It will be for the Gulf Coast Blood Bank's Commit for Life calendar.
My social life is stuck somewhere between "nothing there" and "never gonna get it". As you can see from the picture above, I am spending time with new acquaintances. An evening with this man cost me more than a table dance and a beer. Do you know who he is and why I would be waiting in line to shake his hand? The first to answer correctly to both questions in the comments section will receive a gift in the mail from me. (No, it will not be my just removed catheter)
So good to see the progress you have made. I have been reading and keeping up on your progress; it is inspirational and I appreciate that you are so honest and real about what you are feeling. I think once you are feeling like you can go and do whatever you want to do, your social life will pick up as much as you want it to. Good luck! And I love the thoughtful way you are dealing with your daughter growing up. If you ever need a reminder of how much progress you have made, just read your blog from the beginning to now...hope you have continued improvements not only in your health but in your life.
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Well i check for updates and you were MIA for a litle bit. Hope all goes well with the photo shoot. Sorry you have to hang with a guy and pay him money but must be special. BTW bad boy for having no patience on the IV. Drink your water!
Tes
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Roger! So glad the catheter is out and that you let the pros remove it. LOL. Hoping you are feeling much better very soon and back to your smiling self.
Thanks for the message. Am very glad to know your new marrow is doing it's job.
I have no idea who the man in the picture is. Any clues?
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