1-7 day. Feeling much better this morning. The nurse from Bon Secours Home Care stopped by yesterday to change the dressing on my PICC line and flush the two injection ports with saline solution and something else to keep it from getting clogged up. I was relieved to know that there was no infection starting and it was looking and doing ok. I had been worried because the doctors and nurses kept stressing that we need to keep the thing dry. It's a chore everyday taking a shower, as Marjie has to wrap the whole contraption up in a bread wrapper, and tape it really good against my arm before I can get in the shower. Then while in the shower, I try to keep my arm elevated so water won't get on it, but it seems like whatever we do, a little water does touch the bandage. Oh well, I guess we're doing it right.
Took Cohomojo on a walk yesterday by myself mainly because my back and muscle joints were starting to get all sore from just lying around on the couch for the last couple days. It felt good to walk around in the sunshine, but I must look like some old decrepit man to observers out there. I'm definitely walking slow these days.
We had an appointment to get my Neulasta shot at 1500, so Marjie and I took off around 1400 and got there in plenty of time. This was a quick semi-painless shot in the arm. The nurse explained that it would be normal for me to experience a fever of 100 degrees and some pain in my bones due to the effect of the drug trying to build back bone marrow.
After the shot, we headed to the base (NOB) Norfolk, so I could get a haircut and Marjie could pick up a couple things at the commissary. That went pretty good. I basically waited in a chair at the barber, while she did everything else.
Felt a little hungry when we were leaving, so got a burger and fries at Burger King for the ride home. That tasted like Sh*t.......For some reason, I had a craving for French Fries....
Got home around 1630 and hit the couch again and slept till dinner. Taco night!!! Had a taco and back to the couch.
Actually feeling a lot better now. David spent the night at one of his buddies and Marjie and I watched a couple movies. Not feeling nausea, but my muscle joints in my ankles, knees and legs were throbbing. Good ole Marj!!! Rubbed them for me and made me all better.
Ate some popcorn and that made me feel better?????
Went to bed and slept pretty good last night...
It's now 0810 and I'm feeling tons better than I have for the last few days....
Figured I'd update this blog, take a shower, eat some breakfast and then Marjie and I will take Mojo on a walk since it's such a nice day out there.
So where am I at with this you might ask?
Completed 1st week of chemo....
Have the next two weeks off...
One more week of chemo...
two weeks off..
Radiation/chemo for 7 weeks.
More to follow as I see the doc who put in the feeding tube on Monday, and my Oncologist on Wednesday.
Later!
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1 comment:
Dave,
It's true that PICC lines can become infected but don't stress about getting it wet. Getting it wet in the shower would not necessarily cause an infection. If the dressing is intact and the tips of the the ports are clean you're good. Getting it wet in the shower can cause the dressing to begin to come off which could expose the insert site which could become infected. I've had many patients who come in with the dressing hanging on by a thread and didn't get infected. I just clean the site and change the dressing without problems. I'm not saying to not cover it in the shower(yes cover it), I'm just saying you have enough to worry about without stressing that if you get it wet it will get infected.
Take care
Tee
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