This is a hard post to write.
Things did not go very well today at my infusion. Three nurses tried to start an IV 5 sticks later, one blown vein, we successfully started an IV in my right AC (antecubital fossa)after one hour of treatment (so half of my treatment) they had to STOP the infusion because that stinking vein infiltrated. 😱 it caused quite a bit of pain, burning and swelling as the rumicaid leaked into the surrounding tissues and not in my vein. 😱
The nurses refused to try to start an IV again even though I begged them to please finish the treatment. I was so kind and said I will endure 5 more sticks. After talking to the doctor it was decited that my veins are just shot. It's like I'm an IV junkie and it's apparent my veins can't do it any more. 😠One more reminder that my body is in charge. I think for me this is the hardest part. I try not to let my diseases control my life. I think I even try to "pretend" I don't have them. Until a huge flare up or reminder in the morning when I can't move or having trouble walking, or the daily pain and discomfort that comes with these stinken auto immune diseases.
The doctor thinks it's best if we put in a perminate port. 😠The doctor says it's too much scar tissue from the years of infusions and I've never been an easy stick. A referral was placed for this small surgical port placement. I don't know much about it as its all a bit overwhelming and shocking that my veins are not working. 😬 I will have a little surgery to input the port in the next couple weeks. I have to go back in 4 weeks not 6 weeks for a full infusion with my new port. No more going through three+ nurses and 5+ sticks heating packs, 90 min to start an IV. Which had been my norm for years.
Just one stick in my port and poof I'm done. 🥰 my hands and arms will be free as well. No more having to keep my arm straight and not moving a muscle so the machine will stop beeping.
This port could be a wonderful thing, maybe even a blessing in disguise 🤷♀️
I am very greatful and blessed there are medicines and procedures that help my quality of life and I'm greatful for smart doctors that keep fighting for me even when my body doesn't want to work right. I hope and pray this port will be a blessing. #keep fighting, #whoneedsanIVanyway, #portlife, #ivegotthis
More thoughts
I feel like a port It's alot and a reminder how sick I am and that's hard.
I think I down play my disease alot and a port is for people with cancer or dialisis and that's NOT me!
Not to mention having to quite the Coumadin for 5 days so I can have the small surgery and then having to take the dreadful lovenox to get my blood thinned again. Uggghhhh
The Picutres are the Day of my Procedure.
The procedure went very well. We had to wait almost three hours past our time as the doctors were behind... A LOT!
However, when I got back to the surgery area they moved me on a different bed and proceeded to strap me in the bed and hook me up to meds and an antibiotics. They started to prep my body. The had to tape my breast so it was out of the way.👀😳 they prepped my chest by cleaning the area with alcohol and then that orange Bactiseptic to clean the surgical site. They also put dermabond all over even in my hair and up on my face. 😩 It was very sticky. It smelled aweful too! 🤢They put a plastic drape on me and then they put the sterile drape on me. They created a tent around my head I felt the doctor stick me a couple of times as he was putting the lidocaine in my chest. He made two incisions one created the pocket the port would rest the other the catheter so they can thread it, they threaded the catheter over the clavical and in the caradid vein and stopped just short of my heart.
The meds didn't work. (They even gave me a second dose) I was awake and watched the entire procedure. I even talked the entire time. 😂It was probably the most interactive port placement in the history of ports 😂
The doc asked if they were just giving me saline in my IV. I even told the doc he did a great job when I saw the port was placed in the right spot. Everyone was laughing. Well I wasn't laughing.
The procedure lasted 1 hour. I was able to go back to my room at 5pm drink and eat for the first time. I was starving. We talked a little bit and my vitals all looked great.
I got a special card to carry to show I have a port so a Coumadin bracelet and now a port card. Yeah!
I was able to be discharged from the hospital and went to cheesecake factory
I have a little pain mostly In my neck from the threading of the catheter. So that's a bit annoying. 
