Back on Track

Well, I'm sorry I went M.I.A. over the last week or two so I have a little explaining to do. First of all, everything went smoothly during last week's chemo session.  I had blood work drawn and my blood count came back looking good.  We were very pleased about that!  It wasn't until Thursday night when the drama began and it all comes back to my Power Port.  To give a little background, when I had my lumpectomy, the surgeon implanted this Port, a small device (about the size of a quarter) in my chest, right about my heart.  The port is connected to a catheter which is basically a small tube which is placed in one of the large central veins that takes blood to my heart.  Nurses are able to access my bloodstream using this instead of sticking my arms every time they see me.  So they're able to draw blood and that's also how I receive my infusions every week during chemo.  It's really an amazing device and up to this point has been pain free.  But of course I couldn't have such an amazing device installed w/out some drama attached... since the day the port was installed, a small scab began to develop.  We gave it time to heal over and saw the surgeon multiple times to make sure everything was okay... the big fear was that there wasn't any skin underneath the scab.  So if the scab came off, the port would be exposed.... Not a good thing!! If the port became infected, the port would have to be removed.  Well, what do you know, the little booger of a scab came off last Thursday night.  My oncologist hooked me up w/ some antibiotics in hopes of clearing up any infection and saving the port.  Well, by Friday night I ended up in the ER (next time I expect to be greeted like Norm... from Cheers... anyone?... no?).  Long story short, I was admitted to Seton to receive antibiotics through an iv (vancomycin for my pharmacist friends).  After seeing my surgeon, they ended up taking the port out on Monday and by Tuesday I was "released" from Seton.  Here's the fun part... I was released with the intention of administering my own iv antibiotics... for 10 days, every 8 hours.  They installed a Power PICC in my upper left arm which is a temporary catheter so at least we won't have to mess w/ needles.  Home Heath Care was at my house by Tuesday afternoon giving us a crash course on administering the antibiotics.  We have since given my mom the crash course (welcome back to Austin mom!) and both Jason and my mom are handling the antibiotics like champs!  

Well, with this minor setback I was unable to receive my chemo treatment this week, but I'm meeting w/ my Oncologist today to hopefully get us back on track... to kickin' cancer's ass!  ;)