(no subject)
I can't work out why I hadn't image googled a portacath before now. I guess I just didn't want to think about the thing sitting on my chest in too much detail, or something.
But after an extended discussion with the nurse Friday morning, I decided to get a look at this...thing. I mean, you see the needle that goes into it? It's fucking huge, man. But it's only a brief punch of pain--on par with a medium IV line insertion--much better than the ones where they have to poke around. It doesn't bruise. My arms don't bruise. That's good. But what's going on in there?
It totally doesn't lie that flat. From image googling, my lump is perfectly average. I imagine it will leave a double scar when it's removed, one from insertion, one from removal. Enh. Disfigurement I can cope with, for the joy in the nurses' eyes. They really really like it. And it does save time.
Although I need to work out how to ask nurses to double glove before they access it. They don't have to mask, and I trust they washed their hands, but I want double gloving. Just...because. I've already had one blood culture in case of infection, and I don't want to make that a way of life, even though it came out negative. More chloraprep swabbing would be nice too.
Incidentally, I've found it's changed the clothing I wear. More v-necks, since the way they hang doesn't sit tight over the lump. In my customary leisure baby T it's pretty obvious (uh, to me). I'm sure I'll get over that soon enough, though. I was just considering wearing a tank top. But I've been looking at strapless tops thinking ... okay, no. And then I bought a one shouldered dress that covers it, just because.
But after an extended discussion with the nurse Friday morning, I decided to get a look at this...thing. I mean, you see the needle that goes into it? It's fucking huge, man. But it's only a brief punch of pain--on par with a medium IV line insertion--much better than the ones where they have to poke around. It doesn't bruise. My arms don't bruise. That's good. But what's going on in there?
It totally doesn't lie that flat. From image googling, my lump is perfectly average. I imagine it will leave a double scar when it's removed, one from insertion, one from removal. Enh. Disfigurement I can cope with, for the joy in the nurses' eyes. They really really like it. And it does save time.
Although I need to work out how to ask nurses to double glove before they access it. They don't have to mask, and I trust they washed their hands, but I want double gloving. Just...because. I've already had one blood culture in case of infection, and I don't want to make that a way of life, even though it came out negative. More chloraprep swabbing would be nice too.
Incidentally, I've found it's changed the clothing I wear. More v-necks, since the way they hang doesn't sit tight over the lump. In my customary leisure baby T it's pretty obvious (uh, to me). I'm sure I'll get over that soon enough, though. I was just considering wearing a tank top. But I've been looking at strapless tops thinking ... okay, no. And then I bought a one shouldered dress that covers it, just because.