Update 5/24/2012 Port Problems again.

I almost hate to post this as it is much more fun reading everyones notes after a good report. But I did say I would post when I had something to report. As you know from earlier post Gennie had trouble with clots and they had to remove her port on her left side. They replaced it, installing another in her right side. This was done last week. Well things have not gone so well with that port. When she showed up in clinic on Wednesday for her daily clinic visit the nurse took one look at it and fetched the NP. She looked at it and fetched the Doctor. They all agreed we had a problem. Sent us home and told us to put ice on it overnight. No labs that day. Today we went again and they were short a doctor.  We waited three hours to see the one doc there and were sent to IR (the folks that put the port in last week) to see a doctor there and get his imput. He took one look at it and said it had to come out and quickly. He had no idea she was on blood thinners. He explained that with some folks these ports don't work well. In particular folks who are very thin or who have very thin skin. Well most of you know Gennie. She had both of those factors covered. His recommendation was to put in a Hickman port. This is a much more long term acess point that will hang from her chest just under her collar bone. They work very well but are a bit more limited in the capabilities. We were happy to hear they had an option. So here is the schedule for the next few days. Tomorrow at 7am they are going to put in another PICC line in her right arm. If you remember it was a PICC line in her left arm that possibly caused some of her problems with clots. This new PICC will be temporary. It will be replaced with a Hickman probably next Tuesday. At that time they will also remove the port. Until then the PICC will give them access so they can get back to Labs everyday. Gennie has been handling this pretty well. It has been stressful but at least we now have a plan. I can not tell you how sore she is. With the removal of one port and the mess of a second port it looks as if a truck has run over her chest. She certainly take pain much better than me. Last night for the first time she actually got out of bed and went looking for her pain meds. Normally I have to make sure she takes them. Hopefully after they remove this  port she will start to live pain free again. She has probably forgotten what that feels like.
Anyway that is what is happening up here. Now you all go have a wonderful holiday weekend. Just kidding, we both really do want all of you to enjoy your Memorial day. In my mind it is one of the most  sacred holidays we have.
That's all for now, Bob