I Have Been Microchipped

I kind of feel like I've been microchipped after getting my port put in on Friday.  I still have a bandage over it so I can't really see what it looks like but I can feel it and it's weird.

I didn't sleep very well the night before my procedure.  I think it was a combination of having just chopped off my all my hair and knowing I was going to the hospital in the morning.  I went out to the living room and watched the final episode of Project Runway Allstars around 3 am (Dmitry won).  We got to the hospital dark and early to check in at 5:30 am.  Juan and Beth were my "village" for this surgery.  The lady at check-in even remembered us which was surprising.  I didn't have to wait very long before they took me back to pre-op.

The first thing they did after weighing me was tell me I had to take a pregnancy test.  I was worried I wouldn't be able to pee since I hadn't drank any water since last night.  I had heard about other women having to take a pregnancy test prior to surgery, but I actually didn't have to do it before my lumpectomy although they asked me multiple times if I could be pregnant.  I mentioned that to the nurse and he said that just last week they implemented a new policy that all women under age 55 (I think) have to take a test prior to any surgery.

I was distracted about not being able to get a sample and then I realized there was pretty much no way I could be pregnant (in addition to the fact my husband had a little surgery to prevent it a couple years ago).  I popped out and told the nurse, I don't think this is really necessary because I'm, well, you know... the thing that girls do (well at least before they have chemo-induced menopause).  He said it didn't matter, I still had to try.  Low and behold I had success, and to no one's surprise, I'm officially not pregnant.

Then the nurse took me over to my "room" for the next couple hours.  First, I had to change into a gown.  Again they wanted me to take everything off.  This was an issue for me because of what I mentioned above.  I was hoping they'd let me at least keep my underwear on.  Nope.  They kindly gave me a pair of operating-room-approved mesh undies (just like after you have a baby) and a maxi-pad that was about 10 inches long and 2 inches thick.  Thank goodness I didn't need that... I politely said I had something that might be more comfortable (smaller than a mattress) and luckily that was ok.

I wasn't nervous about this surgery, but I felt kind of out of sorts.  After the nurse left and closed the curtain I started crying a little bit.  The lumpectomy was all about getting the cancer out.  This surgery was about getting something put in.  I was thinking about having to do chemo and wishing I didn't.  I was teary when my pre-op nurse, Julie, came in.  She was nice and got me a Kleenex and then started asking me all the standard questions.  Juan had to leave before my surgery would be over for a meeting so she said he could come back to sit with me now.

The nurse started to get my IV set up.  I bragged about how I have good veins and IVs go in easy.  She told me how she used to work in another department and how she's done lots and lots of IVs, too.  I guess we both jinxed ourselves because of course she had trouble getting my IV in.  The first vein kept rolling around and then collapsed.  The second didn't cooperate at first, but eventually she got it in.  I decided this was a sign that I was definitely supposed to be getting this port rather than get my chemo through and IV each time.

While I was getting the IV in, the anesthesiologist, Dr. B, came to talk to us.  For this surgery, I wouldn't have to go under general anesthesia, they could use monitored anesthesia care which is a lighter kind of sedation.  He said sometimes patients are kind of in and out of unconsciousness but that I would really know it; I wouldn't remember anything.  He said being "awake" with this sedation is not the same as really being awake and aware.  I wouldn't have to have a breathing tube so that was good.  I was a little nervous but then they gave me some of the relaxing medication.

Dr. B said he was a pediatric anesthesiologist, and he told me that the surgery after mine was a 16-day-old baby.  "A baby!" I said, "That's going to make me cry!"  (And I did a little.)  I signed all my consent forms and was feeling a little loopy from the medication.  Beth got to come back and sit with us.  I was feeling super sticky and itchy.  I had those things on my legs again which were making me hot and uncomfortable.  Every so often I would think about that little baby and feel sad.  I thought about my own babies.  I hope the baby's surgery went well and it gets to go home soon!  

Dr. Livingston popped in to say hello.  I don't think she initialed me this time.  Then Lucy, my nurse from the other surgery, came in to wish me luck.  Next, it was time to say goodbye to Juan and Beth and they took me to the OR.  I remember moving to the operating table and they started hooking sensors on my back and check.  They put that oxygen tube in my nose and I was out.

Waking up from this was a little different than the other surgery.  After my lumpectomy, I really felt like I had just closed my eyes and when I woke up I wasn't even sure if I'd had the surgery yet.  With this one, I felt more like I had taken a nap or something, and I knew the surgery was over.  I didn't feel nauseous at all which was quite nice.  The microchip, err port, is under that bandage.

I had two friendly nurses, Sally and Janel, that helped me get discharged and ready to go home.  This time I remembered to ask if they knew my sister-in-law, Sarah, and they did.  Beth got to come back (Juan had left for his meeting) and she helped me get dressed and then I just had to wait for the transport.  After I got home, I laid down in Claire's room (it was actually clean and peaceful... and it has the electric blanket and the sun was coming in the window).  I slept for a few hours and that felt good.

That night, Sarah and Samira came over and made us a great dinner of chicken parmesan and a great salad.  It was good to have their company and also help playing with the kids.  I felt pretty good that night (sure the meds didn't hurt).  I took some pain meds the next day, too, but now I'm back to just ibuprofen.

My shoulder and neck have been kind of stiff, but I think it's mostly from not moving much while I sleep so I've been trying to stretch a lot and loosen it up.  It has hurt some, but not too much.  Maybe a 2-3 at worst on the pain scale?  I never know.  I'm supposed to leave my bandage on until I go to chemo and let the nurses there take it off and then they will put on my numbing cream.

Sunday was my day to try and get lots and lots of things done.  I may have done too much as I was really tired last night and didn't feel great.  I did some marathon shopping to buy a myriad of things to help with the side effects of the chemo and also to help me feel more organized.  I am obsessed with being organized right now!  I want to get rid of anything I don't really need and then have everything I keep have a place where it belongs.  I had quite the list of "supplies" that I wanted to get.

I got my car washed inside and out - it needed it so bad!  After my shopping trip Dawn came down and mopped my floors for me.  They look so much better!  While she mopped, I organized.  Now, I suppose I feel as ready as I can for the week ahead.