Unexpected Dramas

25th July, 2012

Today’s trip to the cancer clinic for chemo equaled another blocked PICC line episode.

On two separate occasions, while the nurse was trying to flush the PICC line clear, she was using so much force, that that heparin needle snapped from the line & splashed all over us and the nurse. All we could do was laugh. 

So, after sitting there for about 4 hours trying to get Chris prepped for treatment, the nurse finally gave up trying to access the PICC line.

They then called another senior nurse who attempted to flush & access the line, but her attempts were also futile. At that stage, we knew that treatment wasn’t going to happen. The senior nurse said that the amount of blockages & issues that Chris has had with the PICC line so far, was more than enough and that it was time to take it out completely, so they did.

We were told that a new PICC line could not be surgically put through today; therefore, we would need to come back tomorrow, for the new line, followed by chemo.

Good news today was the nurse removing the old PICC line.. WOW, this would be the first time Chris’s arm would be free...first time in 4 months that she wouldn’t have to cover it when she showers & worry about bumping it or anything. So this was an exciting moment & she would be PICC free for the night.

So, by the time we got home, we were so pleased that Chris was free of the PICC line and not dosed up on chemo, that we were both on such a high we decided we would have a little dance, right there in our tiny little lounge room. We haven’t practiced our rockabilly dancing for months *A- because of the PICC line & *B- Chris would normally be afflicted with nausea from the chemo treatment...

Anyway, we danced & it was sublime, we just really savoured the fact that Chris had another day feeling good as she didn’t have to receive treatment today; yes, she would tomorrow but tomorrow is another day that we would be dealt with then.