Just had surgery - port-a-cath now in place
 

Hi all

Two weeks ago I had surgery to implant a port-a-cath so I can continue with Tysabri. My veins, after four years on Ty, were giving up, and pretty wasted and it was taking at least three-to-five attempts to insert a cannula for the Ty. I won't say it was the most pleasant thing in the world (I had a post-surgical bleed and lots of bruising) - but compared to brain surgery (which I have had) it was pretty easy. It does feel kinda hinky having this huge lump (HUGE is how it feels, more than how it looks) in my chest.

I will be testing it on the 26th to see how it works - cross your fingers for me, but I am sure it will be much better.

Good morning Lyn :)
 

Crossing fingers and saying prayers that the cath works well for you and that you heal up quickly, Lynn. Sorry that it was a tough go to have it put in.
Take care of yourself :hug:.

With love, Erika

Alright Lyn, good for you. Hope it works well for you.:hug::hug:

You will eventually learn to love it. It is so much more convenient and hopefully they will also draw blood from it!

Good luck, I hope it works great for you! One thing I was blessed with is huge veins. They look horrendous on my hands but nurses love them. :rolleyes:

I hope this will make your infusions much easier. :hug:

Hey ewizabeth :)
 

Hope this is just the answer for you to be able to continue the Ty infusions - happy healing!:hug:

Thanks guys

My veins used to be fabulous - it's only in the cooler weather and the last few months that they have gone on strike. Ironically, they look great right now - but appearances can be deceptive - most of them are scarred, so the cannula can't advance when they get it in.

xxx

gosh lynn, i hope this all goes well for you. the access should be much better.
how is the T working for you?

Hi Judy

Loving the Ty - no side effects, only once a month (unlike the Interferons) and no relapses for a really long time. I have been using it for four years now and I am JC+ but in Australia they don't test the titre levels, so I don't know how susceptible/unlikely I am to get PML.

I just know I want to keep using it for as long as I possibly can.

Hi Lyn,

I hope you recover quickly and feel better soon! I'm hoping you will end up loving the port -- it will certainly make getting Ty easier. The last couple of times I had Ty and/or blood taken it took them 2 times. What a pain! (Literally and figuratively).
:)

That's great news Lynn. So glad that things are going well for you :).

With love, Erika

Yay!!!!

Used it for the first time yesterday - so easy, got it first go, no bruising, no bleeding - glad I didn't see the needle they used until they took it out though - it didn't hurt at all, but it looked more like a harpoon than a needle (it only had to pierce a couple of layers of skin and then it went into the silicone in the port) - but I think if had seen it first I would have chickened out - not knowing what to expect.

Too easy - and hands-free :)

Lynn it will be easier each time and it will be so much easier emotionally because you see how easy it is compared to what it was with the old way.

Absolutely - now I know how easy it is.

I feel bad when I am in the oncology ward having it done though - it really brings it home how much worse it could be. Yesterday, although I was just having a bit of a laugh with the staff, the patients in there were so very nice - reassuring me that it would be easy, and being genuinely interested and sympathetic about my MS Dx - I felt like such a fraud - I would be fine and they would leave after Chemo, be sick, lose their hair, and sadly for some, eventually (or even soon) lose their lives.

Still, the goodness of the human spirit shines through, and without exception they were beautiful and genuine. When we know how much there is to lose, do we realise how much we gain by connecting and being closer to others? Is that part of our humanity?

Anyway, enough philosophy, I have my head around using my Port - now I just have to get my head around the prospect (unlikely, but always there) of PML.

Good morning Lynn :)