PICC-ing my poison

These past two days have been busy and exhausting. Yesterday we traveled to a hospital to have PICC line inserted into a vein in my chest. This was done under anesthesia. All I can remember is the doctor asking me if I know my ABCs, and I said what? He asked me again, and I answered yes. I don't think I even started to recite the alphabet at all.  I woke up in what felt like one second later, and I was about to ask if we were getting started yet. I looked down to my left and realized the PICC line was already in.

I was able to choose which side to get the PICC line in and I am very glad I chose my left side, since I am right handed. I almost chose the right side based on the way I sleep, but every time I move my left arm and hand I can feel the PICC line, and it hurts and gets irritated. I'm glad this thing comes out on Monday.


Still a little woozy after surgery

This morning my friend Brogan and I had apheresis  - they took our blood out through the PICC line, removed the stem cells, and put the blood back in. The process took 3 hours, and Brogan gave me a diaper (with a purple bow printed on the front) because we couldn't be unhooked from the machine once the apheresis was underway. I am very proud to say I did not need to use the diaper! In order for us to continue on with the treatment schedule, they needed to harvest at LEAST 70 million stem cells, they harvested 795 million stem cells from me. They got 787 million from Brogan. What a trooper!

My actual stem cells

Because they were able to harvest enough stems cells we are now undergoing our 3rd chemo. Tomorrow we have our 4th and final chemo. These two chemo sessions will put us into a state called neutropenia - meaning we will have lower than normal neutrophils, cells that protect the body from infection. Then we will get our stem cells back, but we will remain in neutropenia for more than a week. We will have to take all precautions to not get sick or any infections during that time.


Getting chemo through the PICC line


Pain meds delivered directly into the blood stream - yes please!


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