So, guess who feels like they've had a close encounter with an 18-wheeler?
Yup, that would be me.
So as you know I was admited late last week cause I was coughin up blood and quickly learned that my port was all but done for. They performed an angiogram and found that a fibrin sheath had developed at the end of the catheter making it difficult to flush and nearly impossible to draw blood. For those of you unfamiliar with what a fibrin sheath is, it is a mass of scar tissue that developes at the end of long term use catheters which can harbour bacteria and can make using the catheter difficult.
Based on the results of the angiogram it was determined that I would need a new port inserted. Ports are usually good for 3-5 years and I had had mine a little over 3 years. Another negative about my port was that it was not a Power Port. A power port is important because it can be used to inject contrast and other fluids that a regular port cannot. Since I am officially moving forward with the lung transplant, I needed a port that was functioning properly and could be used with contrast if need be.
Yesterday that took me down to intravenous radiology and switched my old pic out for a new one. Beause my veins are weak and pathetic, they were unable to put the new port in a different location, which has made this procedure INCREDIBLY painful as they had to cut into and remove built up scar tissue and make a new area for a new port. All that tramaua to that area has left me barely able to move my left arm for the moment, and my chest is more sore than ever. Soooo, another day in the hospital for me, when I thought I was gonna be goin home today. But atleast I got a brand new port. Feels like Christmas.
Oh, AAANNNNDDDD I just coughed up more blood a little bit ago. Not much thankfully, but enough that its prolly not good for me to go yet. Pathology came back on the sputum culture I gave when I first got here and I cultured psuedomonas, not staph - which is what they had started me on, as it is my most common bacterial colonization. So we are switchin, or I guess ADDING Tobramycin to my Zosyn IVs.
Those new lungs can't come fast enough.
Fun stuff people. Seriously, i don't know what I will do with all my free time when I'm no lomger at the mercy of lung infections. So at any rate, thats where we are today. Im going to try to relax and get a nap for the moment. Hope all is well with everyone out there...
Mich love...Erin
Yup, that would be me.
So as you know I was admited late last week cause I was coughin up blood and quickly learned that my port was all but done for. They performed an angiogram and found that a fibrin sheath had developed at the end of the catheter making it difficult to flush and nearly impossible to draw blood. For those of you unfamiliar with what a fibrin sheath is, it is a mass of scar tissue that developes at the end of long term use catheters which can harbour bacteria and can make using the catheter difficult.
Based on the results of the angiogram it was determined that I would need a new port inserted. Ports are usually good for 3-5 years and I had had mine a little over 3 years. Another negative about my port was that it was not a Power Port. A power port is important because it can be used to inject contrast and other fluids that a regular port cannot. Since I am officially moving forward with the lung transplant, I needed a port that was functioning properly and could be used with contrast if need be.
Yesterday that took me down to intravenous radiology and switched my old pic out for a new one. Beause my veins are weak and pathetic, they were unable to put the new port in a different location, which has made this procedure INCREDIBLY painful as they had to cut into and remove built up scar tissue and make a new area for a new port. All that tramaua to that area has left me barely able to move my left arm for the moment, and my chest is more sore than ever. Soooo, another day in the hospital for me, when I thought I was gonna be goin home today. But atleast I got a brand new port. Feels like Christmas.
Oh, AAANNNNDDDD I just coughed up more blood a little bit ago. Not much thankfully, but enough that its prolly not good for me to go yet. Pathology came back on the sputum culture I gave when I first got here and I cultured psuedomonas, not staph - which is what they had started me on, as it is my most common bacterial colonization. So we are switchin, or I guess ADDING Tobramycin to my Zosyn IVs.
Those new lungs can't come fast enough.
Fun stuff people. Seriously, i don't know what I will do with all my free time when I'm no lomger at the mercy of lung infections. So at any rate, thats where we are today. Im going to try to relax and get a nap for the moment. Hope all is well with everyone out there...
Mich love...Erin
Erin, I'm sorry to hear you got hit by the 18 wheeler, but ecstatic to hear about your new port! I have you in my prayers that you'll be home soon and that your lung transplant is around the corner. God bless you and Christopher.
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