Port Day

Today we got up bright and early to go to the hospital at 5:30 appointment for Dr. Loewen to put in Willie's port.  They got him settled into a room and ready to go around 7am.  At that point I headed to the office to wait for the call to go get him.  That call was at 9am.  I have to say it was pretty cool that they set me up on text messages too that kept me in the loop each step of the process; 1) 7:34 AM PATIENT IS IN THE OPERATING ROOM 2) PATIENTS PROCEDURE HAS BEGUN, 3) PROCEDURE WENT WELL, FINISHING UP.  PROVIDER WILL CONTACT YOU SHORTLY, 4) THE PATIENT IS NOW IN THE POST ANESTHESIA CARE UNIT.  YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THEY ARE READY FOR VISITATION, and finally 5) THE PATIENT IS BEING TRANSPORTED TO THEIR ROOM/BAY.  PLEASE CHECK IN WITH THE RECEPTIONIST.  

So, I drove back up to the hospital.  Willie was alert when I got there a little after 9am.  We were on the road home by 9:45.  


He's not supposed to do anything strenuous today, not drive, etc. and so on.  Take Tylenol for pain.  His port is a Port-A-Cath and P.A.S. Port T2 POWER PAC.  

The port allows medications or nutrition to be sent straight into your bloodstream. Blood can also be taken or given through the port.  During the procedure a long thin tube is called a catheter is threaded into one of your large veins.  The tube is attached to the port.  This usually sits under the skin of the chest and causes a small bump.  To use the port, a special needle is passed through the skin and into the port.  The needle can stay in the skin for up to 7 days if needed.  An implanted port can stay in place for weeks, months, or years.  

Next appointment is 7/10 at 3:15 for Labs and then 3:30 for Treatment Teach.  On Friday, 7/11 it's time to begin Chemo for 4 hours.  Oh boy!!


Taken in recovery room 9am today 


Close up if Willie's new port just after installation

Comments

  1. Traci -July 13, 2025 at 4:43 PM

    In my Thoughts and prayers continually ! I’m glad to help with anything!

    ReplyDelete

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