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Sister's avatar
Sister
Member
8 years ago

Anxiety over 2nd AC Chemo

I can already feel the anxiety building for my second AC chemo treatment tomorrow.  They're going to be trying to use the port again after the debacle of the failed attempt first time around.  Feeling quite sick about it, actually.  They want me to take fluromazepam before hand to lessen anxiety but I want to be with it enough to tell them if I'm feeling pain as that was the indicator before that showed me things were going badly wrong (not that anyone but my husband really believed me).  I know that no-one on the forum can do anything for me, but putting it out there makes me feel a bit better.

24 Replies

  • @Sister, do what feels right for you. I never used emla, but I also never had any problems. Just gently remind the nurses what happened the first time with your port, and to listen to you. As a nurse, I learnt very early in my career to listen when a patient said something was wrong. 80-90% of the time they're right. 
    It's your body, youf experience. Nobody but you can feel what you're feeling. Trust yourself
    Hope it all goes better thananticipated, but you have every right to be feeling anxious and nervous 
  • @Brenda5 My husband is coming with me - he's my advocate and gallantly turns into the serial nuisance when no-one is listening to me.  
    @Joannie They did give me the emla patch - I'm debating whether to use it because I'm actually scared of masking any pain.  Last time, although I was in pain, the x-ray showed that the needle was in the right place so the staff were convinced that all was good.  Luckily, the pain I was in from the saline and then the steroid going through the tissue was a really good sign for me that something was wrong and my husband pointed out the swelling that was occurring above the port!  treatment was stopped before the chemo drugs were administered.  A few days later, the port was working for blood and saline (but I used a cannula for chemo as the skin around the port was so bruised and tender) so it looks like it was a needling problem but I'm still very nervous.
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    Anonymous
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  • Can you take your husband with you? Makes all the difference in the world to have someone with you. <3