Just starting Chemo at the end of the month.

Glad it went well. I hugged a big soft pillow to sleep so I could lie on my side so it didn't hurt as much. Yes the collarbone area is just weird but you adjust. Eventually it feels normal but takes a little while.. hope all goes smoothly for you. 

Had my portacath inserted yesterday under general anaesthetic. Not too traumatic, I lay on my arm and hand all through presurgery time, as you all advised, to make the veins stand out and it worked beautifully, the anaethetist was most impressed when I told him what I had done and saw a lovely choice of veins.
The portacath feels really weird though, I can feel something in the base of my neck when I swallow, and there are weird feelings in between my breasts and beside my neck. It is too sore to feel the actual port yet, but I can see the big lump.
I am sure it will settle down quickly and I will get used to the sensation, just now it feels really violated.
I dropped into the Oncology dept of the hospital after the surgery, to see if they had any EMLA patches (they didn't have any in stock, advised me to go to the chemist) but I was met at the door by a young man wearing a pharmacist badge who asked if I was due I today, I said, "no, next Monday" , and he said "oh, are you Jennifer?"  
My husband and I were a bit blown away by the fact that he knew my name. Reassured, but a bit spooky.
Apart from the dragon who mans the front desk or the day surgery desk depending in the day, everyone has been super lovely and very efficient and helpful.
so I start Chemo on Monday.
I look forward to crossing each treatment off the calendar, and imagining those Chemo warriors chopping through the nasty cancer cells, and leaving them exploded on the ground like in a video game.

Slow down and take a breath. Truthfully chemo (the actual in the chair thing) isn't that bad as your mind congers it up to be. Mostly its pretty boring. Number one, if travelling home more than about 20mins, take a drink of water bottle with you for the home trip. My mouth used to suddenly get so dry on the way home I would start coughing with dry throat. I have no idea why, maybe I am quirky.

I found I couldn't concentrate on a book. I couldn't focus properly and just kept reading the same page over. Instead I took my whole lap top in, popped it on the food table which wheels in for you and plugged it in behind the chair. They had plenty of spare power points, just do it on the side you aren't having chemo on. Don't need nurses tripping over computer cords. I took a headset and listed to my favourite movies on dvd with the laptop. Fired up a wireless modem (no my chemo place didn't have free Wi-Fi) and chatted to my friends on face book. Tip here, get good at typing one handed lol.
Sometimes it was hard to find a vein as mine had a bad habit of moving away from the needle. They can bring in a portable ultrasound to help. In an emergency, the node cleared arm can be used but I don't think chemo nurses being lazy qualifies for that one and I absolutely refused one nurse who wanted to use that arm. They are also not supposed to use a vein in a joint as it can lead to all sorts of trouble should the vein rupture under the pressure of chemo. It was kind of odd to have the cannula in the back of the hand or the outside of the arm and it kind of made me feel a bit nauseous the first time but I coped ok.
Definitely take someone with you to sit with you. You don't have to be a great conversationalist and the person can read a book or something but that person is vital should you have a reaction to the chemo going in. I had a reaction during my second lot of chemo and there was no way I could have hit the emergency button they give you. I was too overcome and my hubby jumped up and grabbed a nurse who wasn't far away but who couldn't see I was turning like Dracula in eyes at the time. No harm done. They just halted chemo and put in a few different extra pre meds to fool my body and then slowly restarted the chemo. Which leads me to the next thing. The first dose of chemo is done very slowly over hours to see if you can take it ok. They prefer you not to nod off napping so use a phone or laptop or something to amuse yourself.

Going through menopause made my migraines worse but once through the otherside ..like 18 months no period my migraines ceased.  I only had one vein they could use on my lymph node side so had it put in by the 3rd dose knowing the weekly and 12 months of herceptin would have been a challenge. Yes give it a go first...I did. Ps ...done under anaesthetic when put in.

Oh, how I wish menapause had brought me any benefits, Primek, it made my migraines much worse. But I am pleased to hear that chemo did not affect them for you. 
I am not of a slim build regrettably, but your portacath is quite subtle.
I googled how they were put in though and that has freaked me out a bit.
might have to see how the lovely nurses go with finding a vein, before I go down that route.

Oh...forgot to mention I was a migraine sufferer but chemo didn't give me issues. Menopause sorted that for me anyway...I rarely get them at all now.

Thank you, Glemmis, Primek and Melinda. I will make a note to remember to communicate everything I feel in case it is something! I am very inclined not to make a fuss, which I now realise would not be sensible. More things to learn, good thing I am writing all this down.

@Unicornkisses I had 4 FEC 3 weeks apart and 8 weekly Taxol. I didnt get an option for a portacath, I noticed friends who had longer chemo as in having to have Herceptin post the chemo regime got them. Im ER+ only and shocking veins LOL, they are so well trained honestly, they will find a way with no problems, I only had one day out of all of it with extreme difficulty due to inexperience. I do suffer Migraine, but thankfully only now and then, they have really settled alot. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia over 10yrs ago which I dont medicate for, I just got on with life and forgot I even have it. Strange thing was the Staff told me this is why I was so ill through Chemo, it affects people moreso who suffer from this, because its an oversensitivity to pain. Great!!! I thought. How it will work with the Migraines I am not sure, so make sure you communicate constantly with your Team, every little thing!! and they'll find a way to stay on top of things. Ativan was the only thing that seemed to help, I was drug sensitive and couldnt take narcotics, but Ativan settled me and helped me sleep. Hugs Melinda xo

The staff are fantastic at finding veins but I had a portacath. See pic...slight bump in the skin (top arrow) and 8 months on the scar is quite faint (bottom arrow). I hated the scar when 1st done but it healed really quickly. I am 10kg overweight. If you are thinner it can be a bit more noticable depending on position. Makes life much easier on chemo and I am on herceptin for another 5 months.