Portacath Pain

As I have particularly rubbish viens, my lovely cancer nurses suggested a portacath. After them digging around my knuckle to find a vein, I was more than happy to take their advice. As I needed to get a blood test done before my surgery, my poor anaesthetist had trouble finding a vein to put me under as anything useable had been attacked already. Eventually he got in my wrist. Surgery was over before I knew it and my recovery from the anaesthetic was realitively quick. The pain I felt was much more than what I'd experienced after my sentinel node biopsy and wide localised excision. I suppose that's what happens when they stick a foreign object in your body. I was home by lunchtime and munching on some Panadol to keep the pain away. When I tried to take my tshirt off, I felt like what it must be like to be a turtle stuck on your back. As I couldn't lift my arm more the 90 degrees, I just couldn't figure out how to wriggle out of my top. I felt helpless, but I couldn't stop laughing. My husband of course looked on with no intention of offering assistance. Eventually he did after some pleading. Sleeping wasn't as bad as I'd imagined. Once a found some positions that didn't cause pain to shoot down my arm. Fours day on and sleeping is much easier. I have slightly more movement, I can just about get myself undressed now! The pain is better, but I'm still getting some shooting pains. I'm just trying to take it easy and not overdo it. No vacuuming my floors then, that's a shame!