Re: Barbara update

[Guest guest]

Barbara

Glad you're pain levels are quieting.

As far as the picc line---if they're even questioning about being able to get it in, don't let them start. Once the vein has been entered, they aren't going to be able to retry it. You need a fairly decent vein to put them into. The other thing that you may want to take into consideration is trying some of the occlusive dressings over the weekend to find out which one you can tolerate. The picc will need a tegaderm or something like that on it at all times. Also, remind them that you have sensitivity to them, so that dressiing changes will be scheduled more often.

All - Infusion went well once they finally managed to get the IV in. The plan now is to put in a main line (PICC) for continuous long-term at-home lidocaine infusion to start on Monday although I don't have a time yet and haven't figured out how the heck I'll get there. They wanted to put it in tomorrow but my veins are pretty crappy (only the one arm to use and really sh%tty veins) so we're shooting for Monday. Although they are hoping to put it in at the clinic they need to set up the hospital for back-up with the thought htat it is likely that I will have to shift over to there mid-stream and have it done. I'll find out the particulars tomorrow (Friday)...have no idea how I'm going to get there but I'll figure it out. At least the pain levels are quieting....Life gets better. Barbara

[Guest guest]

Awww, Cass. Thanks. It's all set for Monday and they have the hospital scquared away for backup if the xray that they take afterwards (of course in another building) shows that it needs to be re-done under fluroscopy. I'm not worried about me, but thank you.

I am, however, very sad and very worried about my longest and closest friend of over 25 years (Elsie) and ask that each of you keep her in your prayers. She's the one that at only age 53 has had three open heart surgeries, with 3 out of 4 heart valves replaced because of damage from taking the diet drug FenPhen, and who keeps having to be hospitalized for massive hemorrhaging from all of her body orifaces. When she was discharged last week after her most recent hemorrhage, they had found a large mass near her sternum which they initially diagnosed as an huge aortic aneurysm (in the blood vessel that goes into the heart). We learned last night, however, that this week's test showed that they were wrongand that the news couldn't be much worse...She has cancer. We'll know more after next week. What we do know right now is that in just that one area she has a very large tumor surrounded by numerous other smaller ones that are

impinging on the aorta, the larynx, and the esophagus. Not good. She's so medically fragile to begin with and it's highly questionable if she could even survive surgery given her bleeding issues. They are toying with trying to do a biopsy via a bronchoscope so asto avoid having to fully open her up. Please pray for her...and for me, too much loss. My heart is just breaking. Thanks. BarbaraCass Kovalkevich wrote:

Make sure they're careful cuz well your precious andpriceless.. adn i dont want you hurting cuz they aretrying to put the picc in a vein that doesnt want itthere.. so good luck and be careful.. dont let themforce anything.. cass

[Guest guest]

Awww, Cass. Thanks. It's all set for Monday and they have the hospital scquared away for backup if the xray that they take afterwards (of course in another building) shows that it needs to be re-done under fluroscopy. I'm not worried about me, but thank you.

I am, however, very sad and very worried about my longest and closest friend of over 25 years (Elsie) and ask that each of you keep her in your prayers. She's the one that at only age 53 has had three open heart surgeries, with 3 out of 4 heart valves replaced because of damage from taking the diet drug FenPhen, and who keeps having to be hospitalized for massive hemorrhaging from all of her body orifaces. When she was discharged last week after her most recent hemorrhage, they had found a large mass near her sternum which they initially diagnosed as an huge aortic aneurysm (in the blood vessel that goes into the heart). We learned last night, however, that this week's test showed that they were wrongand that the news couldn't be much worse...She has cancer. We'll know more after next week. What we do know right now is that in just that one area she has a very large tumor surrounded by numerous other smaller ones that are

impinging on the aorta, the larynx, and the esophagus. Not good. She's so medically fragile to begin with and it's highly questionable if she could even survive surgery given her bleeding issues. They are toying with trying to do a biopsy via a bronchoscope so asto avoid having to fully open her up. Please pray for her...and for me, too much loss. My heart is just breaking. Thanks. BarbaraCass Kovalkevich wrote:

Make sure they're careful cuz well your precious andpriceless.. adn i dont want you hurting cuz they aretrying to put the picc in a vein that doesnt want itthere.. so good luck and be careful.. dont let themforce anything.. cass

[Guest guest]

Awww, Cass. Thanks. It's all set for Monday and they have the hospital scquared away for backup if the xray that they take afterwards (of course in another building) shows that it needs to be re-done under fluroscopy. I'm not worried about me, but thank you.

I am, however, very sad and very worried about my longest and closest friend of over 25 years (Elsie) and ask that each of you keep her in your prayers. She's the one that at only age 53 has had three open heart surgeries, with 3 out of 4 heart valves replaced because of damage from taking the diet drug FenPhen, and who keeps having to be hospitalized for massive hemorrhaging from all of her body orifaces. When she was discharged last week after her most recent hemorrhage, they had found a large mass near her sternum which they initially diagnosed as an huge aortic aneurysm (in the blood vessel that goes into the heart). We learned last night, however, that this week's test showed that they were wrongand that the news couldn't be much worse...She has cancer. We'll know more after next week. What we do know right now is that in just that one area she has a very large tumor surrounded by numerous other smaller ones that are

impinging on the aorta, the larynx, and the esophagus. Not good. She's so medically fragile to begin with and it's highly questionable if she could even survive surgery given her bleeding issues. They are toying with trying to do a biopsy via a bronchoscope so asto avoid having to fully open her up. Please pray for her...and for me, too much loss. My heart is just breaking. Thanks. BarbaraCass Kovalkevich wrote:

Make sure they're careful cuz well your precious andpriceless.. adn i dont want you hurting cuz they aretrying to put the picc in a vein that doesnt want itthere.. so good luck and be careful.. dont let themforce anything.. cass

[Guest guest]

THanks, . Thankfully the infusion folks are extremely familiar with me and my allergies. We already have a stash of IV3000 on hand with another box on order, knowing that I blister from Tegaderm and Medipore. They've been all over me today bia phone calls like flies on llama poop. I'm nervous about the PICC (my first), not because of the procedure though. Lord knows I've had tons of axillary caths, etc. It's just that the vein are so funky. I know that I have one really solid anticubital one on the outer aspect so it should be fine. I don't mind them using it since they can also do the blooddraws from it as needed. Will keep in touch. love - BarbaraKM86@... wrote:

Barbara

Glad you're pain levels are quieting.

As far as the picc line---if they're even questioning about being able to get it in, don't let them start. Once the vein has been entered, they aren't going to be able to retry it. You need a fairly decent vein to put them into. The other thing that you may want to take into consideration is trying some of the occlusive dressings over the weekend to find out which one you can tolerate. The picc will need a tegaderm or something like that on it at all times. Also, remind them that you have sensitivity to them, so that dressiing changes will be scheduled more often.

All - Infusion went well once they finally managed to get the IV in. The plan now is to put in a main line (PICC) for continuous long-term at-home lidocaine infusion to start on Monday although I don't have a time yet and haven't figured out how the heck I'll get there. They wanted to put it in tomorrow but my veins are pretty crappy (only the one arm to use and really sh%tty veins) so we're shooting for Monday. Although they are hoping to put it in at the clinic they need to set up the hospital for back-up with the thought htat it is likely that I will have to shift over to there mid-stream and have it done. I'll find out the particulars tomorrow (Friday)...have no idea how I'm going to get there but I'll figure it out. At least the pain levels are quieting....Life gets

better. Barbara

[Guest guest]

Barbara

Hoping all went well.

We never could get a picc into me. I ended up with 2 central lines.

THanks, . Thankfully the infusion folks are extremely familiar with me and my allergies. We already have a stash of IV3000 on hand with another box on order, knowing that I blister from Tegaderm and Medipore. They've been all over me today bia phone calls like flies on llama poop. I'm nervous about the PICC (my first), not because of the procedure though. Lord knows I've had tons of axillary caths, etc. It's just that the vein are so funky. I know that I have one really solid anticubital one on the outer aspect so it should be fine. I don't mind them using it since they can also do the blooddraws from it as needed. Will keep in touch. love - Barbara

[Guest guest]

- I;ll let you know on Monday. I guess that the plan is that they will do it at the clinic, then send me for an xray. If there are problems, they will just transfer me over to the hospital and have them do it. They've already made the arrangement for the hospital backup with the radiology team so it sounds like they are wondering if these little threads that I call veins can handle all of the attention. I'm assuming that it's not a biggie, though. Usually when they get all worried, things work out fine. It's when they think things will be a piece of cake that there's reason to get concerned lol. Barb (who is wondering how you are doing?!?!? Are wwe due for a phone call?)KM86@... wrote:

Barbara

Hoping all went well.

We never could get a picc into me. I ended up with 2 central lines.

THanks, . Thankfully the infusion folks are extremely familiar with me and my allergies. We already have a stash of IV3000 on hand with another box on order, knowing that I blister from Tegaderm and Medipore. They've been all over me today bia phone calls like flies on llama poop. I'm nervous about the PICC (my first), not because of the procedure though. Lord knows I've had tons of axillary caths, etc. It's just that the vein are so funky. I know that I have one really solid anticubital one on the outer aspect so it should be fine. I don't mind them using it since they can also do the blooddraws from it as needed. Will keep in touch. love - Barbara