Chemo, False Start 3

The drainage catheter met the criteria for being removed, so I went to the infusion chair to begin chemotherapy.  Two nurses tried and failed to insert an IV, so they sent for the IV Team.

As soon as I saw the nurse from the IV Team, I knew he was definitely going to get the IV inserted.  He was bald and wearing black scrubs and I could tell he had a military background and had seen it all.  He did an awesome job and they were able to start the infusion of fluids prior to chemo.  However, after that the nurse told me she couldn't get get "blood return" on the IV and would be unable to safely administer the chemo.

Meanwhile, they called for the nurse navigator to come and remove my drainage catheter.  She explained that I would have to have a port inserted in order to receive chemo.  She scheduled this for the following Tuesday.  Another nurse had asked me several weeks prior if I wanted a port, and I asked her, "Does anyone ever want a port?" She said it was easier and safer than administering chemo by IV and sometimes people appreciate the convenience.  In any case, now it's obligatory, not optional.  It's quite a lot to get psyched up for.

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, they rescheduled my chemo for Friday, December 6, more than 2 weeks after the original start date.