I sat straight up at 5am. Now you know the feeling you have when you sleep on your arm and the feeling is just starting to come back....it's not painful but it is a discomfort. Well the discomfort wasn't leaving so after about 1/2 hour I rang for a nurse. My night nurse was a delightful little lady that was extremely helpful so when she came she left and immediately got another nurse to come look at my arm. The Picc was placed in through my bicep just about an inch above the bench in my arm but to the inside (awkward spot to say the least) anyways there was not swelling or irritation around the sight but my arm was sore from the elbow down. The other nurse said it wouldn't be the PICC cause it would go up and follow the line but if it got worse to let them know. I said ok and back to sleep I went ....well by 9am the discomfort level hadn't changed but my entire arm was sore and light red and hot. The nurses (now the day shift staff) called the doctor and an order was made for the PICC line to be removed. The charge nurse came to do this....she was an older lady that reminded me of "Haddy" from NCIS-Los Angles....she was small and had a different sense of humour...lol. She came in and offered me Oxycodone and I refused as I was sure if it didn't hurt too much going in then I was sure it wasn't going to hurt coming out. I was right. The charge nurse told me to take a deep breathe, hold it and bare down like having a baby. There was a young student nurse that was watching the procedure and she had to hold the heavy pressure on the site for 5 full minutes. The charge nurse said I had to lay completely flat for 15 minutes straight to stop any chance of bleeding or air embolisms. An air embolism could mean big problems. So I laid flat for the 15 minutes and then Geoff helped me sit up ( by the way Geoff had to leave for this procedure cause he was afraid he would pass out watching the almost 5 feet of tubing come out of my arm and chest). Once I sat up the discomfort and swelling was gone within 10 minutes or so. So not being stuck to the IV pole anymore I could walk around a little easier so getting up to go to the washroom and do my hallway walk was a lot less difficult. Geoff again was fabulous with getting me up to the washroom and ensuring I was doing my walking. Of course, he was there to make sure he laughed and made his comments about the tuba player and the bowel band. I thought I had no control with the shakes, lordy lordy ....there was no silence and there was definitely a smell! This time there was no embarrassment! It felt so good to beltch or "pass wind" or "let 'er rip" since they pump you so full of air to complete the surgery. So for the first time in my life I have been farting up a storm and burping like a trucker....been kinda good too! I'm sure I can't get away with it for too much longer as the gas seems to be getting much better...but gonna ride that train for awhile. Had a few visitors on Sunday which made the day pass a little quicker, plus had the company of my very spry and witty 80 year old roommate. Now my chatty roommate had lots to say about lots of different issues as at 80 she has definitely seen alot. Her health was not in the greatest of states but has been poor for a majority of her life. The amazing thing was to see her 84 year old husband come up and care for her. He fed her, he rubbed her legs, he brought her the stuff she requested, he talked so lovingly to her, "what can I do for you", "how can I help you", "let me massage your feet" ....I darn near asked him to come over to my side when she told him "no" just let me be. My roommate was impressed with my husband as well as the nurses....because they said not many young men are as attentive as Geoff or as dedicated. But I was impressed with her husband of 59 years...wow, eh....that is 22 years longer than I have been alive. Maybe Geoff will be that good when we have been together 59 years, but that is a long long time to go yet so I must continue to train him....I think some has paid off! Sunday night I was able to have a shower and wash my hair and get all cleaned up. This felt wonderful. I am telling you I felt 100% better once I showered. I sat up and talked with my roommate for a couple hours and then retired myself to have a good night sleep. The doctor had been in previously that day so I knew my discharge was scheduled for 9am so I was ready and willing to leave. So I closed my eyes and said good night and good bye to my last full day at the hospital.
Steph
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