PICC which arm!

I know I said that I would start my blog tomorrow but I had forgotten about the PICC line and no i'm not referring to the Piccadilly line. Yesterday was PICC line day and one of the big hurdles I had been dreading. A PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) is a tube that is inserted into the arm just above the elbow and runs inside one of the main veins all the way up your shoulder, across your chest and down into the top or side of your heart, all of which is carried out under local anaesthetic. It's purpose is so that there is a central line to give chemotherapy, other medicines and my stem cells throughout the process rather than having to stick needles in me continually.

I guess the worst bit was where the nurse had to cut a small slot in the arm to allow the tube to sit straight... then it was off to X-ray to check it had gone down to the heart and not up into the brain? All scary stuff.

And for those of you who can read a chest xray... yes this is my chest, yes it did go the right way and yes I do have a heart! This tube will now stay in place until the whole process is over and I leave the hospital re-born. The total length of tube now inside me is 44cm long or 17.323 inches which is amazing really?

Finally before I say goodnight to you all today I was supposed to be admitted so that the treatment could start nice and early tomorrow. However, I am holding my own nativity (for one) as there is no room at the inn tonight so I have to call back tomorrow. So, the main part of the blog may not start until next week but I will keep you posted.

Until next time.... Ho ho ho xx