PICC calendar



crabapples


"Crap apples! Crap apples!" I used to call whenever I see them. And then the older one would laugh so hard he staggers and can't speak. I had a chance to do it again :-)
There is a lot crab apples trees in Ottawa. I mean a lot! Beautifully covered with flowers in spring and heavy under the colorful fruits in fall. Last warm touches before long winter. Something I can smile today even with all the crap.
Hopefully to set everything right is so difficult and later routine will be much smoother.

And there is the calendar with all possibilities what may happen.

• Aug 26 morning, PICC procedure: reaction to transpore - latex-free, hypoallergenic, transparent and perforated (for breathing) plastic surgical tape. I get the piece of regular picc dressing  to test on my free arm.
• Aug 27 afternoon, change of hospital dressing for the one I was testing, as there were no reaction on left arm.
• Aug 28 evening, my arm is burning. This is the reaction to burn net dressing (what a coincidence!) the nurse generously gave to me; red rush.

• Aug 29 morning, I woke up with small open wound. They let me test the dressing, but not the orange edge with glue. Just the inside. Hurray!
• Aug 30 morning, Another blister. Obviously when I'm sleeping I'm not aware of protecting band slipping down and slightly rolling of the dressing. I had to use bandage to secure the plastic end as I had a feeling I'll tear out everything any minute.

my scab and blister

• Aug 31 noon, The nurses coordinator offered someone will come. I called to ask WHEN will someone come for the following visit, as it can't be the same day as chemo, and no one called me yet. No need to treat this as emergency as I was in the hospital anyway. They changed wounds causing dressing using a lot of gaze and paper tape, gave one more to try for future together with information that they still have more options left LOL  The nurse was using bare hands even everything else was sterile. She said she washed them, I answered not to worry, if she causes infection I'll be happy to go to remove the picc! LOL

It wasn't bad day. I was recognized by my surgeon, I'm not just a number, and also met nurse training all chemo and radiotherapy nurses in biggest Ottawa hospital. She advised me to ask for special cream to protect my skin. I've got information for fantastic ('ve seen the pictures) wigs at very, very good prices.
Not bad. Huh?
They also liked my DIY picc dressing protecting dressing :-) I made using 100% cotton sock.
I'll share the information, but now I'm already sleeping.

PICC line

Medical term for the thing is Catheter, but I definitely think in this case C stands for crap. I call this Preferably Involving Complications Crap.
I didn't like it from the first sight, and now I truly, deeply hate it.
In full accordance with my medical oncologist's preferences PICC line was inserted on Friday morning at Civic Hospital. In past, when the bone scan was done, I had chance to ask if this is their habit to be late for appointments and it looks like. They were ready for me 45 minutes late. Hard to imagine, when you are booked for 8am. What happens to patients coming at 4pm? Other than that everything went smooth, no adjustments, no pain, no epinephrine in freezing and nice, small dressing.
The problems started later, because the dressing has to be changed within next 48 hours.
One problem: you can always meet the person for whom 'within 48 hours' means Sunday even the nurses don't work overnight, so no one would come early in the morning. Other thing: it's weekend! Never do that just before the weekend. First you'll ruin the last days of freedom. This is big problem to find anyone working. And too bad, not everyone in this industry is being pleasant.
Because of the fact, that my 48hours window was gone on Sunday morning I spent over 3 hours on the phone (you know how irritating it is to tell your story again and again up to 10 times??) and some more my husband. First with CCAC , but they have to talk to agencies, then, on Saturday because nurse didn't call me and it was afternoon already I tried to call the clinic thinking it will be easier for them and for me. Silly me.
It appeared someone changed my account as discontinued service for Saturday appointment.
Nope, obviously no hope for me, I had to call case manager again, and finally other clinic which had nurse for me for Sunday called back with the offer I couldn't refuse "Will you come at 1:30?"
Well... yes, of course I did. But I don't enjoy such short term. 20 minutes may not be enough to get to the other part of the city.
And the best part is... I never asked for the nurse! i was begging from the beginning to book an appointment in the clinic so I will know when and where to go. It took them 5 minutes to call me back with this information when I said everything is ok, I'll go to emergency. Do you really have to go to emergency with things that can be scheduled???
There was one nurse, no any patient and three receptionists wearing tanks and flip-flops.
It doesn't make me feel better that the service 'is founded' by OHIP. Come on! Those are my taxes!
The nurse advised me to file the complaint. Obviously better organization would save time and nerves.
To bad I have to still deal with them! They say it is allergic reaction, I believe it's just sensitive skin. It is what it is! No matter how you call it I have that! I said before, I have every possible side effects. Even the protecting net given to me generously by nurse changing the dressing burned my arm! Just hopeless ROLL

Thanks to Irene

My little one just turned 5! Lovely, cute 5!

We didn't have big celebration. Fortunately, as the CCAC screwed my appointment for dressing change on my new picc line. But about picc I'll write separately not to ruin this day. There is a lot to write about, and I should share my experiences and opinions someone could benefit from.

Anyway, just 2 hours before guests should arrive I had to go to the clinic, and the procedure takes minimum 45 minutes. They couldn't make it better.
Later that Saturday we had tons of good food, birthday cake and presents, and on Sunday... kites flying!
Or should I say kites fighting. Happily little one didn't fly with the big kite.
The wind was really furious, and the Irene's clouds looked spectacular! You don't see view like this every day. And I'm happy, it finally turned out to be tropical storm rather than tornado. Wooohooo! That was my older one screaming, could be working as engine whistle, when the kite was swooping down.
I didn't see the pictures yet, only on camera screen, but I'm sure there will be something to choose from.
You'll see I'm living in a nice place.

Then, we were flying kite and lying kite.


flying 3D kite

 
 
 And this? Is it tornado cloud or what? ;-)
Thanks God Irene slowed down. I bet everyone still remembers Katrina.



flying 3D kite

We were not the only one crazy about the wind.

Ottawa River

This way we spent the afternoon laughing at Andrew Haydon Park. I love this place for walks, when weather is not warm enough to seat at the bench. We are coming here even when the snow rests on the ground to feed wild ducks and geese. And when it’s hot, there is fantastic playground with water structures and pumps on the other end of the park.

You can’t ever get enough of the view like this.
We will come back.