So we talked last week about getting a PICC installed and that process went pretty well.
I had an appointment in Green Bay to get the PICC line inspected and bandage removed and replaced because these things need to be looked at weekly. Upon inspection, the nurse found that my arm appeared swollen and red near where the PICC was installed. Apparently that’s not a good thing. I don’t even remember the name he gave to the condition, but it started with ph something.
So they took some measurements and had to call my doctor in Milwaukee to make sure it was still okay to go ahead with the bandage replacement etc, and that took a few minutes but they really wanted me to watch it closely in the coming days, and immediately call the nurse line and seek treatment at a local facility should I feel any flu-like symptoms, increased swelling and the like. They asked me to log my temperature a few times a day need to take additional measurements as well as watch the redness and they had marked it with a marker.
It’s been a few days and so far everything is going along fine no increase in swelling or discoloration. I see the doctor tomorrow so I imagine we’ll talk about it and see how things go before this week’s scheduled Port installation.
I kind of like Green Bay’s facility, it seems new, it is very well decorated, clean, quiet and everyone there is friendly. I’m pretty sure I can get my chemo treatments here instead of Milwaukee, but I have to weigh the pros vs the cons.
Pros
- it’s closer by about 40 minutes driving time each wet.
- it’s nicer
Cons
- They have access to my records but they don’t have my records.
- Should something go awry, they’d ship me off to Milwaukee anyway.
I don’t know, it’s something to think about. I really do like the facility though.
