2nd ASCT - Day 26 - PICC Line Removal June 13 2012

They removed my PICC Line this morning. The cardiologist felt like the PICC Line posed a greater risk to me than the risk of removing it and potentially releasing the small right atrial blood clot in my heart. RN Kristin preparing to pull my PICC line on June 13 2012.

Double Lumen PICC Line after removal.

Small blood clot at the distal tip of the PICC Line after removal.

Double Lumen PICC Line distal tip after removal on June 13 2012.

Still need daily Kytril for nausea and gut ache.

Velcade Intravenously - April 17 2012

I rigged up the wrist holder for the 3 IV tubes hooked to my PICC Line because they pulled at the insertion site and hurt. The wrist support really helped.


I got my 2nd dose of Velcade this afternoon.

I didn't experience any serious nausea today until about 3 PM. The nurse gave me intravenous phenergan and I went right to sleep...settled my stomach too! The phenergan pill that I received yesterday helped my nausea, but not totally, so that is why we tried the intravenous route.


Psychologist Ben Brewster stopped by for a short visit with Jani and I. He is always so easy to talk to.

PICC Line Dressing Change and Labs - March 22 2012

Went to the UCH BIC today to have my labs drawn and PICC Line Dressing Change. I am still not steady on my feet and used Jani's arm to get around. My mind is clearer today, but needs to clear some more. My guts continue raw, but I'm eating. I have decided the burning pain in the back of my left leg is neuropathy and the pain over my old shingles site on my right kidney area continues. My throat is sore, but I have no visible lesions. I told them that I would not be taking any more Thalidomide.

During the dressing change, my fat lady loose skin got caught up and pinched and I HOWLED LOUDLY in the BIC Room getting EVERYONE's ATTENTION - but, it REALLY HURT. 
The finished PICC Line Dressing Change.

My labs were abnormal as expected. My white blood cell count is way down at 1.1 (norms 4-11.1), my platelet count abnormal at 39 (norms 150-400), but they don't give you platelet transfusions until the the platelets dip below 30. My hemoglobin is only slightly abnormal at 11.1 (12.1-16.3).

My Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) is critically low at 0.8 (norms 1.8-6.6). So, they gave me a Neulasta Subcutaneous Injection in my left arm. I will return to have my blood checked again on Saturday, 24 March 2012. I will stay away from people and wear my mask when I got to UCH for my appointments.

My serum Protein and Albumin levels dipped while I was hospitalized - the food is terrible in the hospital and I just didn't get enough protein. Now that I've been home, the values are on the rise.

On the way home, I laid down in the back of Bart while Jani drove to Greeley. Such luxury.

Another Day At Black Rock and Discharge From Inpatient UCH - March 20 2012 at 11:50 PM

My mind is totally clouded from Thalidomide. I can't think at all and I am miserable. I took 200  mg of Thalidomide again today - but, if I feel like this tomorrow, I'm not going to take it. I cannot live like this.

I ate an apple to counter the effects of the chemo - even though I cannot taste anything.

We had to get PICC Line home care teaching. Because of the placement in my left upper arm, I only have one hand to work with - so, Jani is going to go my heparin 10 USP flushes daily at home.

These are Jani's hands doing the flush for the first time - she was an awesome learner and did really well with RN Angela's assistance.

I have to take a lot of medications many times a day - I can actually get this whole cup of meds down all at once...at diagnosis, I was often unable to even swallow my daily calcium pill...

Jani packed up my things and took them out to Bart (2006 Honda Pilot) for our trip home once I'm discharged tonight. All that chemo on the IV poles has to run in before we can leave. That will be 96 hours of continuous VDT-PACE chemotherapy.

Finally, all the chemo ran in and RN Angela came to detach me from the IV pumps and pole. Hurrah.

We were discharged at 11:50 PM on March 20 2012. Drove home to Greeley, Colorado arriving home after 1 AM March 21 2012. My mind is mush and my guts raw, but at least, I'm going home. I've gained 11 (eleven) pounds since admission despite 2 days of Lasix, but they assure me that I will eliminate the extra volume.

We have to return to UCH on March 22 2012 for labs.

And Let The Tests And Procedures Begin - March 17 2012

I had an echocardiogram in my room by Steven since they wanted to evaluate my right atrial thrombus (blood clot in the right atrium of my heart) which was initially discovered 2 November 2011 and thought to be from the Trifusion Hickman catheter and Bard Power Port that terminated just above my right atrium. After the blood clot was discovered, they removed both the Trifusion Hickman catheter and Bard Power Port and put me on daily 12,500 units Fragmin injections (blood thinner). I've had monthly echocardiograms since November 2011 and the clot reduced some in size, but persisted and was thought to be "chronic".

 Then, I had a bedside EKG to evaluate the electrical activity in my heart.

Around 5:15 PM, Kendra came from Interventional Radiolgoy to get me for the placement of a PICC Line in my left arm. This is an IV catheter that is inserted 39 centimeters from my arm to the top of my right atrium - that's right --- the same place the blood clot is located. Kendra talked to her attending on the phone and the PICC Line has to terminate at the right atrium and not just in the vessel above the atrium. Pressures are to high and if left in the vessel, the vessel can be damaged and narrow. So, we walked down to the Interventional Radiology for the placement. I was very anxious because I thought it might be torture.

Kendra first put a tourniquet on my upper left arm so tight it HURT!!!!! Then, she deadened the area of insertion in my left inner arm with lidocaine. She got the Bard Power PICC Line right in . The insertion site is TENDER. I'm pretty tired of being poked!