Under the effects

Yesterday I was re-admitted into hospital to have a new permcath fitted (it was taken out last month after it was constantly blocking during treatment & giving me all sorts of hassles - let me tell you, being free of it for a whole month was better than I could have ever expected!) & a fistula for future treatments.

We were at hospital bright & early, & did my admission so they could start prepping me for surgery.  The idea of going under anaesthetic is never something I look forward to.  With Myasthenia Gravis your muscles are already so weak, that going under & getting certain muscles relaxants causes huge stress to the body & it can be fatal. So even though it is just a small operation, I always start to panic when I know what is coming.  I signed all the necessary forms then waited - and waited.  I was starting to get hangry (angry from the hunger, as the last meal I ate was 7pm the evening before!) & the longer I lay there the more my thoughts started going crazy.

Eventually they wheeled me into theatre at about 1pm & started scanning my veins to see where they could insert the fistula.  It was not good news.  My veins are so tiny & run away the moment I come into hospital so the vascular surgeon said it is impossible to do a fistula as my veins wouldn't hold.  The vascular surgeon scanned both arms & even in my neck but none wanted to participate.  The anaethetist even said I have baby veins & took about 15 minutes just to find a vein that she could put the drip up into.  But, she got one in eventually!

I woke up after the op feeling good & my permcath in with no complications.

They have inserted it more along the side of my chest, rather than down the centre. So movement is a lot easier & the only real pain I am battling with is in my neck.  I think the surgeons are a lot more rough on us when we are under anaesthetic than we realise.  Plus this is the original incision site & where they insert the pipes so its expected to be sore!

My doctor who oversees my plasmapheresis came to see me & she said she hasn't seen me this good in ages, so it actually looks like everything is working now!  She was ok with the fact that they couldn't do the fistula as we are now hoping I won't need this on such a long-term basis.  Wouldn't that be great??  So this permcath will stay in for another 3-4 treatments & we will reassess to see if we think I should get a fistula fitted, or just come in every couple of months for a 'top-up'.

For now though, I would like you to meet my new friend...

Every day I now have to squeeze this stress ball - not only to help get rid of any stress I may be fighting, but also to try strengthen my veins & build them up in case I need a fistula to be fitted.  So it really kills two birds with one stone!  Hopefully this will help make it easier to take blood as well, as this is never a pleasant experience.  I'm telling you, my veins know when it is hospital time & go running to their secret fort, only to return once I am home safely...

Be safe, be kind, be strong xxx