It's in. My Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter. It's brand name is Power Picc with a lightening bolt denoting the space between the words and perhaps implying that i may or may not become a superhero.
i arrived early like i was asked and waited while a nice young man, who was being trained, entered my info into the system. There was a lot of phone ringing and fluorescent lighting, niceties and badge wearing. Neatly gathered confusion. At least, to my eyes, those that crave beauty within function, and serenity within efficiency.
My over sized chair was ample and would have provided more support had i felt comfortable enough to sit all the way back in it, but with signs about H1N1 all over the place, i kept my hands in tight and tried to limit contact with most everything.
They called back to the CathLab a number of times and reported that they didn't know why there was a delay, but that i could head on back to the 'private' room, where i could wait in comfort with some stranger, one magazine, and plenty of unwashed armrests.
i waited anxiously for around 45 minutes, at which point i walked back to the front desk and asked if they'd heard anything about when i might be going in for my very brief procedure.
Miraculously they had just called and Dan the 75 year old volunteer in a fuchsia button down escorted me all the way. i mean all the way, back into the exam room where i was definitely not supposed to be. They smiled and led me out to the 'waiting area'. Moments later they came and got me.
I found myself surprised at the enormous, machine filled, FREEZING cold room i was undressing in. Assuredly not what i was expecting. The nurses Cathy and Pam were sweet and accommodating, they brought me warmed blankets and a Johnie to change into. I'm deciding it's Cathy with a C instead of Kathy with a K, because there was no name tag and she just looked softer.
I hopped up onto the narrow procedure table and got hooked up to a cuff, a lot of sticky pads with wires, and whatever they put on your finger tip - i think it takes measures your heart rate or temperature. There was beeping and some other technical noises.
One of my clients who is an RN came in and perplexed, asked me what i was doing there. i told her i was a thrill seeker. She laughed and came over with more blankets and quickly started asking me about the holidays and my boyfriend. This was more comforting than i would have thought. Then she brought out the CD folder and asked what I'd like to listen to. I declined Enya, Steely Dan, numerous Eagles, Vivaldi and the Four Seasons ( i used to do chores to that every Sunday), and finally settled on Bob Marley.
Warm, Islandy, and my brother's favorite music.
When i was having an acute anxiety attack during my separation from my ex-husband, my brother relayed to me that when he was feeling anxious he would listen to Bob Marley and he would always feel better. Cute, Sweet, and i still felt like i was going to vomit at the family reunion. I left promptly, excusing myself because i wasn't feeling well. I fled to my car and took some deep breaths. As i turned on the radio, and i never listen to the radio, i was warmly welcomed with Three Little Birds...'Don't worry about a thing, cuz every little thing is gonna be alright...' i think i teared up a bit, smiled, and then sped away. kismet.
So, there I was, ultrasounded, prepped with iodine, covered in papery prep towels, and strangely feeling OK while i sang along to many of reggae's greatest hits.
I had met the Doctor for 2 seconds while he found an accessible vein and now he was back, clad in scrubs and ready for business. He was very nice and relaxed, Ullman. He reminded me strongly of Jeffery Tambor. Also comforting. For some reason we all started talking about cruises, probably the soundtrack, and i felt tugging and more tugging and a huge X-ray machine zoomed over my head and chest, they told me not to breath or move.
I saw my ribs and my heart on the screen and the line that they had just inserted placed perfectly above my ticker. And then, it was over. 45 minutes.
They cleaned me up. Mostly.And i mean mostly. It seems like they prefer to not really clean up all the iodine. Which, frankly, annoys me. Instead of having a lovely purple picc line covered neatly with special dressings and such, i have that plus bright orange staining that looks like spilled cool-aid all over myself. It just wouldn't take much more effort to have it look nice. Maybe I'm being pretentious, but next visit, I'm asking for a thorough cleaning.
Pam and Cathy unstuck all the stickies, helped me up, and sent me away with all of the items i will need to ensure picc line well being.
My Dad and Step mom picked me up and drove me back home. My arm felt and still feels a little sore and strange, but just from the Novocaine wearing off and maybe the snaking of line through my vein.
We returned home and chatted a bit. Then, my landlord dropped by unannounced and frazzled, as they do and as they are. My guests left, i answered some questions and asked some and now all that's left to do is take a nap. Oh, and purchase leg warmers to be sure of fashion compliance and lumen protection.
So, here i go. nap time. enjoy my experiences, there may be pictures to come, so watch out!
x