Failed port

So Chemo #5 in this cycle was today and I was a little "eye-rolling" in the beginning since they could not get my port working.  After several attempts with hardly any results, they decided to stop and send only one vial of blood to the lab and wait for the CBC counts, but alas, too much time elapsed and the blood clotted!  So, the nurse jokingly said my platelets must be ok or the blood would not have clotted!  

Then they attempted to get a second vial from the port and it was simply not working so we aborted that procedure and went directly to the arm.  That new vial was sent down and although the platelets were ok (85) the white blood cells were low,  so we had to wait for the on-call doctor to allow me to get the chemo.  We lost about an hour fooling with this.  This inability to get blood from the port never happened at Mayo.

Each hospital has different standards.  This white blood cell count never came up at Mayo.  The nurses at Mayo also did not wear protective clothing.  Mayo also gave me a flat rectangular pump.  I have on a ball (am I on the ball?) pump now which is not nearly as comfortable sleeping wise.  Mayo also never took this long.  So those are the downsides.

On the upsides, Patrick got to come home and walk the dogs and get something to eat which is the decided advantage to Mission only being 10 miles away. Next time I am hoping we will have better luck with the port (Our nurse was new so I think a more experienced nurse would have known what to do ).     Mission also has great views.  There used to be three cancer centers here which have now mostly merged with Mission and we have heard good and bad news about that.  Some of the staff resisted leaving their old practices/benefits/ etc.  So there has been a shake-up so to speak.  Things will calm down this summer. 

Anyway, tomorrow is the visit with Dr. Humphries.  I will ask him about the port dysfunction today and see what he says.  Will report out what his verdict is.  

Yesterday we had a delightful time with the Palmers at Lion & Rose.  Reese and Allie got to play and run and splash in their fountain!  Beautiful day! 

Hope you are having a good week so far!