Port is out!

My port was successfully removed today and I could not be happier.  It went smoothly although I ended up at the hospital for longer than I had anticipated.

I arrived at 10:15 which was the time the told me to be there.  I had never asked what time the actual procedure was and did so after they checked me in and took my vitals at about 10:20.  The procedure was not until 12:00pm AND the surgeon had added another patient in the morning so it was likely to start late.  I was not happy and had not really prepared to wait that long.  I was sent back to the waiting room to hang out for what turned out to be the next 90 minutes.  The time actually passed quickly.  They took be back into pre-op at noon.

Since I had opted for local anesthesia, I did not need an IV. Basically, I just had to change into a gown in pre-op.  They took me into the operating room at about 12:45pm.  When I met with the surgeons PA last week,  he made a comment that the only bad thing about local anesthesia was that I would have to listen to his and the surgeon's jokes.  I thought he was kidding but it turns out he wasn't.  The surgeon literally has a nurse read from a joke book during the procedure. (I assume only when the patient is awake...).  A nurse named Linda was assigned that task. She read a few terrible jokes while I was getting numbed up.  (The lidocaine shots were not particularly pleasant.). The surgeon then left the room while I was getting numb and Linda and I started to chat.  She was lovely, asking me about the kids.  Turns out she lives in the next town over from us.  When the surgeon came back, I told him I preferred to chat with Linda rather than hear bad jokes. Also, I figured I should not be laughing and moving while he had a scalpel near my carotid artery!!

They got me all draped and started removing the port.  I felt some pressure but no pain.  I was afraid I would feel them pulling out the tube that went into my vein but I felt nothing.  (I did smell something nasty.  Not sure what it was and I didn't ask.). I think it took about 10 minutes and it was done.  I am SO happy I did not have anesthesia for the procedure as it really was no big deal and I now don't have to deal with waiting for the anesthesia to totally wear off.   It seems to take longer and longer each time.

They wheeled me back to recovery around 1:15pm.  I had a quick drink, got dressed and was on my way.  There weren't any post-surgical instructions (other than the surgeon telling me to take Tylenol for any pain) and I walked myself out and drove home (stopping off at Target to pick up some random stuff and a coffee).  I took Emily to dance class.  I am a little sore and tired so I will head to bed early. I am glad this is done.

Tomorrow marks the 4th anniversary of my bilateral mastectomy.  That was definitely the most invasive of all the surgeries I have had in the last 4 years.  Today was the 7th surgery and the easiest one.  I feel a sense of closure in my cancer surgery process. I like that. It helps convince me that this is my ONE and ONLY recurrence!!!