I want to share what my Hickman line looks like but decided to put this in a separate blog for those of you not wishing to see medical stuff. I can think of a few who get squeamish at the sight of stuff like this. If you are one of those, then by all means don’t read this. If on the other hand you are curious about medical stuff, and the lines that are responsible for my hydration, meds, chemo, transfusions, then knock yourself out.
Hickman Line (3 days post insertion)
Hickman Line 4 days post insertion
Here on the left is the Hickman line 3 days post insertion. You can see the bruising on my left side where the doc pressed to move the line around under my skin to align it with the vein in my neck into which it was threaded to be able to reach my heart. The photo on the right shows the line is obviously a little more healed. You can also see on the right side of my neck where the doc did the incision to thread the tube into my neck vein. The bump that goes from the incision in my chest to the incision in my neck is actually the line going under my skin, before it plunges into the vein in my neck, towards my heart. All of this enables me to receive my hydration, meds, chemo, transfusions, and the transplant without having to deal with a whole bunch of needles on a daily basis.
Hickman Line today
Here is a photo of the Hickman Line taken today with my new dressing. This will be with me for a few months and I will need to learn to change the dressing and the caps myself, as well as flush the lines.
Bathroom
Well, I figured if I was to show the Hickman Line stuff, that I should also include a photo of our bathroom, just because it looks somewhat alien. You can see that everything is covered since our bodily fluids are cytotoxic. The measuring buckets go in the toilet, we do what we need to do, measure, record it, flush it with the blue cover in lieu of a toilet cover. How exciting is that? Now imagine doing every 2-3 hours, especially at 3 am – good times.
If there’s anything else that I find fascinating, I will share it, but for now, that’s it.
Marie-Chantal
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About Marie-Chantal Marchand
I'm a Photographer, a Writer, and a foodie. Used to be a Professional Development Coordinator and a Meeting Planner. Now, I'm Marie-Chantal Marchand, Survivor - Warrior!
This is not 'my' disease. Nor do the TP53 w/17p Deletion, Richter's Transformation, stem cell transplant, GVHD, life-threatening and physical complications define me. It is only passing through.
This journey has taught me to remain cautiously optimistic, hopeful and have faith that my attitude and sense of humour will get me through the challenges. There is never a situation serious enough where you cannot find something to laugh about.
I will try to keep this lighthearted and humourous however serious information might sneak in. This blog is for all my friends and family wishing to follow my progress, as well as anyone else on a similar journey wishing to share.
Comments, encouragements, positive energy, visits and hugs are highly welcome.
Thank you for being with me on this journey.
Marie-Chantal
Hey MC,
Thanks for sharing these intimate pictures and experiences – your current world sure is a world of its own, isn’t it? I actually tend to find some fascination in medicine and what it can do. Although uncomfortable and at times painful, I’m glad that this invention saves you from being poked ten times a day with greater or lesser success. You’ve had enough of those kind of experiences!
Hope you get another one of those more restful sleeps tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow around 12:30pm. I’ll call you when I’m on my way to see if you’d like some coffee or anything else from the outside world.
Sleep tight,
Monika