Skip to main content

The Fluorouracil Infusion at Home

The Fluorouracil infusion is over 46 hours delivered by a small portable pump. The container is about the size small coke can and is totally quiet. I was provided with a small pouch on to hold the container that could be hung around the neck or tied at the waist.

The infusion is continuous for 46 hours, day and night, but the container and the fine pipe did not cause any significant issues or discomfort.

On the second morning of having the infusion I woke up with a bleed from the PICC Line entry site and phone the hospitals Chemotherapy Help Line. As the bleed had stopped the nurse said that I should come into the hospital as planned for the pump to be removed at 5 pm. 

Later in the morning I suffered a leak from the PICC Line site, a clear fluid that soaked the dressing and my shirt. The second call to the Help Line advised that my upper arm be bandaged and that I should get to the Medical Day Case Unit as soon as convenient and if the infusion had been completed, they would remove the pump and pipe early and then dress and flush the line.

After driving myself to the hospital and arriving at midday I was invited into the chemotherapy suite without a wait. On checking the nurse noted that the infusion had come to an end and did the planned flush and redress of the PICC Line. Thirty minutes later I was on my way home.

No Crisis.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blood Test Results

 The pre-treatment blood test is important to ensure that patients are capable of with standing the toxic effects of the chemotherapy drugs. My neutrophil and Alt levels have cause deferment over the past few months. This weeks blood test results are ok so Monday's infusion will go ahead. That's Monday morning at 9:30 am definitely early! 
Post a Comment
Read more

Chemotherapy day 33 - more feelings of nausea

6 more chemo tablets, 3 anti nausea and a vitamin B6 today, day 6 of the 3rd cycle. While the peripheral neuropathy has all but disappeared the cycle is certainly giving more feeling of nausea. May need to drink more as the colour of my urine is quite dark. Slept well until around 5.20 am, but felt cold after getting up for the 2nd time during the night. Need to have extra bedding available as just laying my dressing gown over the Tog 7 quilt did not help. There was a 0c temperature outside. Will have a 45 year old duck down sleeping bag available tonight. BSC - 5 Sid phone to ask how I am coping with the treatment and side effects. The feeling of nausea unpleasant much of the day. Drank more, urinated  4 times between 3pm and 4pm. Hopefully this will reduce a chance of a disturbed night.
Post a Comment
Read more

Tinnitus, starting the journey

A few months ago I thought I could hear a noise from a radiator when trying to go to sleep one evening. The noise was so real that I felt that it must have been an actual sound. As the central heating was not on I came to the conclusion that the sound was in my head. That incident was an early sign on my journey to being a tinnitus sufferer. A visit to my GP prompted a response of 'Oh dear' when I told him that I thought that I was suffering from tinnitus. After inspecting my ears he told me that there were three approaches that he could offer me: Do nothing and learn to live with it, see an audiologist to check if I needed a hearing aid or undergo hearing therapy. I chose the audiology appointment as my preferred first step.
Post a Comment
Read more