Wednesday 13th December

The 13th unlucky for some, but it wasn't a friday.... I tried not to think of the date when I was lying on the operating table in the General Hospital this morning.

I have had a Portacath fitted which in the long run will save the nurses in oncology the hassle of finding suitable veins to cannulate, and me the discomfort of them probing!

By the way, if anyone tells you that having a 'port' fitted is fine they're lying. It was awful! Or maybe I'm just no good at having a local anesthetic and being cut, poked, prodded and pulled....

A portacath is an implanted venous access device for patients who need frequent or continuous administration of chemotherapy. Drugs used for chemotherapy are often toxic, and can damage skin, muscle tissue, and sometimes veins.

An incision of approximately 3cm is made in skin on the front of the chest and a “pocket” is created under the skin for the port. Local anaesthetic is administered to the side of the neck and using ultrasound guidance, access is gained to the vein in the neck, via a small (5mm) incision.

Anyway its done now, and Its for the best I know, back into hospital tomorrow afternoon for a dressing change. That's three visits this week, quite enough for anyone. 

Let's change the subject. 

So there was Steve a few Sunday's ago at Chapel, doing his best to play the hymns on the organ to the standard that was expected by the parishioners, when suddenly the notes started playing themselves.... he took his hands off the keys and the organ just carried on producing random music. 

Trying to stop it he pressed various buttons, but nothing worked, so in desperation he turned it off, but still it carried on. Meanwhile the congregation were sitting there in stunned silence, watching a desperately reddening man battle with the phantom playing instrument.

Finally he managed to stop the weird noises emanating from the sickly organ, and giving up on it, told the watchful audience that he would try the piano instead. 

Collecting his music and settling himself down he continued to  play the hymn he had started, but it wasn't until he began the third verse that he realised the congregation had stopped singing- bit of a mix-up with the verses I believe. 

It certainly led to some interesting discussion over the coffee and biscuits. 

Sorry, having to finish now as the anaesthetic  is gradually wearing off and painkillers are required!