Port Operation

Curt has been doing well since his first chemotherapy. He was almost back to doing everything as before. He has played tennis several times, but doesn't have as much stamina with singles. He has pitched 3 coed softball games (won 1 and lost 2), golfed 9 holes, worked in the yard, etc. He is most happy about not having any pain. He thinks he might have taken a couple Tylenol since his treatment. His eye also does not bother him as much.
We came to the Bakers in Lake Oswego on Tuesday afternoon. We enjoyed watching Maddie and Vega do their tap, ballet and gymnastic routines then. We walked Maddie to her last day of school on Wednesday and then went to the lower campus of OHSU for a class on chemotherapy from 10 to after 11:30. A Social Worker, Nurse Clinic coordinator, Dietitian, and AMC Patient Navigator spoke and gave us a notebook with lots of handouts. We ate lunch at a Thai Restaurant and did a little birthday shopping for Jef before going back to Bakers. Curt went for a walk with the girls later in the afternoon. We have been continuing our bridge marathon with Angie and Jef in the evenings. So far the women are ahead for the year.
This morning with had to be at OHSU's upper campus at 6 AM! We got to meet the surgeon, Dr. Billingsley, before he went into surgery at 8. Curt had heavy sedation and did well. There are 2 incisions. The bigger one is near his right bone below his neck. This is where the dome-shaped disk about the size of a dime or penny is that will be used as the "Port" for all blood work and chemo from now on. A special needle can be inserted in it almost indefinitely. There is a catheter that goes under his skin from there up about 3 inches to a large vein in his neck. That is where the smaller incision is. They insert this catheter into the vein and it goes down about 3 or 4 inches toward his heart. The doctor came to me in the waiting room to see me about 9 (the surgery takes about 35 minutes) and said it went well. I went back to the recovery room and we had to wait about an hour for a portable x-ray machine to come and x-ray that area to make sure it was okay. They would not give any liquids until they knew they would not have to do any more operating. Curt was pretty drowsy and it didn't seem to bother him. They only complaint he had was around the neck incision. The nurse said it is harder to numb that area. They gave him an ice pack to put on the area and an Oxycodone to help with any pain he might have. They also gave us one of the special needles to use as needed if we are someplace where they do not have the needles. We got back to Bakers before 11:30. Angie and the girls took off shortly after to go swimming (indoors - it has been a little cool, around highs of 70). They will be back after 1:30. Curt ate some cereal and is now resting. The hard part for him might be that he can't play any tennis or softball for about 10 days. They want those incisions to heal first.
Tomorrow we return to OHSU at 10:30 for the second chemo treatment. We hope to watch Angie's coed softball game that evening at a nearby Junior High School. Saturday afternoon Curt will have the followup shot and we can return to Corvallis.