I noticed December 13th my port was sore and each day it got progressively worse. I took a picture of the area and sent a message to my care team at Mayo. They wanted me to go to the clinic to get it checked out.  They did blood cultures, swabbed my nose for mrsa, and did labs. I was sent home with Augmentin. It was starting to get better and then I had treatment on the 23rd. I should not have done it. I needed to give my body the chance to fight off the infection. Doing treatment depleted the immune system so by Saturday the infection reared it's ugly head. 

I messaged my care team on the 28th asking if I could get my port replaced. I have had it since March 2023. They put in a referral for me to see the vascular department and the appointment was all set for January  7th.  However, I was not going to be able to wait that long to see them.
When I talked to my care team again about what was going on they sent me to my nearest hospital.  Dana took me to the ER and the fun began.  

They did blood work, consulted with IR not sure what that stands for, but they said the port needed to come out now. They were concerned the infection could go to my heart since the port has direct access. They were also concern about sepsis. They started me on high dose antibiotics and by 2:00 I was set to get the port out.  

I loved all of the nurses and doctors I dealt with. I had to have a CT scan on Thursday because the wound area was swollen and still red. The surgeon came Friday late afternoon and reopened the wound. There was only fluid and blood in the cavity. She swabbed it so they could culture it and then packed it with gauze. When she visited Saturday she decided to not put gauze in and wants me to just cover it. The way the stitches are and the opening it looks like I have a face on the area lol.

Dr mentioned that the culture had started to grow at 9 am and wanted to give it 24 hours so they could see exactly what antibiotics would work. I was getting so anxious to get home. I know I needed to be at the hospital but I was so done with being poked with needles, cut open, having to have my IV moved twice and them not finding a good vein poked 3 times for that, not sleeping well, etc. Being on 2 antibiotics meant frequent nurse visits. 

I was also very disappointed with certain people in my life that have backed away from me or ghosted me. Let me tell you it hurts. I have missed my mom so much the past month. I needed a mama conversation. The holidays were not the same at all with her not there and the fact for the first time in my children's lives I couldn't buy presents. Cancer is expensive and I have to make sure I can pay for medications, have gas in my car since Mayo is an hour drive one way, a roof over my head, food, etc. When Mike takes time off work he doesn't get paid for it. The new year is here and he had to use one sick day already. 

The hardest part of cancer is the effect it has on the people I love most. It's watching how this ripples outward, creates worry, cancels plans, makes life feel less fun. In many ways I feel like a liability.  I can't cook, clean, or do things the same way, money draining, more debt, and the career I love so very much I have to put on hold.  Pretty dark huh? It's ok, I refocus myself often. I take those dark things and turn them into positive goals. I think of how absolutely amazing my body is (all of ours really), and the things I eat, say, think, and foods I eat will help it with being a healing machine! 

This is long sorry about that. I am still going to the vascular dr tomorrow because I want them to see the wound and if they can put a port back there or somewhere else.  I decided to reschedule my scans I'm supposed to have Friday. I don't want the contrasts they use in my body while still on antibiotics. I am also cancelling treatment on the 16th. I need to do everything I can to strengthen my body so it can heal and be strong. 

So that is the update and me venting. 
Hope you all had a great holiday season. 
Love to you all.