Another port question

[Al's Wife]

The cardiac doctor approved Al for port. What doctor inserts it? Do you have to make appt with surgeon or can doctor who does bone marrow biopsy do it at same time while he is under sedation or some other doctor? We have appt with Emory doctor in the morning but am just wondering and knew one of you could tell me. Al is still weak but temp is low grade and he is up, dressed and at his computer so at least he feels good enough for that. Got to be thankful for even small things. 😏

[Sally C]

Hey Linda,
A surgeon put Don's port in - I believe our onc. suggested the one we used. There may be surgeons who do this procedure on a regular basis. I woudn't have remembered this if we hadn't been looking into surgery for Don's orange-sized hernia that's been there for about 13 years - he should have had it taken care of years ago when his health wasn't so complicated - but I digress .
You may want to check with your onc.
I think it's great that Al is up at his computer. It may be a small thing but with this disease you have to celebrate the little victories. And they do add up.
I know you've been having a hard time. You both have been in my prayers.
He will be so glad after he gets his port.
God Bless and (((hugs))),
Sally

[Neil Cuadra]

Linda,

Perhaps hematologists who do BMTs are technically qualified to do other surgery, but we had a "real" surgeon when my wife got her Hickman line, and also when it was removed.

[ssdavi71416]

Linda

I had a pick line put in at Emory back in April. A surgeon performed the procedure. I am sure that a surgeon also would put in the port. They performed the proceedure on the basement level of Winship where the imaging is performed.

Scott Davidson

[Al's Wife]

Thanks everyone. I knew y'all would come through for me.
He's still not 100% sure he wants one but I think he will change his mind before long, especially if they continue to have problems with his veins. After his blood transfusion and the liquid they gave him in the IV, they had no problem. But at other times, he's become a "hard stick."
I'll just be glad when 7:00 a.m. gets here. At Beth's suggestion, I bought a pulse oximeter. His oxygen level has been under 85 every time I've checked it and a couple of times 78. If I get him to take the deep breaths like Beth suggested, it goes up to around 90, most of the time.
I've emailed our local oncologist's nurse at Emory, where we are going in the morning, and shared my concerns. Haven't heard back from her yet. I just didn't know if I should be thinking about going to the ER or what.
Al is up and watching TV now and has eaten fairly good today. But I'm just freaking out at these low oxygen numbers, especially after reading online how much damage can be done to organs when your level is this low.
This has been a rough week.
Hope all of you are hanging in there!

[Birgitta-A]

Hi Linda,
Inserting a port is quite complicated and it is often done with the aid of imaging guidance (X-ray) where the surgeon can see exactely where the catheter from the port is situated. This type of operations are done by sugeons. Hope Al will accept a port.

Persons with our kind of diseases are often used to low counts and not so high oxygen level. My doctor was surprised when I told him that I felt OK with HGB 70 at dx - I only felt a little breathless after long stairs.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A

[milliken2]

Linda;
If Al does have the port put in - it should be done by a surgeon. Our hema/onc gave us the choice of 2 whose ports seem to heal quickly, and I was more familiar with one of them, so that's who we went with.

I know things aren't going as you would have liked - but please know that we are all here for you - no matter when. You are both in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless you and Al.

((((HUGS))))
Beth