My port picture for Helen and other interested parties - warning! skinny old lady photo....

[Kryssy]

Hi Helen - and the girls.

Helen couldn't find a photo of a port in a body so for her and all those interested in seeing a real port in a real body then this is for you. I was more than 25 kg heavier before this cancer lark - that's 4 stone - so it didn't notice then but now I am just a thin old bird with a scrawny neck so it sticks out more now. Salt cellars? More like salt sink holes these days and don't even ask where all the excess skin is. Anyone need a purse or a new handbag????

It really doesn't bother me though. I'm quite attached to my alien now. Bless him.

Love Kryssy xxxx

[Shortie38]

Hi kryssy,, i have a picc line in had it for 4 wks now and boy i am glad i had it done.as they could'nt fine my vains it save a lot of bothet.shortie38x

[Caroles1]

Hi Kristy

The worst part of chemo was them finding a vein! If I had to go through it all again I would have an installation!

I would be tempted to have a little tattoo surround to your little alien and make a feature of him, he's a little life saver,

Thin old bird? Model type, don't do yourself down,

Carole xxx

[January-2016-UK]

Thanks! That's a very clear pic.

Four stone is a massive weight loss just from the Summer. Remember Twiggy? Don't suppose anyone called her scrawny.

I don't think it would worry me at all, although I do think I'd prefer to see the metal, robotic woman style. I'm going to ask on 2nd Jan, providing there's time. Might be better to wait until the following week since on Tuesday, as my blood tests cannot be done the day before, the results won't be ready by the time I'm due in clinic at twelve. Whether the results will be back by two o'clock by the time chemo is supposed to start is probably problematic. Better be prepared for a long day. Might be wiser to wait until next week especially as I need to spend time discussing the cough, which will have been with me, waxing and waning for two months now. Plus the worsening fingers and feet.......

[Janet235 in reply to January-2016-UK]

Hi helen - have been thinking about you and wondering if the skin on your hands is a bit better if you have been hyper about creaming them etc.

I discovered last night that all hand nails are actually lifting off the base on all fingers, I wondered why they were beginning to feel so painful. I am have to be hyper about not catching and pulling of - Ochoa, oucha eek - just the thought of it!!!!

So just googling strengthening nail treatments and have sent away for one called nailberry which gets good reviews

What are your on going extremities problems...

[January-2016-UK in reply to Janet235]

Hello Janet, my hands cleared rapidly apparently as a result of using Lotil that Angela recommended. However it came back again after the next infusion, around all the knuckles in particular. It's fading now, perhaps will come back with the next infusion on Tuesday. . I'm keeping up with the Lotil as I have a new puppy and he has lots of wee accidents, so my hands are in water more than not at present.

All your nails? That must be so painful. I was warned about thAt possibility. Did you at least manage to wear your burgundy nail varnish for Xmas Day? I did use Evonail that Kryssy recommended but admit to being rather lax of late, partly because I assumed if I was going to have nail problems, they'd have started by now so I'll get going on it again. Are your toe nails affected too? I cannot begin to imagine the pain of that.

My feet are slowly become more numb, about number 7 now, and my fingertips, as well as tingling a lot, decided from yesterday to become numb too. No opening prosecco for me! Luckiky, I've got someone to do it for me.

[Janet235]

Might post photo of my Hickman Cvc port line later different from that...

Wow 25 kg lighter ! 😳

I thought I had yoyo'd a lot but actually have ranged from 50 kg at lowest to 68 at highest prior diagnosis so that's 18.. clothes sizing a nightmare over the last 18 months..

Janet x

[Kryssy in reply to Janet235]

You're not kidding about clothes. I've had to get a complete new wardrobe. Thank goodness for charity shops. I have a large frame and have always had to stay around the 60kg mark or I look like a corpse. Went to nearly 90kg after menopause. I'm around 58kg now and I struggle to get it back to 60 before each chemo or I get a look and a tut tut. Not supposed to lose weight.

Keep well lovely.

Love Kryssy xxx

[January-2016-UK]

My weight hasn't really changed this time round, I seem to be able to eat even though I don't like the taste of much, perhaps I've got used to it.

First time round I didn't eat much because I didn't like it. I weigh 43 kilos (I'm only 5' tall) and I lost a bit that first time and my clothes didn't fit well. Then when I went on my Avelumab trial, I woke up to the fact that the more you weigh, the more of the "stuff" you get (it's based on your body area metre squared, not the BMI, so it's not exactly a direct relation as it's a complex formula). So I stuffed myself everyday and despite all my efforts, ended up just 44 kilos, 1 kilo more. Admitted defeat and ate normally after that.

[Janet235]

But where is the outline as it were to access bloods and put in the chemo.? About to post mine 😳

[Kryssy in reply to Janet235]

You don't get blood out from it normally. It's for putting stuff in. There's a special needle inside a gizmo and it clips into the port. Tubes are then attached from the drips. Another click and it's out. I've had loads of stuff including morphine, anti sickness, saline, glucose as well as chemo going in. My blood test is from the inside of my elbow which is the usual place. I alternate arms every week. Painless. Because there is no visible entry point on the port the chance of infection is minimal and it's waterproof. I don't think I would like one of your things. Sorry. Hugs, Kryssy xxx