Friday, March 30, 2012

Trouble is Brewing...

I feel the storm clouds forming above my head...

Yesterday, we took Scarlett for her now-monthly clinic visit.  When they tried to draw her labs (blood) from her port (the catheter under the skin of her chest), nothing came out.  Generally, ports should be okay for 4-6 weeks between draws, but apparently, Scarlett is on the shorter end of that spectrum, as it was just 4 weeks since the last draw.  They flushed it with saline, then with Heparin (anti-clotting medication), and still nothing.  The nurse got orders for TPA (a stronger clot-dissolving solution), and after letting it sit for a few hours, still no draw.  We deaccessed her port, re-numbed it, reaccessed it, and still no draw.  Finally, they sent us home with another dose of TPA in to work overnight, with hopes that we could draw the blood this morning.

Well, this morning, we tried again, and nada.  Fluids can go in, but nothing draws back out.  This likely means there is some kind of small clot in the catheter somewhere.  I talked with Scarlett's NP, and her suggestions was to come back Monday morning (can't today since it's Friday) for another try with 24-hour TPA.  We'll go in Tuesday to try yet another draw, but if that doesn't work, we're in surgery-land once again.  If the port isn't drawing, we will need a new one put in.

Theoretically, she doesn't need the port anymore since she isn't getting chemo, and her blood draws are infrequent.  However, she has a very bad history with peripheral (arm or leg) IVs, and they are much more painful.  With her surgery coming up, we would like to have a port for all the anesthesia, fluids and possible transfusions she will need.  She wasn't scheduled to have her port removed until we were a few months out from that surgery, and sure she would not need it.

Oh well.  There's still hope that it will magically flush Tuesday and we can avoid surgery.  I find it unlikely, though...Wednesday is my birthday, so I'm almost positive we'll be signed up for surgery that day!  It's just my luck!

6 comments:

Nations Mommy said...

im just glad to know scarlett is doing so well and has come so far since your first post on babycenter.com which was bleak and grim. Hang in there and be strong mama! you have so much support from all of us other mamas! We love you and Scarlett! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! hope the surgery isnt scheduled for that day.
Always in my prayers,
Amanda

Dolly Relford said...

Sweet sweet girl.
I check in on you at least once a week. So much so that I feel like a stalker. I am sure your mommy and daddy are disheartened by this latest event, I know in my heart that you are one of the (if not the) strongest person in the world. You are a force to be reckoned with and God has BIG plans for you little Scarlett. Good luck nest week. We will be praying for you and thinking about you.

Sooie04 said...

My port gave me issues last blood draw, but i think it was because I was super dehydrated! Hoping that it clears up soon for you guys and she doesn't have to go through another surgery.... Thoughts and payers

andrea.nicole said...

I just let out such a sigh of relief. When I read the title and saw you said you could see the storm clouds over your head my mind went to much worse things. I clicked your post and waited for it to load while I silently prayed. I'm so sorry she may have to have another surgery but I'm happy in the grand scheme of things that it was nothing more serious! Have a happy birthday!

DiJe said...

*fingers crossed* I hope it flushes! I will be sending "Clear out, already!" thoughts your way.

Em said...

I was expecting so much worse when I opened up to read 'trouble is a brewing'. I want to keep reading about Scarlett. I want to watch her grow and develop into the beautiful little girl she will become.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I finished your post.