Second Day: Catheter Placement

To assist with the stem cell collection process and million other injections that I will receive over the next few months, I had a catheter inserted into my chest today. The catheter is inserted into a vein right below my collarbone, which is then threaded up, around and into the major vein in my heart.

The procedure wasn't too bad. But perhaps that was because I was doped up on Valium and morphine. After they drugged me up, they gave me a local anesthestic (which was the most painful part). I didn't feel anything else. It was done and over in less than 2 hours.

I've got 3 insicisions in my chest which are pretty sore, as they had to cut through muscle and tissue to get to the vein. But as long as I take large doses of Tylenol the pain should be manageable.

The doctor has me in tomorrow for some intravenous diaretics, as I will need to get my edema under control before I receive the growth factors this weekend.