Groshong Line!

All went as planned and the Groshong line was fitted on 6th March!

On the 5th however, I made a call and left a message Oncology at 8.30am, as I had a sore throat and feared this could have affected my treatment. The call/message was not returned until 4pm, and by that time I had decided to pop into Oncology and got seen, assessed and was already home!

Bloods were taken as per usual and I had to wait for the results before being allowed home. During the wait I was left pondering; why the staff closed the door of the room I was in, when they were 'consulting' about me and other patients in the next room, because I could hear reasonably well what was being said through the thin walls! I have not come up with an answer to my 'ponderings' and probably overheard things I shouldn't have, but I was very impressed by hearing the good old NHS in action!

Thankfully I didn't have a throat infection and I left the assessment with some mouth wash. It seems that the sore throat is probably a side effect of the chemo.

So…. Groshong line day…..you wont be surprised to know that Steve got me to NGH in plenty of time (8am) and after initial obs in Oncology, the procedure was undertaken in the Heart department.

As Steve was with me, Christine Taylor, the nurse found a separate room so he could stay with me. Nothing seemed a bother to the medical staff in that unit, and they just seemed 'present' in all the discussion with me. I had no reservations about the procedure, and the only tell tale signs of trepidation was some waffling and forgetting my D.O.B !! Yes really!

Glamorous preparation!

There was a total of 5 medical staff in the theatre, including Dr Sabhi, who was carrying out the procedure. Local anaesthetic was used at the sight of an incision in my neck and chest. I was sedated throughout and although I could not feel a thing. I was 'aware' of the activity around me and some pulling and tugging of my neck and chest area. I can't remember much else whilst I was under sedation although there was this awareness of being  at the mercy of the medical staff.  There was a nurse sitting next to me, rubbing my arm in comfort. A nice touch!



The procedure took about 20 minutes and I was returned to Steve who waited patiently with me for an hour, whilst the sedative wore off.






So, I left NGH with a new accessory to my cleavage (connection line), a small scar/tube to my neck and ready to take on chemo on the 7th March !