The Myeloma Kid

The Chest Tube is Out....Hooray!!: I can be the biggest baby on this here planet Earth. I can kick, scream, whine and generally freak out over the smalest thing or have melt downs over much larger issues. I needed a chest tube installed once they found the collapsed lung. It would inflate the collapsed area of the lung. As it turned out, it wasnt that big of a tube. And I whined and screamed enough to get some anti-anxiety meds and pain meds to take the edge off. Well, the doctor came in yesterday (Thurs), and with a little kicking and screaming, he removed the tube and quickly patched it. It turns out the tube inside my chest wasnt as large as the tube that extended outside to the collection chamber. So, my thoughts were bigger than reality. It still hurt, but not as bad as back in December during the heart surgery. That event and pain will be permenantly etched in my mind. Additionally today (Friday), my central line that was installed in my neck to be used for the stem cell transplants, transfusions, general iv infusions, and blood collection was also removed. I again kicked and screamed and this time it was for even less pain than before. I didnt even know it was removed. I kept waiting for it to be removed and it was already removed. lol So, now its Friday night. My tubes are out. I have a new iv in but, I'm not connected to any poles or iv lines. My blood counts have risen high enough that I'm no longer neutropenic. So, I'm only a transfusion of red cells (B+...like my atitude...get it..."B Positive"??!) and platlets left to be completed Saturday and I'm outta here! I can't believe it will be almost 20 days that I've spent in the hospital. Most of my time here has been well spent. I didnt freak out all that much. For the most part, I was able to pass the time away without many times of anxiety or outright boredom. I thank the many friends and family visits, the cards and gifts, which kept me going. I thank the absolutely incredible nursing staff here on the Rhoads 7th Floor. They all were incredible. I've never been around a more caring staff. Everyone of them treated me with respect and care every person deserves. They really helped my stay here to be manageable. So thanks to everyone. I love you all. I couldnt have made it through this without you all. And now...A new life will begin. Love you all and thanks, Lance