Day 141 - Fluid Draw...Just my Luck!

10/26/12

     It was about 11 am when one of my Drs. came in and woke me saying that I needed to have some of the fluid that had been around my left side taken out because a small amount was getting into my left lung and they were concerned that it could be cancerous.  They also wanted to see if there was a viral or bacteria infection in relation to my deterring health since I had a deficient immune system for awhile due to my chemotherapy treatment.  He said they would simply put a needle in me and draw out some of the fluid to get read for a biopsy.  I was pleasantly pissed the fuck off when he said this: one because I already had two tests in the past two days and two for waking me up so early! And getting a needle stuck in my back did not sound like the funnest thing either.
     When I got down stairs to the internal radiology, the Dr. introduced himself and told me that I was going to have a procedure called a thoracentesis. He said he was going to give me a deep lidocaine shot and then would weave a catheter into me drawing out a small sample of fluid so they could get a biopsy. It sounded easy enough and I wasn't too concerned but I wasn't the most ecstatic about getting stuck with another needle.
     As we entered the room I just thought to myself, "come on, man up it will be over before you know it", "It's just going to be one more lidocaine shot nothing you haven't had before you can take it". But all I could help thinking to myself was "FML", "Goddamnit" and "Fuck my Dr. for wanting this test done" (I mean this in the nicest way possible)!
     The procedure started with me basically sitting in a chair leaning over a table and the nurse giving me an ultrasound to see exactly where the residual fluid was.  After that, the Dr. cleaned off my back, dried it and said, "here comes a pinch".  It was a long shot since they had to go deep past my ribs but it wasn't too bad.  Probably since I've had so many in the past but I held through and then I felt a little irritation when he put in the catheter but afterwards I didn't feel a thing.  They eventually drew 180ccs of fluid and the whole procedure probably took about 20 mins including the prep time so I was happy.  And it wasn't too painful either, even afterwards.  My back just felt a bit sore like I had gotten punched really hard or something.