Rhinovirus vs. Stem Cell Transplant

We all know how miserable the common cold can be. Unfortunately, I have one right now...

For anyone who is not familiar with the rhinovirus, it is the most common viral infectious agent in humans, and it is responsible for many illnesses, including the common cold. We all know how miserable the common cold can be. Unfortunately, I have one right now, and it has settled into my chest and head. I feel like I’m under water—a feeling I would enjoy under other circumstances. My voice is a few octaves lower than normal, and I have a nasty cough that’s producing nasty-tasting gunk. I know—TMI. Sorry about that.

There is another factor weighing in on the matter, and that is this CVC, or central venous catheter with its two “pigtails,” or lumens dangling from my chest. It is exceedingly uncomfortable. In fact, it hurts most of the time, and it’s no wonder when you consider that the lumens are attached to a tube through a small incision in my chest. Not to gross you

out, I have included a picture. (1) When I had my mediport placed, I read a recommendation that to aid in quicker healing and reduce soreness, the port should be placed on the opposite of your predominant side. In other words, if you’re right-handed like me, it’s better to place the port on your left shoulder. If I had known what the CVC would be like, I would have had the mediport placed on my right shoulder and the CVC on my left because the mediport is a piece of cake compared to the CVC.

There is a greater danger of infection with the CVC than with a mediport as well because all of the parts of a mediport are internal. Nothing is exposed. Once your incisions heal, you’re good to go. Not so with a CVC. I might not be describing some of this exactly right in medical terms, but I know the bandages must be changed and the lumens and/or the tube “flushed” every seven days. Every time the CVC is uncovered for a dressing change and flushed, it is exposed to potential contamination by bacteria or viruses.

Earlier this year, I had a telephone conversation with a fellow multiple myeloma patient who underwent the same chemotherapy regimen that I have and also had an autologous stem cell or bone marrow transplant, the same as I am scheduled to have. He did very well with everything until, while he was hospitalized for the transplant, he developed an infection in his CVC that led to sepsis, and that infection nearly killed him and added a significant tenure to his hospital stay.

Now, in my case, add chest congestion to the mix, and it’s hard to tell where the pain is coming from. I mentioned the CVC hurts. Allow me to clarify. It only hurts when I move. That includes breathing. On the pain scale chart, it wouldn’t rank terribly high, maybe a 3 or 4, but anyone who suffers from chronic pain of any kind knows that constant pain, even at low levels, is exhausting. It wears you out, both physically and emotionally. We’re no fun to be around.

There are times when I am aware that my CVC is not causing me pain, and that is usually when I rouse from a deep sleep in the middle of the night or in the morning and realize I finally managed to fall asleep in spite of it, and, at least for the moment, it’s not hurting. But if I sit up to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water, well, all bets are off.

Can you tell I hate it? I hate it!

Shelly expressed some concern when we talked yesterday that my doctor may decide to postpone the transplant until I am completely over this cold. Of course, I plan to inform Nancy, the RN and transplant coordinator, first thing tomorrow morning, but I hope to be feeling much better by then. As much as I dread the transplant, I fear postponement more. Mentally, I have done my best to prepare for it. I’m as ready as I will ever be, and to think I may have to wait another week or so is very disheartening.

So, I ask for a special prayer of healing from you prayer warriors; in this instance, healing from a simple cold so that I might be well enough to undergo the transplant this week and be on my way to a long life. In any case, God’s will be done.

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References:

(1) 2021. Medizzy.com. 2021. https://cdn.medizzy.com/833Bki9sCKd4ECi9XbPus9Qxqns=/800x0/img/posts/6c209887-eae4-4900-a098-87eae44900a0