The Perforated Man: Got home around 7:00 PM from today's the power port installation (i.e., the semi-permanent device in my chest that connects to a blood vessel). I checked in for the procedure at 12:45 for a supposed surgery time of 2:45. Well…ended up waiting with my brother for over three hours (though much hilarity was had; certainly made the time go faster). Finally got into the operating theater and was told that I was going to get a general anesthetic. Since I felt that I did well with the limited sedation (the anesthesiologist called it a MAC or monitored anesthesia care which doesn't require a breathing tube and allows the patient to be semi-alert), I asked if it was possible to not have the general. They agreed. Afterward the OR nurse mentioned that I said a few interesting things while under sedation; I was still pretty groggy while she was wheeling me so I don't remember quite what she said but she assured me that I didn’t blurt out any credit card numbers or anything truly incriminating. Where's the fun in that?

The procedure went quickly; think I was out of there in under an hour. Similarly, my recovery time was again about half the expected time. Either I recover quickly or they were anxious to get rid of me. Unlike yesterday, they didn't feed me but I did get some cranberry juice. I was given the all-clear to eat normally when I got home. After nearly 24 hours with only a cup of coffee as nourishment, I was going to eat whether they told me I could or not. 

The port's in my upper left chest and needs to be covered with a dressing for 48 hours. After that, I can remove the dressing and shower (to everyone's relief, especially mine). There are supposed to be two types of ports (single versus dual) both about the size of a quarter. Essentially, it's a small basin that connects to a catheter, which in turn connects to a vein. Currently, I feel a moderate pinching sensation at the site but no pain. A bit more information can be found on the manufacturer's website.

My upper chest was shaved in a swath from side to side for the surgery. The hair on my abdomen is just starting to grow in again, so the pattern of hair on my torso looks really strange (imagine only having a band of hair about two inches wide in the middle of your chest). I thought about “doing the metrosexual thing” (as my brother said) and shaving what's left of the growth on my body, but I have no desire to look like the Pilsbury Dough Boy with nipples.