When I first was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer 7 years ago, I had a port put in for the chemotherapy because my veins were not cooperating.  I was prescribed Lidocaine cream to rub on the skin over the port so when the nurse put the needle in, it wouldn’t hurt as much.  For years I have been rubbing Lidocaine on my skin and going in for blood work, port flushes and chemotherapy.  Every surgery I’ve had used the port so I probably have been “stuck” over 1,000 in this port which is in my chest just above my left breast.

Not too long into my chemotherapy treatments this time around, I was asked by a nurse if I was numbing my skin.  I proudly answered “yes, I’ve been numbing my skin for 6 1/2 years.  I can’t imagine what it must feel like if I didn’t.”  Well she replied, “do you cover it with plastic wrap?”  I said, “no, no one ever told me to cover it.  Why?”  She then told me that all I’d been doing was numbing my shirt as the cream was rubbing off.

The next appointment, I rubbed on the cream and covered it with Saran Wrap and walked into the treatment room.  I proudly displayed my Saran Wrap, removed it and had the nurse insert the needle.  I didn’t feel anything.  You could have stabbed me with a steak knife and I wouldn’t have felt it.

All these years I thought I was numbing my skin and when they inserted the needle it felt like a quick bee sting.  A new tip for my readers.  Cover your cream with Saran Wrap!