port pain

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terril
terril Member Posts: 296
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi everyone!
Did anyone have any pain asssociated with the implantation of the port? Just wondering. It was really hurting last night and this morning. People told me it would be nothing, but I think I was a little more tramatic that I expected. Yet, let me tell you...I beats being stuck everytime!!! I first go around with chemo last year consisted of 24 sticks in the hand and 24 in the arm. The chemo nurses said when they saw be coming in the doors, they took off running!!! Now, they don't mind me now that I have a port.

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  • oneagleswings
    oneagleswings Member Posts: 425 Member
    #2
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    Hi: my husband had a port inserted in prep for his folfiri and avastin and also said that it beats getting stuck all the time when he was on his adjuvant 5FU...
    now to your question- yes, his port was quite uncomforatble for a few days after insertion (his was put in 2 weeks before he started chemo) and I had to change the dressing off and on for the week...lots of bleeding the first night. Hang in there though- it gets better and you will enjoy just the one access with no poking around..although he says the jab when they access it "wakes him up"..I have read on this board that some people get a cream that numbs the area before they access it- that sounds nice -
    All the best with your treatment.
    Bev
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #3
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    I had a Hickman (external line vs. internal port). But, I was "achy" for a few days after insertation. THat went away. I was so happy to have the port! My poor veins would not have made it....
    Tara
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #4
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    Hi Terri:

    I am so sorry to hear that you're achy. To say that it will pass probabaly doesn't help you now :-(. Can you call the surgeon and see if there's anything you can do about it? Would a cold pack help?

    Hope you'll feel better soon - sending you healing >>>>>>vibes<<<<<<<

    JADot
  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #5
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    Hi there - Mine hurt a lot as well. In fact, I had bruising and didn't start chemo for a week or maybe two. I called the surgeon's office afterwards and spoke with my doc - who I adore - but who maybe thinks I am SuperWoman. He did tell me that he separated a thin skin layer (sick, I know) to get a really tight and secure fit. Still, I am so happy that I had a port - even if it hit my seat belt every time I drove...and that hurt as well. The whole thing seems like a blur now (I finished chemo in May and had it our in Aug)....and it will for you as well. So, yea, I had a lot of pain with it...just one more thing which was not explained as well as it could have been.....the life of a cancer patient! All the best to you and I hope you are feeling better soon - Maura
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #6
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    Yes I also had pain which I didn't expect either. I took a few pain pills and I was fine after a few days.
  • suezav
    suezav Member Posts: 42
    #7
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    my daughter had lots of discomfort after her port was put in. i remember driving her home from the hospital in our bumpy jeep and she was in tears. she actually wore the top of her bikini into the operating room so her surgeon could place the port as discreetly as possible! you will be very happy to have it. makes things easier. just hang in and you'll be much better in a few days. good luck! susan
  • mwomack
    mwomack Member Posts: 78
    #8
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    My husband said his port hurt more than the colon resection. He actually took some pain pills where he did not take them for the resection. The pain medication he had with the resection was the Morphine pump Friday Night through Saturday night. Sunday morning at 7:00 when I got back to the hospital he had made them remove the pump, and never asked for anything else.

    He was really glad they put his port in about 10 days before chemo started.

    MA
  • KFalvey
    KFalvey Member Posts: 118 Member
    #9
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    Hi Terri,
    I was surprised by the amount of pain I got after it was put in also. Considering what you've been through the last 2 days, I hope it's not too bad. Call your doctor and get some pain meds if it bothers you too much. I used ice packs and it did help, but I didn't start chemo for a week after. I think it makes a difference in how it is put in also. Mine was put about 1.5" under the collarbone, the tube went up over the collarbone and into the jugular vein in my neck so it stuck up and looked like a ligament sticking out of the neck. It bothered me the whole time so I had it removed soon after my chemo was finished. I hope you feel better soon and your treatments cause no bad side effects. God bless. Kandy
  • terril
    terril Member Posts: 296
    #10
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    KFalvey said:

    Hi Terri,
    I was surprised by the amount of pain I got after it was put in also. Considering what you've been through the last 2 days, I hope it's not too bad. Call your doctor and get some pain meds if it bothers you too much. I used ice packs and it did help, but I didn't start chemo for a week after. I think it makes a difference in how it is put in also. Mine was put about 1.5" under the collarbone, the tube went up over the collarbone and into the jugular vein in my neck so it stuck up and looked like a ligament sticking out of the neck. It bothered me the whole time so I had it removed soon after my chemo was finished. I hope you feel better soon and your treatments cause no bad side effects. God bless. Kandy

    Hi everybody!!!
    Thanks for the information on the ports. Now I realize that this procedeure wasn't as easy as many said it was. I am trying the ice pack and this really helps. When the home health care nurse came by and took the needle out,I actually was a little sick. It hurt because I am still healing plus the needle just gave me the heebie jeebies. As far as the chemo goes, not bad!!!!!!!!
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #11
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    terril said:

    Hi everybody!!!
    Thanks for the information on the ports. Now I realize that this procedeure wasn't as easy as many said it was. I am trying the ice pack and this really helps. When the home health care nurse came by and took the needle out,I actually was a little sick. It hurt because I am still healing plus the needle just gave me the heebie jeebies. As far as the chemo goes, not bad!!!!!!!!

    Hi Terri...struth...a fella would have liked a port....but it was not an option. I can sure say that getting stuck in the top of the hand or the arm was never fun...by the end of 6 months it really was beginning to be a pain. Lol!.....and my clinic nurses I swear were fighting over who "did not want to" go chasing all over me looking for veins that were worth using!
    Ross n Jen

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