Feeling cheated

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jamiegww
jamiegww Member Posts: 384
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I don't understand why so many of you say that having a port saves having to get poked for blood work but my surgeon insist a port is only intended for administering chemo and not for drawing blood? Last week, the chemo nurse could not get blood from my port so I had to get my blood drawn the usual way. Later that morning, she couldn't get the port to flow for my chemo infusion and sent me to the hospital for a dye flow test. I was able to get my chemo late that afternoon, but was told to contact my surgeon about my port not working properly. I saw the surgeon yesterday and she told me that the port was functioning properly and that it was never intended for blood draws. I don't understand. Did I get an inferior port or what?

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  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #2
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    haha! An inferior port...
    haha! An inferior port... that's cute. I was always told that too. I was told they need an authorization from insurance to use my port for blood draws, which I'm SURE they could get as I have only "one" available vein to draw blood from. But they insisted on using that one vein until it collapses, which I pray doesn't happen. I am done with chemo and don't have as many blood draws now so I will just ride it out, but you may want to ask. Without the numbing cream, it always hurt just as much to poke my port, so I never made a big deal out of it.
  • laurissa
    laurissa Member Posts: 773
    #3
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    Hi jamie
    The same happened to my port, it didn't draw blood and I had to go for a dye test. It was just used for chemo.
  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384
    #4
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    Marlene_K said:

    haha! An inferior port...
    haha! An inferior port... that's cute. I was always told that too. I was told they need an authorization from insurance to use my port for blood draws, which I'm SURE they could get as I have only "one" available vein to draw blood from. But they insisted on using that one vein until it collapses, which I pray doesn't happen. I am done with chemo and don't have as many blood draws now so I will just ride it out, but you may want to ask. Without the numbing cream, it always hurt just as much to poke my port, so I never made a big deal out of it.

    Thanks for sharing.
    I'm sorry you had the same problem but it's nice not to be alone. I will at least take some comfort in knowing that my chemo nurse uses the freeze spray so I don't feel the poke there.

    Hugs!
    Jamie
  • angel46
    angel46 Member Posts: 13
    #5
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    My Port
    They use my port for everything, I haven't had any blood drawn from my arm,just my port Chemo and herceptin too.
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #6
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    angel46 said:

    My Port
    They use my port for everything, I haven't had any blood drawn from my arm,just my port Chemo and herceptin too.

    The last time I had blood
    The last time I had blood drawn they used my port...no problema...it should work for blood or infusions...
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #7
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    I don't understand either.
    There has only been 1 time my port has been used for anything other than the A/C and Taxol - to put the dye in the last time I had a CT scan.

    I was told that to access a port, you have to be an RN, not a phelbotomist (sp?) or tech. Makes sense to me as each time, the heprin block has to be re-established. My surgeon never mentioned one way or the other about using it for blood draws and I never thought about it as I have good veins and don't mind a slight prick. He did tell me to be sure I had my port card in my billfold in case I happened to be in a wreck or 'something' as it would allow paramedics to establish a better flow quicker for needed drugs. My 2nd or 3rd Taxol, 1 of the nurses (never saw her before or after) had a problem with getting it to flow but 1 of the 'usual' nurse came over and had it flowing right almost immediately.
  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    #8
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    All my blood draws and chemo
    All my blood draws and chemo have been done thru my port. Not everyone is trained properly and a special needle is used for the port. My onc surgeon told me to be careful about who used the port. I get everything done at the cancer center, but if I had blood drawn at a lab, I was advised to have them use a vein. If port is not accessed properly it can become infected and possibly have to be removed. My nurse numbs the port for the draw and it is quick and painless. She draws blood all day long from ports and she is specially trained as are all the infusion nurses.
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #9
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    natly15 said:

    All my blood draws and chemo
    All my blood draws and chemo have been done thru my port. Not everyone is trained properly and a special needle is used for the port. My onc surgeon told me to be careful about who used the port. I get everything done at the cancer center, but if I had blood drawn at a lab, I was advised to have them use a vein. If port is not accessed properly it can become infected and possibly have to be removed. My nurse numbs the port for the draw and it is quick and painless. She draws blood all day long from ports and she is specially trained as are all the infusion nurses.

    Me too, port used for blood draws, chemo,
    iv's when I was in the hospital. Only an RN can access the port so I have my blood drawn for my internest at the same time I have my port flushed as well as blood tests for my onc. I have to ask my surgeon if it can be used for dye for an MRI or CT, not sure. I also have a card for my port in my wallet.

    I am always surprised at such controvery over these ports. My onc gave me an Rx for Emla before my chemo started, it works great. I don't even know I have it. I love it and hope to keep it as long as possible. But there are different types of ports. I guess we need to talk to or surgeons about what type we have.
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #10
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    Skeezie said:

    Me too, port used for blood draws, chemo,
    iv's when I was in the hospital. Only an RN can access the port so I have my blood drawn for my internest at the same time I have my port flushed as well as blood tests for my onc. I have to ask my surgeon if it can be used for dye for an MRI or CT, not sure. I also have a card for my port in my wallet.

    I am always surprised at such controvery over these ports. My onc gave me an Rx for Emla before my chemo started, it works great. I don't even know I have it. I love it and hope to keep it as long as possible. But there are different types of ports. I guess we need to talk to or surgeons about what type we have.

    You have to pray to the port God
    I have everything drawn from my port, but sometimes it gives us trouble and I have to cough or lay back, just about stand on my head, but we always get it working ok.
  • Deb1969
    Deb1969 Member Posts: 165
    #11
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    Kat11 said:

    You have to pray to the port God
    I have everything drawn from my port, but sometimes it gives us trouble and I have to cough or lay back, just about stand on my head, but we always get it working ok.

    Ive had my port since
    Ive had my port since September 09. It worked like a charm at first but began giving problems a couple of weeks ago. Its very positional, sometimes I have to cough, take a deep breath, raise my arm above my head, lean forward, lay back.
    Deb
  • Flakey_Flake
    Flakey_Flake Member Posts: 130
    #12
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    I Think Ports aare Supposed to be Used for Blood Draws ...
    I've had my port since 9/09. No problems until this week. Of course, i went through the calesthetics of moving my arm, facing one way or another, coughing, etc. But we finally figured out that if I just relaxed and breathed deeply the port would work like it is supposed to. Then this week, they couldn't get blood to draw out my port. They could get the flushing solution to go into the port, so figured it was one of two things. Since it had been three weeks since my port had been used (The longest I've ever gone) it was possible that some tissue tried to grow near the catheter end. They injecterd the port with something called TPT(?) that would take care of it if that were the problem. But it didn't work, and they still couldn't get blood to draw back out the port. The only other thing that could have happened was that the catheter end of the port had shifted, and was now against the wall of the vein. Therefore when they tried to draw blood out, they were actually creating a vacuum agains my vein wall, which wouldn't produce blood. BTW, none of this was in the least bit painful. They gave me my herceptin infusion, and when the de-ported me, they tried another flush and draw. This time it did draw blood. The infusion must have moved the catheter end away from the vein wall. It was just one of those quirky things. The nurses where I go are all very experienced in oncology, and the use of ports.

    Funny story. Today my boyfriend went to have a port put in for his throat cancer treatment. (He had tried a picc, but his cat thought the tubes that stuck out were fun to play with while John was asleep. Also, John was always using his arms more than one should with a picc line.) When he went in for his port, the surgeon said he wanted to try and put it in on the right side because then there is less of a bend in the catheter tube. Afterwards, the surgeon came to me in the waiting area to tell me how it went. He said that he just couldn't get into the right side like he planned, so ended up putting it in on the left side. (John has broke his collar bone more than once, so we figure that was why.) So when John comes out, he has two wounds. One on the right where the port didn't work, and the one on the left which has the port. Now we call him the Twin Ports :) (Maybe you have to be from the Duluth Superior area to appreciate that one.)

    There also is a difference in ports. John got something called a "PowerPort". I got something called a "Port-a-cath". (Is that anything related to the "Port-a-Potty?) I read the literature that came with his port and with both his and mine, the needle assembley snaps to the port, and both are triangluar in shape. They have always used my port for blood draws. If someone is saying that they can't use the port to draw blood, I would wonder if the real reason is that they don't know how to use the port. I know if my family doc wants a blood test, and I go to the regular lab, they don't use the port. I also had a test where they injected dye, and the person who did it said she didn't know how to use the port, and didn't have the right equipment, so I would have to get it in the arm. But the literature on John's port says that it can be used for those types of tests. I got a card to carry in my wallet, but he got a card, a bracelet, and a key chain. I felt cheated. I don't know why any surgeon would put in a port that could not be used for drawing blood. When they flush my port, they always try to get blood to draw just to make sure things are flowing both ways. What your surgeon is saying doesn't make any sense to me, Jamie. From my limited experience, it isn't the port that is inferior. Why not ask you onc about it? They usually know alot about ports too.

    Good luck. Sharon
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    #13
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    If I want blood drawn from


    If I want blood drawn from the port I need to make an appointment with one of the nurses in the Oncology department. The technicians in the lab (where I go) are not qualified to draw blood from the port. If I go to the lab I don't need an appointment and can go anytime during the day.
  • pattimc
    pattimc Member Posts: 431
    #14
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    Port
    I have used my port for both chemo and blood draws. I haven't had chemo since October but have used it several times for blood draws. Lately it doesn't flow as well and it takes alittle bit of effort on the part of the onco nurse (the only one I would let access my port) moving, coughing, etc. But it always works.

    Hope to have it removed soon!
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #15
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    Wow, I'm so sorry you are
    Wow, I'm so sorry you are experiencing these problems with the port. Ports can absolutely be used for blood draws and are regularly done so. I needed no insurance authorization. I guess some hospitals and clinics do things differently. Where is your port located?

    Mimi
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #16
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    Wow! If it isn't one thing,
    Wow! If it isn't one thing, it's another , isn't it?! My port was used for everything~ blood draws and chemo. No problem whatsoever! It never occurred to me that it wouldn't be an "all access port"~ as you say, it seems to defeat the purpose if it can't be used, doesn't it?

    I remember having a blood draw on Halloween one year~ how fitting that the RN was dressed as a Vampire!

    Hope all works out for you!


    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #17
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    chenheart said:

    Wow! If it isn't one thing,
    Wow! If it isn't one thing, it's another , isn't it?! My port was used for everything~ blood draws and chemo. No problem whatsoever! It never occurred to me that it wouldn't be an "all access port"~ as you say, it seems to defeat the purpose if it can't be used, doesn't it?

    I remember having a blood draw on Halloween one year~ how fitting that the RN was dressed as a Vampire!

    Hope all works out for you!


    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    Chemo nurses
    alway used my port for blood work at oncologist office. When my radiologist wanted blood I asked that it could be taken through my port. RN, who knew how to work with port. was called and "special" needle was used. I did not have any problems for 8 months, but it needs to be washed and used every 3 to 4 weeks. Regular phlebotomists are not trained to use ports.
    Good Luck
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #18
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    I had a port and they tested
    I had a port and they tested it before each treatment to see if they could get blood from it. However, the blood that was drawn for my labs each time was taken from my hand.
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #19
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    I had a port and they tested
    I had a port and they tested it before each treatment to see if they could get blood from it. However, the blood that was drawn for my labs each time was taken from my hand. I had to have my second treatment in my wrist because my port was not working. I hated that---it really heebed me out and was very uncomfortable. I also had a dye flow test. For the next treatment the nurses had me lean my head and arms back and breathe deeply, this got my port going.
  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384
    #20
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    Flakey_Flake said:

    I Think Ports aare Supposed to be Used for Blood Draws ...
    I've had my port since 9/09. No problems until this week. Of course, i went through the calesthetics of moving my arm, facing one way or another, coughing, etc. But we finally figured out that if I just relaxed and breathed deeply the port would work like it is supposed to. Then this week, they couldn't get blood to draw out my port. They could get the flushing solution to go into the port, so figured it was one of two things. Since it had been three weeks since my port had been used (The longest I've ever gone) it was possible that some tissue tried to grow near the catheter end. They injecterd the port with something called TPT(?) that would take care of it if that were the problem. But it didn't work, and they still couldn't get blood to draw back out the port. The only other thing that could have happened was that the catheter end of the port had shifted, and was now against the wall of the vein. Therefore when they tried to draw blood out, they were actually creating a vacuum agains my vein wall, which wouldn't produce blood. BTW, none of this was in the least bit painful. They gave me my herceptin infusion, and when the de-ported me, they tried another flush and draw. This time it did draw blood. The infusion must have moved the catheter end away from the vein wall. It was just one of those quirky things. The nurses where I go are all very experienced in oncology, and the use of ports.

    Funny story. Today my boyfriend went to have a port put in for his throat cancer treatment. (He had tried a picc, but his cat thought the tubes that stuck out were fun to play with while John was asleep. Also, John was always using his arms more than one should with a picc line.) When he went in for his port, the surgeon said he wanted to try and put it in on the right side because then there is less of a bend in the catheter tube. Afterwards, the surgeon came to me in the waiting area to tell me how it went. He said that he just couldn't get into the right side like he planned, so ended up putting it in on the left side. (John has broke his collar bone more than once, so we figure that was why.) So when John comes out, he has two wounds. One on the right where the port didn't work, and the one on the left which has the port. Now we call him the Twin Ports :) (Maybe you have to be from the Duluth Superior area to appreciate that one.)

    There also is a difference in ports. John got something called a "PowerPort". I got something called a "Port-a-cath". (Is that anything related to the "Port-a-Potty?) I read the literature that came with his port and with both his and mine, the needle assembley snaps to the port, and both are triangluar in shape. They have always used my port for blood draws. If someone is saying that they can't use the port to draw blood, I would wonder if the real reason is that they don't know how to use the port. I know if my family doc wants a blood test, and I go to the regular lab, they don't use the port. I also had a test where they injected dye, and the person who did it said she didn't know how to use the port, and didn't have the right equipment, so I would have to get it in the arm. But the literature on John's port says that it can be used for those types of tests. I got a card to carry in my wallet, but he got a card, a bracelet, and a key chain. I felt cheated. I don't know why any surgeon would put in a port that could not be used for drawing blood. When they flush my port, they always try to get blood to draw just to make sure things are flowing both ways. What your surgeon is saying doesn't make any sense to me, Jamie. From my limited experience, it isn't the port that is inferior. Why not ask you onc about it? They usually know alot about ports too.

    Good luck. Sharon

    Thanks for the laugh.
    Maybe you should think about writing an anecdotal book about cancer treatments.

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