iv ports

I have a port over my heart and have been doing chemo and radiation for 5 weeks they let me off for 8 days because of the radiation burns but when they hooked my port up again its been so painful, since I got it my left leg hand go numb and theres shooting pain in my left shoulder is this normal? I hate cancer :(

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Casey:)
    I've never heard of a port being installed over the heart - majority of us have it under the collar bone on the left or right side.

    You don't mention where you are being radiated...is it in the chest near the heart? I'm assuming it is near that area since you are in pain when they hook your port up for infusion.

    That pain in your leg or hand going numb is not normal - you might want to see about getting a CT scan to determine if there is a blockage. Radiation creates alot of scar tissue.

    -Craig
  • caseylannette
    caseylannette Member Posts: 4
    Sundanceh said:

    Casey:)
    I've never heard of a port being installed over the heart - majority of us have it under the collar bone on the left or right side.

    You don't mention where you are being radiated...is it in the chest near the heart? I'm assuming it is near that area since you are in pain when they hook your port up for infusion.

    That pain in your leg or hand going numb is not normal - you might want to see about getting a CT scan to determine if there is a blockage. Radiation creates alot of scar tissue.

    -Craig

    no my radiation is on my
    no my radiation is on my bottom and top of me as i have collerrectual cancer, its not directly over my heart but close they did a scan when I complained about it because they thought maybe it was a bloodclot as the surgeun puncurted my lung 15% when she put it in, but they didnt find anything so im 5 weeks in and it hurts worse than the cancer, it aches as well as the fore mentioned i have to wear the tennessee oncology bag around my waist and im hooked up 24/7 to it they change it once a week i just dont know how much more i can take, im trying to fight for my family but i have to be truthful and say sometimes id rather give up :(
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member

    no my radiation is on my
    no my radiation is on my bottom and top of me as i have collerrectual cancer, its not directly over my heart but close they did a scan when I complained about it because they thought maybe it was a bloodclot as the surgeun puncurted my lung 15% when she put it in, but they didnt find anything so im 5 weeks in and it hurts worse than the cancer, it aches as well as the fore mentioned i have to wear the tennessee oncology bag around my waist and im hooked up 24/7 to it they change it once a week i just dont know how much more i can take, im trying to fight for my family but i have to be truthful and say sometimes id rather give up :(

    Let's Don't Give In.....Not Just Yet...
    Hi Casey

    I know how all of this is to mess with, believe me I do.

    I have been fighting cancer for 7-years now - just finished my latest battle of 10 months for my 3rd recurrence of cancer. I've had 4 major surgeries and way too many surgical procedures to even remember anymore.

    Pain and Suffering - I soooo get it.

    I've got a really good idea. Rather than giving in, just take my hand and let's walk through all of this together. We really can do this....I know we have to keep trying. Your picture says you're much too young to put a stamp on this one and mail it in.

    5-weeks is alot of time to be in such pain. If the surgeon punctured the lung, there could still be issues....there's obviously a lot of tenderness and associated pain, so there could be a partial blockage or a clot could have developed these past few weeks.

    It might be a good idea to request your onc to order another test to get a fresh perspective and some fresh eyeballs to look this over again. Don't just accept this, Casey - ask questions again and again - stay persistent and ask for what you need.

    You might want to consider another opinion from another facility if your current place is not open to the possibilities and regarding your recent issue.

    It's your life here, Casey, and unfortunately, you are going to have be the one that sometimes has to "drive." Would hate to see you get even worse by not looking into this further.

    Please don't give in - please keep trying - and see how things progress. If it really gets to be too much, then any of us understand that, but first double up your fists and get ready to hit this cancer in the nose. I'm a believer in fighting hard or I would not have made it these past seven years.

    As far as how much you can take - I've always found when we can take alot more than we give ourselves credit for. You can do this and myself and everyone will be here with you. You will not have to walk alone anymore.

    -Craig
  • caseylannette
    caseylannette Member Posts: 4
    Sundanceh said:

    Let's Don't Give In.....Not Just Yet...
    Hi Casey

    I know how all of this is to mess with, believe me I do.

    I have been fighting cancer for 7-years now - just finished my latest battle of 10 months for my 3rd recurrence of cancer. I've had 4 major surgeries and way too many surgical procedures to even remember anymore.

    Pain and Suffering - I soooo get it.

    I've got a really good idea. Rather than giving in, just take my hand and let's walk through all of this together. We really can do this....I know we have to keep trying. Your picture says you're much too young to put a stamp on this one and mail it in.

    5-weeks is alot of time to be in such pain. If the surgeon punctured the lung, there could still be issues....there's obviously a lot of tenderness and associated pain, so there could be a partial blockage or a clot could have developed these past few weeks.

    It might be a good idea to request your onc to order another test to get a fresh perspective and some fresh eyeballs to look this over again. Don't just accept this, Casey - ask questions again and again - stay persistent and ask for what you need.

    You might want to consider another opinion from another facility if your current place is not open to the possibilities and regarding your recent issue.

    It's your life here, Casey, and unfortunately, you are going to have be the one that sometimes has to "drive." Would hate to see you get even worse by not looking into this further.

    Please don't give in - please keep trying - and see how things progress. If it really gets to be too much, then any of us understand that, but first double up your fists and get ready to hit this cancer in the nose. I'm a believer in fighting hard or I would not have made it these past seven years.

    As far as how much you can take - I've always found when we can take alot more than we give ourselves credit for. You can do this and myself and everyone will be here with you. You will not have to walk alone anymore.

    -Craig

    thank you
    Craig,

    Thank you I needed to hear that its hard for those around you to really understand how sick the chemo makes you feel how the radiation peels your skin off, but by the grace of God go I, and 10 years wow you really are a survivor Im really impressed than my 5 weeks isnt much at all, thank you my friend I needed someone whos been in my shoes to show me the steps and that I too can do it, have a good rest of the day and I get chemo thursday and Ill ask again about my port.
  • BettyJoM
    BettyJoM Member Posts: 82
    Sundanceh said:

    Let's Don't Give In.....Not Just Yet...
    Hi Casey

    I know how all of this is to mess with, believe me I do.

    I have been fighting cancer for 7-years now - just finished my latest battle of 10 months for my 3rd recurrence of cancer. I've had 4 major surgeries and way too many surgical procedures to even remember anymore.

    Pain and Suffering - I soooo get it.

    I've got a really good idea. Rather than giving in, just take my hand and let's walk through all of this together. We really can do this....I know we have to keep trying. Your picture says you're much too young to put a stamp on this one and mail it in.

    5-weeks is alot of time to be in such pain. If the surgeon punctured the lung, there could still be issues....there's obviously a lot of tenderness and associated pain, so there could be a partial blockage or a clot could have developed these past few weeks.

    It might be a good idea to request your onc to order another test to get a fresh perspective and some fresh eyeballs to look this over again. Don't just accept this, Casey - ask questions again and again - stay persistent and ask for what you need.

    You might want to consider another opinion from another facility if your current place is not open to the possibilities and regarding your recent issue.

    It's your life here, Casey, and unfortunately, you are going to have be the one that sometimes has to "drive." Would hate to see you get even worse by not looking into this further.

    Please don't give in - please keep trying - and see how things progress. If it really gets to be too much, then any of us understand that, but first double up your fists and get ready to hit this cancer in the nose. I'm a believer in fighting hard or I would not have made it these past seven years.

    As far as how much you can take - I've always found when we can take alot more than we give ourselves credit for. You can do this and myself and everyone will be here with you. You will not have to walk alone anymore.

    -Craig

    Craig,
    I think you are

    Craig,
    I think you are wonderful. you have a way with words and a big heart. so good of you to calm her down and help her through this. The beginning is so frightening. I thought I was a new comer since my surgery was in Sept.
    I wish I had found this site sooner. I floundered by myself for such a long time. It helps just to read.
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member

    thank you
    Craig,

    Thank you I needed to hear that its hard for those around you to really understand how sick the chemo makes you feel how the radiation peels your skin off, but by the grace of God go I, and 10 years wow you really are a survivor Im really impressed than my 5 weeks isnt much at all, thank you my friend I needed someone whos been in my shoes to show me the steps and that I too can do it, have a good rest of the day and I get chemo thursday and Ill ask again about my port.

    As always, Craig gives good advice
    Have your port placement checked out. When mine was placed, the nurses wouldn't believe me when I told them how much pain I was in, and kept insisting it was a "2-tylenol procedure" while I was crying for pain meds. The surgeon knew I'd had a CT scan following my port placement, checked it, and found that my port had twisted back on itself. This was all the day of the port placement.

    They kept me overnight and replaced the port in the morning, and I was fine.

    Things happen. I know you are 5 weeks out, but things still can happen, and when they are unusual complications (as mine was) sometimes the medical crew don't take you seriously.

    INSIST THAT THEY CHECK YOUR PORT!

    Best,
    Alice