port problem question *update at bottom*

thxmiker said:

Has the Port been flushed
Has the Port been flushed every 5-6 weeks? It has to be flushed with saline and then filled with heparin so that it will not clog.

Best Always, mike

Maybe try laying down, as i had to do for mine to work....
Something had moved and blocked something--don't remember details but if i was laying down, they could draw blood and then start infusion, after which i could sit up, walk around, etc (Everyone neglected to tell me port needed flushing between end of pre- and start of post- op chemo, for which i used one and then a second PICC....Hoping solution is easy....steve

coloCan said:

Maybe try laying down, as i had to do for mine to work....
Something had moved and blocked something--don't remember details but if i was laying down, they could draw blood and then start infusion, after which i could sit up, walk around, etc (Everyone neglected to tell me port needed flushing between end of pre- and start of post- op chemo, for which i used one and then a second PICC....Hoping solution is easy....steve

Robert has had
his port for 2.5 years. He was taking no chemo for the last 6 months..they tried to flush it every month, but even tho it took in, they couldn't get blood out. Two weeks before he started chemo again, the nurses tried again to flush it with heparin. Made him sit for 30 min and advised if this didn't work, he'd have to go for x-rays to see what the problem was...This time it worked...they were talking about having the port replaced if it couldn't be opened up. No one seemed too concerned if it went that way.
Hope they can resolve the problem

Angela

Kathleen808 said:

blood clot
Hi All,
Thank you for all your information. I truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experiences with us. **** went in for an x-ray/angio. The radiologist watched as they inserted dye and they said there is a clot at the tip of the port. The dye eventually made its way into the vein. They mentioned 3 options. 1 - medicine to see if the clot resolves (don't know how they would do this yet). 2 - go in through the groin and try to strip the clot. 3 - new port.

We are waiting to find out if he gets chemo today. They think it will work. There are a few things we need to consider. **** is on Avastin so there would have to be a waiting period for surgery. Also we are going to Cape Cod end of June for 3 weeks. We are really looking forward to this trip. **** is from Boston and spent time on the Cape each summer. We have been taking the girls there every two years but missed last year because of cancer. So.......

Looking for info again.

Thanks.

Aloha,

Hi Kathleen:
George had a similar problem. What happened is the tip of the port had what they called a "sheath" covering it. When they drew in, it covered the tip but when they pushed in, it would come away from the tip. Now the docs at the hospital were a little more aggressive but still, the sheath remained. So they put in some "clot busting" stuff in thru the port and usually this works. You have to sit for a while, moving your arms and such, and it dissolves things. The nurse will come over and try to get a blood draw and if not, let it sit in there a little longer. Well, afte 5 hours and 2 treatments it just was not working and they would not do chemo because of it. We even left the medicine in over the weekend and it didn't dissolve it. The port was replaced. George is also on Avastin and replacing the port was not a problem, he only missed one treatment. George gets treatments weekly. The nurse at the chemo lab said you can access a port just a few days after you get it and that is what happened.

Going in thru the groin to bust up a clot sounds a little tricky to me.

They should be able to fix this pretty quick for ****. Generally the clot busting stuff works really well so I sure would give that a shot.

I called the colorectal surgeon about a new port since he put in the old one and he worked his schedule and put the new one in two days after I stopped by the office.

George is on his 3rd port.

Hope this helps - Tina

Port problems
My husband had his first port put in on the left in 2004--constantly had problems and had to vary body position to keep it working when he was being infused. When he went for his last visit to MD in Sept. 2004 they couldn't flush it and he had a funny feeling in his chest--later that day he went for an xray and part of the port had broken off and was in his lung--that little sucker went through his heart. They fished it out through his heart and out his groin. No problems after that but very traumatic for both of us. This time he had his port put in on the right and is experiencing no problems with occulusion etc. Hope this helps.

Kathleen808 said:

Hello
Hello Friends,
Well all was well when they pulled blood from the port today. Both sides worked. **** is now being infused and he is sleeping.
I am getting some work done for next school year while I wait in his room. He gets a break from driving himself to and from chemo when I am home for the summer. (We have had many friends volunteer but he does not like other people to see him when he is on chemo.)
Thanks for all your support.

Aloha,
Kathleen

I understand
Kathleen! I always drove myself to chemo too. I could and saw no reason why someone needed to do it for me. I kind of thought that I would do it as long as I could and not "burn" out my family and friends, not to mention feeling like I had to "entertain" someone was way too stressful.

And Happy Birthday to you and your daughter. You know you have many here sending you cyber hugs and kisses!

Lisa P.

Kathleen808 said:

better
Good news. They shot some medicine into ****'s port and after about 3 hours everything cleared up. They were eventually able to get blood from both sides. Spent all day at the hospital, no chemo but port is working. **** is now scheduled for chemo tomorrow which means unhooking on Friday which is our 16 year olds birthday and my birthday. That's a bummer but I am soooooooooo grateful to still have him here with us. We will celebrate next week when he is feeling better.
Thanks for all the good thoughts and info.
Tina, bummer that they had to take out George's port but it sounds like it all worked out fine. I guess this is just another bump in the road.

You are all the best!!

Aloha,
Kathleen

Whew!
Hey, Kathleen.

I'm so glad things are resolved! Sorry about having to postpone your birthday celebrations, but I know you would rather have **** feeling up to it.

*hugs*
Gail

Kathleen808 said:

Hello
Hello Friends,
Well all was well when they pulled blood from the port today. Both sides worked. **** is now being infused and he is sleeping.
I am getting some work done for next school year while I wait in his room. He gets a break from driving himself to and from chemo when I am home for the summer. (We have had many friends volunteer but he does not like other people to see him when he is on chemo.)
Thanks for all your support.

Aloha,
Kathleen

Windward Angels
are standing by to drive people like **** to/from their treatments and doctor's appts. Just give the Cancer Society a call and they'll get you in touch with the Windward coordinator. I know all about not wanting to have friends see you after chemo but it's different with the Angels. We're not shocked and certainly don't judge your appearance. FYI I'm planning to attend the Relay for Life at Kailua H.S. on 7/9. Come out and join in. I'd love to meet you guys.
Laureen