having port put in very nervous hate needles !!!!

That's funny because I am
That's funny because I am having my port removed in two weeks (in the O.R.) I had mine placed during my BMX back in Sept. I've had it flushed many times and it does not hurt at all. Are you having yours done in the OR, or at Dr's office? Some people have it inserted using only local anesthetic. Others have it installed in the OR under general anesthesia. My Doctor said I had to have General instead of local. No biggie after what I have been through these past 10 months! Good luck to you. My prayers will be with you.

Peace,
Dianne

DD
Hi Dee,
I hate needles too and was very nervous about getting my port put in. I was put to sleep (per my request). For me, the pain wasn't bad at all, I only took the pain meds for a few days. Getting flushed isn't painful either. A useful tip: Get the Lidocaine cream!! You won't feel anything but a little pressure if you put it on about an hour before you go in. I can't believe I'd ever say this, but I am so glad to have this port & thank God for the cream!
♥ Cat

4slurpee said:

Port was great!
I too hate needles, but I loved my port. Ask your place for chemo. or your dr. for the numbing cream - EMLA cream. They will give you a script. Put it generously on the port area an hr. before chemo. and cover with plastic wrap taped on to prevent getting on your shirt. It will numb the area. They usually also use a freezing spray when you get there. You don't even feel the needle go in after that - really! Regarding installing the port, I had soreness in the area for a few days, but that is nothing in comparison to the benefits having that port in gave me.

The girls covered it all
The girls covered it all Dee, I too had an easy time. If you hate needles this is definitely the best way to go. I just wanted to chime in and wish you well with your port surgery and upcoming chemo treatments.

Hugs,
Lorrie

We're all different!
My port was put in in OR. It was a bit tender for a while but no pain. i did gt out of doing heavy barn chores for 2 weeks as Hubby and Son insisted on doing everything heavy for 2 weeks. A couple of days after implant I was back riding and giving lessons with no problems at all.

Flushes - while you're doing Chemo you don't really do fushes - everytime you have an infusion the port is flushed. Flushes come monthly or every 6 weeks depending on the Center you use - the info from the manufacturere of my port says every 28 days but the Center I did Chemo at says every 6 weeks. My flushes are done at the VA Clinic and they want to do what the manufacturer says so I do them every 4 weeks.

The CCI I went to had numbing spray they used and it was just a slight prick with it. I did have my port accessed once for a CT scan at the hospital and they had no numbing - it HURT. Now, for my monthly flushes, I use generic EMLA cream and never feel anything.

My port has never been accessed for blood draws - an RN or MD has to access them and the CCI I went to uses a Phlebotomist for blood draws so no port accesses and it doesn't bother me at all to have draws done - I have great veins.

My port has been in for almost 22 months and I plan on it staying there for another 3 yrs 2 months - the 'majik' 5 years - just in case. But then, I'm IBC which only has a 25% - 40% odds of making it to 5 years.

PLease remember - We are all different. There is no one who has experienced exactly what you will.

Susan

Dee
by this time your port is probably already placed. I had a Purple Power Port placed as an outpatient in the hospital. All went well and it healed fast. I have poor veins so it made having chemo very easy. No one but my oncology nurses were allowed access to my port. It was never used for routine blood work. I had labs done at the cancer center every week and the phlebotomists there were very good at getting my blood out of my arm or hand. The port was removed one month after finishing chemo the same way it was placed. I healed very well. Hope all went well with yours.
{{hugs}} Char

Love My Port
Outpatient surgery to install (twilight anesthesia) was easy, no post-surgical pain. and believe me, the benefits of NOT having to get chemo in a vein are well worth it! Did you know that if your vein breaks and A/C (not sure which of the two drugs is the culprit, probably Adriamycin) leaks into your arm it can permanently destroy tissue? As far as I am concerned, it just doesn't make sense to say no to a port.

tommaseena said:

Dee
Dee,
You didn't mention whether they were going to do the procedure under general or conscious sedation. Everyone is different. I have a high pain and drug tolerance and had mine under conscious sedation and felt everything and when they removed it I requested general anesthesia. Most don't feel anything under conscious sedation.

Since surgery(bilateral w/reconstruction) and chemo my pain tolerance is very high and when I had a colonscopy they had to give me 4 doses of the meds so they could do they test.
Maybe I am getting this all mixed up--maybe my tolerance is lower now.
I am one of the few.

Margo

PS when I had my bilateral mastectomy and came home I took one pain pill and really didn't need it.

I wish you the best. HUGS

Diva Dee .. How ya doing???
Thinking about you ...


Vicki Sam