Using port first time was a nightmare

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ppurdin
ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181
in Breast Cancer #1

just had it inSaturday.So was still sweld.They had trouble locating it.Took several attempts.Nurses felt bad it was hurting me.I am black and blue even more so now.I will get prescription lotion to put on next time.Swelling should be down next time.So hope it won't be so bad.Everything is harder for me for some reason.Just men's I have to be tuffer.

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  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #2
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    Ouch

    i just had mibne used for th e first time and it was GREAT!  I have had mine for just over a week, I hope it gets better for you too xxx

     

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    edited August 2016 #3
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    Seemed that I often

    Seemed that I often encountered glitches when the nurses would try to access my port for chemo or for blood draws.  At times we even ended up having me go lie down on an examining table, turned to the side or whatever.  (Our running line was that at the rate we were going, I was going to have to stand on my head one of those times.)  My nephew, who has lymphoma, has also sometimes encountered similar problems.  For us, we just dealt with it, managing to see the humor in our situations. 

    Still, I think that in spite of it all, having a port for all the infusions and draws is better than depending on one's veins to be able to manage it.

  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #4
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    Problems with Your Port

    You really do seem to have some of the worst luck, Pat. I'm sorry things went so poorly with your first use of the port. You might want to ask your doctor for a prescription for EMLA cream. It is a mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine. It is spread on your skin over the port and numbs the area so the port can be accessed without pain. You really shouldn't have such a bad experience. I was very glad I got a port since I have small, hard-to-find veins. With a port and good oncology nurses it was one poke and they were in. It WILL get better.

    IRENE

  • twnkltoz
    twnkltoz Member Posts: 169 Member
    #5
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    Sorry to hear that! My first

    Sorry to hear that! My first time was only a few days after it was installed, so it was not fun but not as bad as you describe. It got better by the next infusion. The lidocaine helped me a ton.

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #6
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    Port problem

    They accessed my port 2 days after placement.  They had not prescribed the numbing cream yet so the chemo nurse iced it first and it was ok.  Now I put the cream on 2 hours prior to accessing port and it helps  Port is way better than tearing up your veins. 

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #7
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    I have no experience with a

    I have no experience with a port, but just stopping by to say thinking of you. I hope things go more smoothly next time.

    Denise

  • Iris_G
    Iris_G Member Posts: 50 Member
    edited August 2016 #8
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    Numbing cream tip....

    ppurdin...one of the nurses at my onco's office gave me a tip about the numbing cream.  Put it on really thick right on the port site and don't rub it in, then cover it with a piece of Saran Wrap.  You can do it about an hour before you're to be accessed.  Worked wonders for me.  My port was accessed the day after I had it put in on October 14, 2015! 

  • lemonlime
    lemonlime Member Posts: 1
    #9
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    problems with port

    Hi. I had problems with my port before. it hurt me when we used it for chemo. We had to stop after 15 minutes because I could feel pain etc. I was so frustrated because it took a while to put it in plus my veins were already too thin! We had no choice but to stop using it. We tried again after a month and a half and suddenly there were no more glitches. I do the same as Iris_G. It really helps. I hope everything will be ok with yours.

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