port

24

Comments

  • butterfly23
    butterfly23 Member Posts: 256
    Polly
    Hey Tommy, The surgery is a breeze! Recovery is simple. It will take some getting used to, it will feel a little foreign to you for a while, but I can't imagine having my chemo without it, it is soooo much easier! I actually named mine "POLLY" and NO I am not the only crazy one on this site that named their port! HEE HEE!!! Good luck with everything, let us know how you make out!
    Karyn
  • glinka65
    glinka65 Member Posts: 132
    Shayenne said:

    HAHA!!
    You make me laugh so hard, my kids mock my fanny pack, but it's funny just to hear now you mocking it lol..

    I wonder why you need to go back and get another bag, they just continue mine straight through, without having to go back. I'm glad I have someone here who can laugh with me and the fanny pack. I won't even hang it anywhere, I keep it close to me, even while I sleep because I'm scared of having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and forgetting that I'm attached to it lol.. I dropped it last week, and the alarms started going off, it freaked me out because it kept saying things like "No air dispatched" some really scary things, thinking I was attached to this thing, and it's getting no air! I woke up my husband in a sheer state of panic, and all he had to do was remove the battery and reset it lol...

    Hey, if you can eat or drink while on it, do it, keep your hydrated! lots of fluids, the nurse told me the more fluids you drink, the faster it will flush the chemo out of your system.. I couldn't eat or drink a thing, on the first night I could, but not the 2nd or 3rd.. hopefully they give me something to help that tomorrow :)

    port tomorrow
    hope your treatment gos good!!!!! i will let you and everyone know how the port surgery goes!! i think i got way to nervous!!!! it should be fine!!!!!! thanks for the support!!! talk to ya soon
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    glinka65 said:

    port tomorrow
    hope your treatment gos good!!!!! i will let you and everyone know how the port surgery goes!! i think i got way to nervous!!!! it should be fine!!!!!! thanks for the support!!! talk to ya soon

    Good Luck!
    I'll be thinking of you getting that port put in while I sit and get my chemo tomorrow, if I don't get on for a few days, it's just me recuperating from the chemo, I know you'll do great tomorrow! I'll try and get back on tomorrow night though to see how things went...we are all here to support you, and will talk later!
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342

    Polly
    Hey Tommy, The surgery is a breeze! Recovery is simple. It will take some getting used to, it will feel a little foreign to you for a while, but I can't imagine having my chemo without it, it is soooo much easier! I actually named mine "POLLY" and NO I am not the only crazy one on this site that named their port! HEE HEE!!! Good luck with everything, let us know how you make out!
    Karyn

    Hmm.....
    ...now you got me trying to think of a name for my port lol...
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    port rush
    There was one fun thing when I had my port. I would get a lightheaded feeling almost a rush when they put the needle in. Some get this when they flush the port. I used to look forward to this. The chemo nurses are so good at accessing the ports. Even if you do feel the stick it's so quick and last for a second. Not that way with an IV. Hope you get a rush. God bless.
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    pcs1453 said:

    Easy Money
    As you have read from all the posts, getting the port was a breeze. It was that way for me as well. I was awake for the procedure, just numbed on the spot. The surgeon was great and we talked most of the time. I was more worried about starting chemo the next week. Now, here I am almost at the end of round 3. The port makes hooking up for my infusion very easy but I still can't wait to get rid of it. I am keeping the positive attitude that after round 6 I will be DONE and the port will go. Good Luck with your treatment. I hope all goes well.

    Paula

    Port Surgery
    Paula... I was like you... wide awake for the whole thing. I know they gave me the sleepy drugs but I have such a high tolerance to drugs, they never did take. So I was talking to the nurse and surgeon the whole time, when I was not watching the clock and wondering when it was going to be finished :)

    No problems with the procedure at all. For about a week after the procedure, my right arm was sore as heck and I couldn't lift it... but then that pain just disappeared one day :)

    Hey... don't be too much in a hurry to get rid of the port! It's good to hang onto it for a while after... I think it's recommended up to a year after... on the off chance you might need it again. I ended up having mine taken out about 4 months after my chemo because it appeared to be rubbing on my collarbone, creating quite the discomfort. So far, I have not needed to have it put back in.

    Hugggggs,

    Cheryl
  • irene77
    irene77 Member Posts: 28
    tiny one said:

    port rush
    There was one fun thing when I had my port. I would get a lightheaded feeling almost a rush when they put the needle in. Some get this when they flush the port. I used to look forward to this. The chemo nurses are so good at accessing the ports. Even if you do feel the stick it's so quick and last for a second. Not that way with an IV. Hope you get a rush. God bless.

    port, problem
    Hi Tommy
    It will be a breeze, I had twilight sleep did not feel a thing, could only here the doctors talking about going to Vegas and a cheep air ticket. Had my first Chemo treatment the next day the stick did hurt, just found out about the cream when I went for my Second round of chemo. I still have lots of bruzing around the port. I hate the fanny pack feel like I am in Jail cant wait till the third day when I have to go back to Onc. office to get the needle out.
    I am going to start looking for a nicer looking fanny pack, still have 10 more chemo treatments to go.
    praying for you, Irene
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    Hope all went well
    Hi Tommy, Getting the port is the easiest thing and the smartest thing that I think you can do. I'm so glad I got one put in. It's been accessed over 170 times for chemo and never a problem. I'd hate to think what my veins would be like if I didn't get one put in. I have had times where they could not get blood return from it, but it was letting the chemo in.
    Be well
    -phil
  • glinka65
    glinka65 Member Posts: 132
    PhillieG said:

    Hope all went well
    Hi Tommy, Getting the port is the easiest thing and the smartest thing that I think you can do. I'm so glad I got one put in. It's been accessed over 170 times for chemo and never a problem. I'd hate to think what my veins would be like if I didn't get one put in. I have had times where they could not get blood return from it, but it was letting the chemo in.
    Be well
    -phil

    PORT
    thanks phil it went great a little sore but all is good!!!! chemo next that will be my next nerve attack...lol
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    port
    Hi All,
    Tommy, I didn't want to post this before you got your port in because I didn't want to make you nervous. However, **** said it was very uncomfortable getting his port put in. He has had it in for over a week now and he had to stay on pain meds for 4 days because of the pain. He is still uncomfortable sleeping. Also, he thought he was going to be put under but he was not. He said that it really hurt going in. I share this to see if this was the case for anyone else and to let other new people know it is not a breeze for everyone.
    Tommy, I 'm sure yours went great.
    Kathleen
  • glinka65
    glinka65 Member Posts: 132
    Shayenne said:

    Good Luck!
    I'll be thinking of you getting that port put in while I sit and get my chemo tomorrow, if I don't get on for a few days, it's just me recuperating from the chemo, I know you'll do great tomorrow! I'll try and get back on tomorrow night though to see how things went...we are all here to support you, and will talk later!

    chemo
    hey donna i hope all went well with your treatment today!!!! hope you are up and around soon!!!!!! port went great, thank you for all the support it really really helped!! get your rest and get back on here when ya can!!!!!! keep rockin the fanny pack!!!!!!!!! talk at ya soon
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member

    port
    Hi All,
    Tommy, I didn't want to post this before you got your port in because I didn't want to make you nervous. However, **** said it was very uncomfortable getting his port put in. He has had it in for over a week now and he had to stay on pain meds for 4 days because of the pain. He is still uncomfortable sleeping. Also, he thought he was going to be put under but he was not. He said that it really hurt going in. I share this to see if this was the case for anyone else and to let other new people know it is not a breeze for everyone.
    Tommy, I 'm sure yours went great.
    Kathleen

    like a punch to the chest
    That's how I remember it, it felt like someone punched me...hard. It did take a little time to get over it but in the long run it is worth it.
    Glad yours went well.
    -p
  • glinka65
    glinka65 Member Posts: 132

    port
    Hi All,
    Tommy, I didn't want to post this before you got your port in because I didn't want to make you nervous. However, **** said it was very uncomfortable getting his port put in. He has had it in for over a week now and he had to stay on pain meds for 4 days because of the pain. He is still uncomfortable sleeping. Also, he thought he was going to be put under but he was not. He said that it really hurt going in. I share this to see if this was the case for anyone else and to let other new people know it is not a breeze for everyone.
    Tommy, I 'm sure yours went great.
    Kathleen

    kathleen
    thank god i wa sput under!!!!!! it is a bit sore now but they gave me pain meds , have not taken yet but i probley will before bed!!! thanks for the support i hope **** is doing well!! please keep me posted .....Tommy
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    glinka65 said:

    kathleen
    thank god i wa sput under!!!!!! it is a bit sore now but they gave me pain meds , have not taken yet but i probley will before bed!!! thanks for the support i hope **** is doing well!! please keep me posted .....Tommy

    Yep...
    ..You will be a little sore, not too bad, I took the pain meds because it helped me sleep :)
    Shower with your back to the shower, in fact, I actually took hot baths and washed my hair under the faucet in the kitchen, so I wouldn't get it wet. Mine area was swollen abit for a few weeks as well, and it's looking better now, and as each week goes by, I don't even feel it there anymore, even while I sleep.. just takes time to heal :)

    Man! I can't believe they didn't put **** under anything! poor guy, why did they not put him "twilight?" that's the first thing I ask when I go under any kind of procedure.. "will I be put under" because there is no way they're touching me if it's any kind of surgical, painful procedure..I hope he's feeling better!

    Hugssss to you!
    ~Donna
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    Shayenne said:

    Yep...
    ..You will be a little sore, not too bad, I took the pain meds because it helped me sleep :)
    Shower with your back to the shower, in fact, I actually took hot baths and washed my hair under the faucet in the kitchen, so I wouldn't get it wet. Mine area was swollen abit for a few weeks as well, and it's looking better now, and as each week goes by, I don't even feel it there anymore, even while I sleep.. just takes time to heal :)

    Man! I can't believe they didn't put **** under anything! poor guy, why did they not put him "twilight?" that's the first thing I ask when I go under any kind of procedure.. "will I be put under" because there is no way they're touching me if it's any kind of surgical, painful procedure..I hope he's feeling better!

    Hugssss to you!
    ~Donna

    "twilight"
    Donna... like side affects, "meds" work differently on everyone. When they give me the twilight meds, they do nothing for me either. I was wide awake for the whole port surgery... likewise, I was wide awake for my sigmoidoscopy when they found the tumour, as well as the colonoscopy a few months after the surgery. General Anesthesia will knock me out cold... but the twilight meds are like taking an aspirin ;) I'm more sleepy on a 5mg tablet of Ativan than I am with the meds that are suppose to put you in la-la-land :)

    Sounds like **** may react the same way.

    Of course, the procedure itself, they totally froze the area, so I didn't feel anything he was doing, except for a lot of tugging... but it didn't hurt. Kind of like when you go to the dentist... they can be tugging away and drilling away but you don't feel anything even though you are wide awake. It's when the freezing comes out that I noticed discomfort.

    Kathleen... did **** say the actual procedure hurt?? Because if it did, then that surgeon was NOT paying attention! It's one thing for the patient to be awake, that's not uncommon.. but the area he is working on should be totally frozen so that the patient doesn't feel anything... until the freezing comes out ;)

    Hugggggs,

    Cheryl
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member

    "twilight"
    Donna... like side affects, "meds" work differently on everyone. When they give me the twilight meds, they do nothing for me either. I was wide awake for the whole port surgery... likewise, I was wide awake for my sigmoidoscopy when they found the tumour, as well as the colonoscopy a few months after the surgery. General Anesthesia will knock me out cold... but the twilight meds are like taking an aspirin ;) I'm more sleepy on a 5mg tablet of Ativan than I am with the meds that are suppose to put you in la-la-land :)

    Sounds like **** may react the same way.

    Of course, the procedure itself, they totally froze the area, so I didn't feel anything he was doing, except for a lot of tugging... but it didn't hurt. Kind of like when you go to the dentist... they can be tugging away and drilling away but you don't feel anything even though you are wide awake. It's when the freezing comes out that I noticed discomfort.

    Kathleen... did **** say the actual procedure hurt?? Because if it did, then that surgeon was NOT paying attention! It's one thing for the patient to be awake, that's not uncommon.. but the area he is working on should be totally frozen so that the patient doesn't feel anything... until the freezing comes out ;)

    Hugggggs,

    Cheryl

    it hurt
    Hi,
    I just asked **** and he said they gave him the twilight and it did nothing. He said they poked him 5 times to numb the area and it did not. They kept poking him but the whole thing hurt. I feel so bad for him. I think I would be swinging if I was being hurt.
    Thanks for keeping us informed.
    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342

    it hurt
    Hi,
    I just asked **** and he said they gave him the twilight and it did nothing. He said they poked him 5 times to numb the area and it did not. They kept poking him but the whole thing hurt. I feel so bad for him. I think I would be swinging if I was being hurt.
    Thanks for keeping us informed.
    Aloha,
    Kathleen

    OoOoO....
    He's brave! I would have never let them touch me until they got someone else to do the job, or even put that gas mask on him and knock him out, they would not want to have poked me, I'm not a nice patient when I feel they're not doing me right, I probably would have demanded someone else more competent, or other, stronger drugs, it's sad he had to go through that when it was unnecessary too.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    Shayenne said:

    OoOoO....
    He's brave! I would have never let them touch me until they got someone else to do the job, or even put that gas mask on him and knock him out, they would not want to have poked me, I'm not a nice patient when I feel they're not doing me right, I probably would have demanded someone else more competent, or other, stronger drugs, it's sad he had to go through that when it was unnecessary too.

    Exactly!
    And it wasn't the surgeons' job, it was the anesthesiologists'!
    mary
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    msccolon said:

    Exactly!
    And it wasn't the surgeons' job, it was the anesthesiologists'!
    mary

    Great point Mary about the
    Great point Mary about the anesthesiologist!
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member

    Great point Mary about the
    Great point Mary about the anesthesiologist!

    :)
    I always flirt with my anesthesiologist, figure it can't hurt! I want them doing their UTMOST best when I'm in there!
    mary