What Size is YOUR Port?????

idlehunters
idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Evidently there are multiple sizes for ports. Size indicator must be the rubber ring just under the skin???? I was told they range in size from an area the size of an eraser tip to that of a nickel. I knew mine was small (LOL..uh huh)...but in this case it is not a good thing. It evidently limits "work space" for needles. The smaller the area to work in the higher degree of tissue damage since they are constantly sticking the same place. That is what was found when I had the dye put thru my port yesterday. They said all internal parts were working beautifully and my reason for pain could only be the built up scar tissue at port entrance. This is why it hurts so much at the beginning of infusions and for 20 minutes into it until pain subsides. They suggested reverting back to the numbing patch I used in the beginning. I will definately give it a try. I was just really happy to know all internal stuff was good. I can get thru that initial pain with other methods.

They said port size is determined by the doctor installing it. It is a preference by them. If I would have known this at the time I had my port installed I would have insisted on a big one... (LOL...uh huh) all righty then.... think I will just leave that at that. SOOOOO..question is..... HOW BIG IS YOURS?????? Ya'll have a great day .. Luv ya!

Jennie
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Comments

  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    idlehunter
    well size does matter ha ha ha I don't have one anymore but when I did I had a big one the size of a quarter makes me wonder what was on the mind of my surgen when he chose it...LOL
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    My port
    is about the size of a quarter.It is a Bard.
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    Jaylo969 said:

    My port
    is about the size of a quarter.It is a Bard.

    A QUARTER!!
    Dang........... I am jealous!!!!!!! For real!!!

    Jennie
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member

    A QUARTER!!
    Dang........... I am jealous!!!!!!! For real!!!

    Jennie

    a quarter
    Yes and it was very uncomfortable was glad to have it removed....I am really talking about the port...
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    Mine is also the size of a
    Mine is also the size of a quarter. It is named Power Port. I have never had a problem with pain. It’s been in 20 months. Comes out next month. I did see that there was a recall on some needles as they were not just making an opening, they were cutting plugs and pushing the plugs into your blood stream.

    What made me mad was during 2 hospital stays, I had to raze hell to make them use the port for IVs. At one major hospital in St. Louis. They removed an IV and put a cap on it. That night I woke up soaked in blood. The nurse did not put the cap on right. I have had to teach 2 nurses how to use the port and flush it. That I can understand. I would suggest to anyone with a port to learn “How to use and How to flush”. One of the questions that seemed common was what size needle to use. My port is ¾ inch as it is shallow. The choice is 1 inch or ¾ inch. I can use both. The amount of heparin to use after flushing is 5cc.
  • TxKayaker
    TxKayaker Member Posts: 176
    Kerry S said:

    Mine is also the size of a
    Mine is also the size of a quarter. It is named Power Port. I have never had a problem with pain. It’s been in 20 months. Comes out next month. I did see that there was a recall on some needles as they were not just making an opening, they were cutting plugs and pushing the plugs into your blood stream.

    What made me mad was during 2 hospital stays, I had to raze hell to make them use the port for IVs. At one major hospital in St. Louis. They removed an IV and put a cap on it. That night I woke up soaked in blood. The nurse did not put the cap on right. I have had to teach 2 nurses how to use the port and flush it. That I can understand. I would suggest to anyone with a port to learn “How to use and How to flush”. One of the questions that seemed common was what size needle to use. My port is ¾ inch as it is shallow. The choice is 1 inch or ¾ inch. I can use both. The amount of heparin to use after flushing is 5cc.

    I can relate to you having
    I can relate to you having to teach the nurses how to flush the port. When I was in the hospital last December for my colostomy take down it took 3 nurses to gather enough information just to flush my port. After getting stuck numerous times they finally got it to flush I think the needle size was the issue.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    I had a Power Port also and
    I had a Power Port also and the access area was also quarter sized. :- )
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    size?
    I don't know the size, but I never have problems with mine! I scoff when they suggest using any pain pre-med before access! I've had this one in since 2006. I do know it's not a power port, so if I'm having scans, they have to access a vein, but for all other things I insist on port access, it's just easier for me, which is really all that matters anyhow! Never heard of the breaking off chunks stuff, ick! Still not going to worry about it, though, there's enough to worry about without adding to the list!
    mary
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    Mine is a power port, too.
    Mine is a power port, too. About the size of a quarter and is very grateful I have one because my arm veins are terrible.
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    HollyID said:

    Mine is a power port, too.
    Mine is a power port, too. About the size of a quarter and is very grateful I have one because my arm veins are terrible.

    Options should be Offered
    I had no idea there were different types out there. I was ignorant on the subject of "ports"....but then again I was not up on anything "cancer" related. I have a Port-A-Cath. My size is barely that of an eraser tip. I definately would have opted for a Power Port. I know that option should have been available since I had mine installed at what was rated "one of the best"... M.D. Anderson..... but it was not even mentioned, offered..or nothing. I thought what I was getting was "IT"..... oh boy... live and learn.

    Jennie

    At any rate.... what I did get I suppose I should be thankful for. Afterall, it did do it's purpose and I am sooooooooooo thankful for that!!!!
  • GOOFYLADIE
    GOOFYLADIE Member Posts: 232 Member

    Options should be Offered
    I had no idea there were different types out there. I was ignorant on the subject of "ports"....but then again I was not up on anything "cancer" related. I have a Port-A-Cath. My size is barely that of an eraser tip. I definately would have opted for a Power Port. I know that option should have been available since I had mine installed at what was rated "one of the best"... M.D. Anderson..... but it was not even mentioned, offered..or nothing. I thought what I was getting was "IT"..... oh boy... live and learn.

    Jennie

    At any rate.... what I did get I suppose I should be thankful for. Afterall, it did do it's purpose and I am sooooooooooo thankful for that!!!!

    Leave it to the Semis
    My Surgeon was 6'7" tall I will leave at that! My port was a huge pain in the butt!LOL No pun intended, but funny anyway. I had no meat on my body, and there was no great place to put it. Mine was the size of a quarter, felt like half dollar.LOL But they removed it after 4 or 5 months because it caused more pain than being stuck a few times in the arm so anyway leave it to Semis to talk about bigger is better! Not necessarily!
    Love to all
    Goofyladie (Cass)
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member

    Options should be Offered
    I had no idea there were different types out there. I was ignorant on the subject of "ports"....but then again I was not up on anything "cancer" related. I have a Port-A-Cath. My size is barely that of an eraser tip. I definately would have opted for a Power Port. I know that option should have been available since I had mine installed at what was rated "one of the best"... M.D. Anderson..... but it was not even mentioned, offered..or nothing. I thought what I was getting was "IT"..... oh boy... live and learn.

    Jennie

    At any rate.... what I did get I suppose I should be thankful for. Afterall, it did do it's purpose and I am sooooooooooo thankful for that!!!!

    Hi Jennie,
    I have a "power

    Hi Jennie,

    I have a "power port", + it is about the size of a quarter. I got mine in June of 2009 + I was one of the first to get it @ my cancer centre (one of the largest in Canada), so I think maybe it wasn't approved in Canada until relatively recently but often the US approves things before Canada.
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Port
    I went over to double check George's port and like the others, it is about the size of a quarter or a little large. He has never had any pain with other than the needle pick when they access it. As far as "Is bigger better" that depends, you know..ummmm...lets leave it at that. Take care Tina
  • ann2008
    ann2008 Member Posts: 118
    Jennie
    I think you and I have the same size..small. When I circle it with my fingers it is about the size of a dime. My usual nurses had no trouble accessing it but if a new one was there they seemed to have trouble. If I felt or heard a "clink" then they missed the rubber hole. I have them access it for blood work because I have poor veins. I also was not asked when the doc put it in what size I needed, but would have liked a powerport...Ann
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    lidocaine cream
    Hi Jennie,

    It amazes me again how we've had some similar situations. My blood pressure is now doing better too- thank goodness.
    Anyhow, about the port...I think mine is fairly small too. After being punctured many, many times in the past 2-1/2 yrs, I've definitely got a build up of scar tissue on the skin over my port. Puncturing it was difficult and the nurse said it became "leatherized" from scar tissue. After that, I was given a prescription for lidocaine cream (also has something else in it too for softening the tissue). I put it on about an hour before it needs to be accessed and it definitely makes things easier. Then they spray the awful freezing spray on it before they puncture it.
    Ask about the cream- maybe you can use that in addition to the patch.

    Take care-
    Lisa
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    Hey Jennie,
    Back in the day

    Hey Jennie,
    Back in the day I would have had a tremendous amount of fun responding to the question, "How big is yours?" I think I've got too much FOLFOX running through me right now to come up with anything. Mine is about the size of a medium banana - I mean a nickel. It hasn't drawn in several treatments. I'll get a new one put in soon when my platelets go back up. Aside from that I haven't had any problems. Everything seems to working fine and the nurses are always impressed.
    How the BP today?
    Roger
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    I think you just changed
    I think you just changed your picture while I was responding to your post. First you want to know how big it is. Now you're showing us pictures of your new car? The hottest car on the road. Silver with racing stripes. SMOKIN'!!!!
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    siiiigggghhhh
    I never got to have one ,seems they couldn'd make em out of stone. Had to do with @##$%%%^ big needles they stuck in the back of my hand each week.Ron.
  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member
    mine's the size of a
    mine's the size of a quarter. I had a smaller one on my right side initially, but it got infected (tagaderm patches) so they put a larger one / power port in my left. I hate it. it gives the nurses fits because it doesn't always kick back blood at first so they ahve to move me around, flush me 10 times etc....the skin/flap gets too thick or something.

    peggy