Port Surgery...thoughts?

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Comments

  • arkansasgirl
    arkansasgirl Member Posts: 84
    #22
    PORT THOUGHTS TOO!
    Hi

    I had my port put in on Monday and chemo on Friday. I was in operating room and recovery
    about half day. I was knocked completely out. But here is what I didn't understand -
    I have taken 6 treaments of chemo every 3 weeks and not 1 time did anyone say we have
    a cream or spray you could use to help deal with the pain when they put the needle in
    for chemo. I sat in a chair and the nurse says take a deep breath and let it out and
    when you are letting it out they stick you and for me it hurt like ????. Once it's in
    it was ok. May sure you have some lifesavers or hard candy in your mouth because when
    they flush it you get a funny taste in your mouth. I have a very rare BC that chemo and
    radiation has no effect but I can tell you I'm CANCER FREE right now. AS for how long the
    port will stay in, my onc said at least a year. My surgeon said when she takes it out, it
    will be done in the office which really freaks me out. I can't imagine that!!!
    Our prayers will be with you. So stay strong!!
    The cancer won the 1st battle and I won the 2nd but the war is not over for I will not
    give up.


    Arkansasgirl
  • arkansasgirl
    arkansasgirl Member Posts: 84
    #23
    PORT THOUGHTS TOO!
    Hi

    I had my port put in on Monday and chemo on Friday. I was in operating room and recovery
    about half day. I was knocked completely out. But here is what I didn't understand -
    I have taken 6 treaments of chemo every 3 weeks and not 1 time did anyone say we have
    a cream or spray you could use to help deal with the pain when they put the needle in
    for chemo. I sat in a chair and the nurse says take a deep breath and let it out and
    when you are letting it out they stick you and for me it hurt like ????. Once it's in
    it was ok. May sure you have some lifesavers or hard candy in your mouth because when
    they flush it you get a funny taste in your mouth. I have a very rare BC that chemo and
    radiation has no effect but I can tell you I'm CANCER FREE right now. AS for how long the
    port will stay in, my onc said at least a year. My surgeon said when she takes it out, it
    will be done in the office which really freaks me out. I can't imagine that!!!
    Our prayers will be with you. So stay strong!!
    The cancer won the 1st battle and I won the 2nd but the war is not over for I will not
    give up.


    Arkansasgirl
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #24
    Willijean said:

    Port
    I had the Pas Port put into my arm and it was easy and I was able to start chemo two days later and with the lidocaine didn't feel a thing. It's easy get put in and didn't even need pain pills like with my lumpectomies. My first chemo was without a port so I definitely can recommend the port. It makes it so much easier.

    I thinks it's doable in one day because the cream numbs it and you don't feel the needle go in just a little pressure. I think the arm is better than the chest but then I'm right handed and the port's in my left arm. My surgeon thought it'd be easier caring for my granddaughter who is 1 to have it in the arm rather than chest. You get to choose.

    The more you know the easier it'll go. Praying it'll all go well for you.

    Willijean

    Just wishing you good luck
    Just wishing you good luck Marci!
  • Flakey_Flake
    Flakey_Flake Member Posts: 130
    #25
    canoegirl said:

    Thanks ladies!
    I didn't know they would consider putting it in the arm. My father-in-law had a "stint" in his arm that worked just like the port for dialysis.

    I've got the cream, but the doctor told me the nurse would tell me how to use it and with all the hassel of getting my blood work (had to get the vampire specialist to get blood out of me) they forgot. Do I just put it on the port area and rub it in like hand cream? Or do I put a "glop" of the stuff on? Cover it with a bandaid? Leave it uncovered? The tech at the pharmacy told me to put it on at least an hour before hand. Maybe I should go read the package, haven't done that yet. Any advice?

    Marcy

    Cream Instructions
    I use the cream. The directions say to put it only 1 hr before, but I get better results applying it at least 2 hrs before. When my nurse gave me directions, she said to put it on as thick as you might put frosting on a cake. You don't rub it in. Just put a thick blob over your port area. I cover it with a piece of plastic food wrap. It sticks to the cream, and keeps it off your clothes. A bandaid might work if you had one of the large square ones, but why buy something you don't really need? I don't think you would want to leave it uncovered just because it would be a real pain to keep it off your clothes and on your skin. Only once did I have my blob move. I am blaming my bra strap for that. Good Luck Marcy. Once you go through it a couple times it will become routine. Hang in there!

    Sharon
  • dash4
    dash4 Member Posts: 303 Member
    #26
    arkansasgirl said:

    PORT THOUGHTS TOO!
    Hi

    I had my port put in on Monday and chemo on Friday. I was in operating room and recovery
    about half day. I was knocked completely out. But here is what I didn't understand -
    I have taken 6 treaments of chemo every 3 weeks and not 1 time did anyone say we have
    a cream or spray you could use to help deal with the pain when they put the needle in
    for chemo. I sat in a chair and the nurse says take a deep breath and let it out and
    when you are letting it out they stick you and for me it hurt like ????. Once it's in
    it was ok. May sure you have some lifesavers or hard candy in your mouth because when
    they flush it you get a funny taste in your mouth. I have a very rare BC that chemo and
    radiation has no effect but I can tell you I'm CANCER FREE right now. AS for how long the
    port will stay in, my onc said at least a year. My surgeon said when she takes it out, it
    will be done in the office which really freaks me out. I can't imagine that!!!
    Our prayers will be with you. So stay strong!!
    The cancer won the 1st battle and I won the 2nd but the war is not over for I will not
    give up.


    Arkansasgirl

    impressed..
    Your faith and your strength is impressive and encouraging...thank you for sharing.
    Mary Kay
  • ms_independent
    ms_independent Member Posts: 214
    #27
    canoegirl said:

    Thanks ladies!
    I didn't know they would consider putting it in the arm. My father-in-law had a "stint" in his arm that worked just like the port for dialysis.

    I've got the cream, but the doctor told me the nurse would tell me how to use it and with all the hassel of getting my blood work (had to get the vampire specialist to get blood out of me) they forgot. Do I just put it on the port area and rub it in like hand cream? Or do I put a "glop" of the stuff on? Cover it with a bandaid? Leave it uncovered? The tech at the pharmacy told me to put it on at least an hour before hand. Maybe I should go read the package, haven't done that yet. Any advice?

    Marcy

    More cream instructions

    You want to cover the cream with plastic wrap or tegaderm (sticky plastic). something about it not allowing air flow is important in getting the cream to work it's best. You can get tegaderm at the drug store (i'm sure there's a generic) if you're afraid the plastic wrap will move around too much.

    Sorry, I'm on my nurse soap box again. I haven't worked for over a year (several reasons including bc) and I so badly need to be a nurse again! Hope it helps!

    Hugs, El
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143
    #28
    Sounds like you have everything all set
    Good luck tomorrow, Marcy! Just put on that Emla cream in a thick layer about an hour or so before your chemo session starts. You'll do fine. Let us know how it all went.

    Mimi
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #29
    mimivac said:

    Sounds like you have everything all set
    Good luck tomorrow, Marcy! Just put on that Emla cream in a thick layer about an hour or so before your chemo session starts. You'll do fine. Let us know how it all went.

    Mimi

    Wishing you good luck
    Wishing you good luck tomorrow too! Keep us updated!
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    #30
    Kylez said:

    Wishing you good luck
    Wishing you good luck tomorrow too! Keep us updated!

    I used the cream with a large bandaid
    and it worked great. I do agree with the 2 hours, though. So you should put it on right after the surgery. Maybe a nurse will do it for you. Use a huge glob and make sure it surrounds the area in case they poke you in a place you didn't expect!
    I agree that the port is the way to go. The day you're having yours put in, I'm at the surgeon's office finding out about taking mine out! and it seems like only 6 mos ago I was in your shoes.... oh WAIT it was 6 mos ago! hahaha I'm so happy to be saying goodbye to it! But so happy I had it! Good luck and God bless.
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    #31
    I Love My Port
    I love my port. I know that it scares some and some don't want another scar, but I think it has been the best thing for me. I don't have very good veins and now that my lymph nodes have been removed on my right side, the port works really well for me. It's your choice. They put me under and inserted it. You are quite sore afterwards but nothing major. It's nothing that requires constant supervision. And yes. Get you something to calm you down. It does help take the edge off of everything you have to deal with.

    P
  • canoegirl
    canoegirl Member Posts: 169
    #32
    aztec45 said:

    I Love My Port
    I love my port. I know that it scares some and some don't want another scar, but I think it has been the best thing for me. I don't have very good veins and now that my lymph nodes have been removed on my right side, the port works really well for me. It's your choice. They put me under and inserted it. You are quite sore afterwards but nothing major. It's nothing that requires constant supervision. And yes. Get you something to calm you down. It does help take the edge off of everything you have to deal with.

    P

    Thanks for the support
    Thanks for the support everybody! I'm off first thing tomorrow morning for the port and then on to the chemo. Guess I should go pack a bag with all my meds, the cream and some snacks, etc.

    I'll let you know how it goes.
    Hugs,
    Marcy

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