Ports

MichaelaMarie

Hello everyone,

Congratulations to all of you that are having successes with fighting this horrific disease. You give the rest of us so much hope and encouragement. Tomorrow I will be finally getting a port (after almost 5 yrs), and am feeling very nervous for some reason. I would really appreciate hearing your stories, and any problems with the procedure, etc and most importantly any advice! Hang in there everyone and take good care!!! With hugs and prayer, MM

jamilou

Good Luck Tomorrow
Michaela Marie
I never had a port either so I can't help you with that but I did want to let you know that I am thinking of you! Think of how much better it will be to have the port to draw blood and take your treatments. So much better than getting stuck in your arms everytime! I am sending prayers and good thoughts your way!
Jami

saundra

They are great!!!
I got my port ( about midway between the shoulder bone and breast) before starting chemo in March, 2007.
I only get my chemo into it. They draw blood from arm and did not use it when I had the surgery after 4 chemo treatments. It was only sore when someone hugged me too hard...big ole men at church. Sometimes it kind of itches, but I don't even think of it now. It has never stopped up. At first I had them freeze the spot (a disk about the size of a nickel) they stick the needle in because someone told me to do that, but the aerosol spray hurts about equal to the punch. Neither hurt very long, less than a minute.

It did not hurt to put it in.... I think they used demerol and valium to make me la la la. I did not go to sleep. I had no after pain. I did have an allergic reaction to the dressing and had to take it off the next morning after calling the doctor. I am allergic to the new dressing clear tape they use it seems if it stays on over 6 hours. That sore place was worse than the inch incision and took longer to heal.

It has served me well and I still have it although I have not had chemo since Sept. 2008.

That is about all I remember to tell you. Don't worry... (((Soft hugs))) Saundra

MichaelaMarie

saundra said:

They are great!!!
I got my port ( about midway between the shoulder bone and breast) before starting chemo in March, 2007.
I only get my chemo into it. They draw blood from arm and did not use it when I had the surgery after 4 chemo treatments. It was only sore when someone hugged me too hard...big ole men at church. Sometimes it kind of itches, but I don't even think of it now. It has never stopped up. At first I had them freeze the spot (a disk about the size of a nickel) they stick the needle in because someone told me to do that, but the aerosol spray hurts about equal to the punch. Neither hurt very long, less than a minute.

It did not hurt to put it in.... I think they used demerol and valium to make me la la la. I did not go to sleep. I had no after pain. I did have an allergic reaction to the dressing and had to take it off the next morning after calling the doctor. I am allergic to the new dressing clear tape they use it seems if it stays on over 6 hours. That sore place was worse than the inch incision and took longer to heal.

It has served me well and I still have it although I have not had chemo since Sept. 2008.

That is about all I remember to tell you. Don't worry... (((Soft hugs))) Saundra

Ports
Thank you so much, Saundra, for your experience. It is very informative and nerve calming! And, thank you, Jami, for your words of encouragement! I will let you know how it goes tomorrow. Love to you all, MM

Dreamdove

MichaelaMarie said:

Ports
Thank you so much, Saundra, for your experience. It is very informative and nerve calming! And, thank you, Jami, for your words of encouragement! I will let you know how it goes tomorrow. Love to you all, MM

my experience with the port
I didn't have any problems with my port and it was removed some months after chemo. I was always aware it was there in my chest but it never hurt, except immediately after the surgery to put it in. But they gave me morphine for that when I told them it hurt. I was put to sleep to put it in but it was taken out by my doctor right in the office with just local numbing. That went fine. To be honest, however, only one chemo nurse was good at inserting the line before chemo started. She knew just the right spot because she had alot of experience. I was always glad to have her to do it. But one time they had someone else and it hurt. They had to send someone else in to do it because it was attempted 2 or 3 times and by that time I had had enough. I have been told there is some numbing stuff you can put on ahead of time but I never did that. You can ask about that. Other than that, I never had any problems. I am thin so you could always see the port thru my chest but my clothing always covered it. It's been over a year since it was removed but I still have a scar. Having scars on my body doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I have a large one on my stomach also but all of us with ovarian cancer have that, I'm sure.

kris43

LOVE IT
I am one of the people who LOVE my port. It has been a godsend - literally. I have problems with my veins any way - so this port was what let me have my chemo, I get my blood drawn thru it also. I go every six weeks for a "flush" of saline and heparin and the chemo nurses at my local health care clinic do it for me. It doesn't hurt when the access the port at all - a little pinch, but you can have lidocaine first if you'd like. Why get stuck twice is my theory though. lol

In fact, this port in my chest, is the ONLY thing that went right in my whole cancer journey so far. No infections, no blockages, no problems whatsoever. I forget it's there most of the time unless I'm wearing a shirt that you can see it and find someone staring at it.

I was just at the doctor 2 weeks ago and she said it will come out if I do not have a recurrence within 2 years of the end of chemo. I wish I could keep it forever.

Good luck and try not to worry. Take good care and let us know how it goes. Hugs to you!

Kris

knarrly

port
After a really difficult first chemo session, and four nurses working to get a vein, they put my port in. I was awake for the procedure, but it was not that bad. The worst part, I'd say, was getting the shots of the stuff they numb the area with. After that it was a piece of cake. The port is great! I get the same chemo nurse everytime, and she is wonderful at accessing it. It really doesn't hurt for me. The way I see it, it hurts more for them to stab me 7-8 times trying to find a vein in my arm. One stick in my chest is nothing. I did try the creme once, but did not notice any real difference. In addition, they are able to use it for bloodwork at the hospital. (The blood labs I go to weekly can't.) Since it was put in, I've been stuck in the hospital twice. Both times, being in the ER first before being admitted, the ER nurses were also able to access the port sucessfully for IVs. (Although the one nurse missed on the first try.) My doctor said after my chemo is over, she wants it left in for a year "just in case."

MichaelaMarie

knarrly said:

port
After a really difficult first chemo session, and four nurses working to get a vein, they put my port in. I was awake for the procedure, but it was not that bad. The worst part, I'd say, was getting the shots of the stuff they numb the area with. After that it was a piece of cake. The port is great! I get the same chemo nurse everytime, and she is wonderful at accessing it. It really doesn't hurt for me. The way I see it, it hurts more for them to stab me 7-8 times trying to find a vein in my arm. One stick in my chest is nothing. I did try the creme once, but did not notice any real difference. In addition, they are able to use it for bloodwork at the hospital. (The blood labs I go to weekly can't.) Since it was put in, I've been stuck in the hospital twice. Both times, being in the ER first before being admitted, the ER nurses were also able to access the port sucessfully for IVs. (Although the one nurse missed on the first try.) My doctor said after my chemo is over, she wants it left in for a year "just in case."

Ports
Hey, thanks knarrly, Dreamdove and kris for your stories! Well, it's over. It was quite an ordeal yesterday mainly because they had me get there too early and then the procedure was delayed by an hour. They didn't put me out either, and I agree that the only pain is the numbing they do via needles. I felt okay to go home immediately when I got back to my room, but they made me wait two hours. I almost feel like they didn't give me anything, don't know for sure, but definitely didn't feel anything. I did wake up with pain during the night, and it does hurt today. They said I could take Tylenol, but that doesn't help a lot. It looks like it is going to sit fairly high although under the skin. Now, I'm needing to know about housework, etc. The Radiologist that I met the day before with, said I could vacuum in two days. Yesterday the nurse said to wait between 7-10 days. Yikes!!! What did they tell you? What did you do? I'm really anxious to do some things before my next round of chemo starts on Monday (if my WBC is up). This Topotecan sure makes me tired and unmotivated. Also, they gave me a key chain tag and identification card to keep with me at all times. Did you girls all get that too? My port is called a 'Smart port'. They have my neck taped up with the port and it is fairly uncomfortable trying to move my neck. They make an incision on the neck also, don't they? The Radiologist told me that they go into the juglar vein, go down next to the heart, and down to the liver with a wire. It sounded like that all comes back up after they watch it on the monitor. I think all of that story had me extra nervous. But, I'm so grateful and glad that it is all over. I know that I will appreciate it. They even had a hard time getting a vein at the hospital, so my veins were done!!! Thanks, dear friends, for your help. It was very beneficial to me. Many hugs and much love, MM

kris43

MichaelaMarie said:

Ports
Hey, thanks knarrly, Dreamdove and kris for your stories! Well, it's over. It was quite an ordeal yesterday mainly because they had me get there too early and then the procedure was delayed by an hour. They didn't put me out either, and I agree that the only pain is the numbing they do via needles. I felt okay to go home immediately when I got back to my room, but they made me wait two hours. I almost feel like they didn't give me anything, don't know for sure, but definitely didn't feel anything. I did wake up with pain during the night, and it does hurt today. They said I could take Tylenol, but that doesn't help a lot. It looks like it is going to sit fairly high although under the skin. Now, I'm needing to know about housework, etc. The Radiologist that I met the day before with, said I could vacuum in two days. Yesterday the nurse said to wait between 7-10 days. Yikes!!! What did they tell you? What did you do? I'm really anxious to do some things before my next round of chemo starts on Monday (if my WBC is up). This Topotecan sure makes me tired and unmotivated. Also, they gave me a key chain tag and identification card to keep with me at all times. Did you girls all get that too? My port is called a 'Smart port'. They have my neck taped up with the port and it is fairly uncomfortable trying to move my neck. They make an incision on the neck also, don't they? The Radiologist told me that they go into the juglar vein, go down next to the heart, and down to the liver with a wire. It sounded like that all comes back up after they watch it on the monitor. I think all of that story had me extra nervous. But, I'm so grateful and glad that it is all over. I know that I will appreciate it. They even had a hard time getting a vein at the hospital, so my veins were done!!! Thanks, dear friends, for your help. It was very beneficial to me. Many hugs and much love, MM

Port
I also received a card to carry with me regarding the port. I don't remember them telling me I could or couldn't do anything after having it inserted - I was still recovering from the whole debulking surgery so maybe that's why.

The chemo nurses who draw my blood here for me had a port to actually show me - I had no idea what it looked like. Mine also sits up high on my chest area - but then they just use a shorter needle when accessing it. As i said, I love mine.

Hope this finds you doing better and good luck next week! Hugs to you.

Kris

knarrly

MichaelaMarie said:

Ports
Hey, thanks knarrly, Dreamdove and kris for your stories! Well, it's over. It was quite an ordeal yesterday mainly because they had me get there too early and then the procedure was delayed by an hour. They didn't put me out either, and I agree that the only pain is the numbing they do via needles. I felt okay to go home immediately when I got back to my room, but they made me wait two hours. I almost feel like they didn't give me anything, don't know for sure, but definitely didn't feel anything. I did wake up with pain during the night, and it does hurt today. They said I could take Tylenol, but that doesn't help a lot. It looks like it is going to sit fairly high although under the skin. Now, I'm needing to know about housework, etc. The Radiologist that I met the day before with, said I could vacuum in two days. Yesterday the nurse said to wait between 7-10 days. Yikes!!! What did they tell you? What did you do? I'm really anxious to do some things before my next round of chemo starts on Monday (if my WBC is up). This Topotecan sure makes me tired and unmotivated. Also, they gave me a key chain tag and identification card to keep with me at all times. Did you girls all get that too? My port is called a 'Smart port'. They have my neck taped up with the port and it is fairly uncomfortable trying to move my neck. They make an incision on the neck also, don't they? The Radiologist told me that they go into the juglar vein, go down next to the heart, and down to the liver with a wire. It sounded like that all comes back up after they watch it on the monitor. I think all of that story had me extra nervous. But, I'm so grateful and glad that it is all over. I know that I will appreciate it. They even had a hard time getting a vein at the hospital, so my veins were done!!! Thanks, dear friends, for your help. It was very beneficial to me. Many hugs and much love, MM

port
I was told I could resume normal activities after 24 hours. Yes, they did an incision on my neck, as well. Mine really was not taped though...they used surgical glue on both the chest and neck incisions. The glue is wonderful, because it is waterproof and you can shower! And I got a card, also. My husband carries one, and so do I.

LPack

port
MM,
I just had my blood work taken this morning using my port. I have had no problems with it. I have small veins, so it is so much easier to access the port then have to find a vein or a nurse who can get the needle in the first time. With the port, no more problems. Used it for chemo Feb-Aug 2008 and now for continued blood work.

And I can do anything I was doing before. Exercise, sleep (lol), swim, etc.

Take care,
Libby ☺

Unknown

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