declotting port

colon2
colon2 Member Posts: 183
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Well I went to the hospital today to get the port declotted. They flushed it and then put the clot buster drug in, I had to wait 1 hour, and then they tried putting in saline. That works, but when they try to draw blood nothing happens. SO they administered the drug a second time. Waited another hour and tried again. Same results. They dr. says give it a couple of days and then we will do it again. Oh Goody. If it still doesn't work then this port has to come out and I get a new one. Oh Goody Goody. LOL. The Dr says that it stands a good chance of the chemo coming back up the catherer and getting into surrounding tissue. I'm not so sure that hasn't already happened. Maybe that accounts for the chest pain and my stomach hurting this last chemo. Anyway I have this week off, and possibly a few more if we have to do surgery for the port again.
I'm so busy with caring for my mom, since her cancer has become active that maybe i need a couple of weeks off. She has home hospice and has stopped eating anything, She doesn't drink much and sleeps most of the time. It is only a matter of time now, but thank God, she doesn't seem to be in any pain unless we have to move her.
God Bless you, Carletta

Comments

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #2
    Oh, dear
    Oh, Carletta.

    I'm so sorry you had this happen! It's always something, isn't it?

    I do pray that your mom will be more comfortable.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #3
    Your Port
    Hi Carletta, I think I mentioned I had a similar issue with my port. Fluid goes in OK but no blood return. They did a flow test where the put a contrast in and scanned me and it showed that the port was working fine. Never was there any talk of changing my 5 year old port. I would double check with your Onc to see if a Flow Test is an option instead of more surgery
    -phil
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #4
    Changing ports
    Carletta,

    I had my port changed. Found out the first one was improperly implanted and kept moving, or flipping up. (Those on the board for a while may remember my first surgeon was DR Doom and I fired him before he could damage my body. Guess who put that port in??) I WAS getting chemo coming back out. Scary, let me tell you! Anyway, my new one, called a Smart Port, is a dream. It was acessed the morning after it was installed. Yesterday when I was at chemo, my nurse commented again how easy it is now to get draws and I swear, the chemo goes in faster. I was outta there in less than an hour. (Before, it was two hours minimum.)


    Getting another port is simple compared to everything else you have been through, and is good for your peace of mind.

    Many hugs and prayers, Vicki
  • colon2
    colon2 Member Posts: 183
    #5
    VickiCO said:

    Changing ports
    Carletta,

    I had my port changed. Found out the first one was improperly implanted and kept moving, or flipping up. (Those on the board for a while may remember my first surgeon was DR Doom and I fired him before he could damage my body. Guess who put that port in??) I WAS getting chemo coming back out. Scary, let me tell you! Anyway, my new one, called a Smart Port, is a dream. It was acessed the morning after it was installed. Yesterday when I was at chemo, my nurse commented again how easy it is now to get draws and I swear, the chemo goes in faster. I was outta there in less than an hour. (Before, it was two hours minimum.)


    Getting another port is simple compared to everything else you have been through, and is good for your peace of mind.

    Many hugs and prayers, Vicki

    new port
    and no I don't mean Rhode Island LOL. Phil they did the test with the contrast and it was going in, but due to the clot, it is like Vicki said, the chemo comes back up the catherer and disperses out into surrounding tissue. So my Onc, says no chemo until we get new port. Oh well I can use the break.
    Carletta
  • colon2
    colon2 Member Posts: 183
    #6
    tootsie1 said:

    Oh, dear
    Oh, Carletta.

    I'm so sorry you had this happen! It's always something, isn't it?

    I do pray that your mom will be more comfortable.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Thank You
    Yes it is always something, but we will survive. Thank you for the prayer for my mom. She is doing about the same, It ias only a matter of time, She still doesn't eat anything, and is drinking very little. She said tonight, I want to leave this world. She is so ready to go home, but we still must wait until it is time. She doesn't seem to be in any pain though. That is a blessing. Usually Multiple Myeloma patients have a lot of pain. I am going to miss her so much, but I believe she will be going to a better place.
    Carletta
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #7
    colon2 said:

    new port
    and no I don't mean Rhode Island LOL. Phil they did the test with the contrast and it was going in, but due to the clot, it is like Vicki said, the chemo comes back up the catherer and disperses out into surrounding tissue. So my Onc, says no chemo until we get new port. Oh well I can use the break.
    Carletta

    I see
    Well, you can't have the chemo coming back at you at all. That's NG.
    I always enjoy a break too.
    I wish you well Carletta.
    -phil

    Love the pun ;-)

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