Port installed Thursday, inside my right upper arm ... I am in extreme pain
Inside upper arm .. is this a regular/normal placement? My onc suggested this site.
Did I mention that I laid on a gurney for 2 hours in a hallway waiting for my surgery, as my surgeon was called to an emergency consult. When surgeon finally arrived, he proceeded with numbing me 1 shot after another, never waiting or testing my site. There was time during my surgery ,,when I screamed in pain and agony. I am over 35 years of age, c-sections, thyroid cancer, cervical cancer, IVF's .. biospy's etc .. I have a high tolerance to pain .. Example: My C-sections .. never ever did I take - 1 pain shot, just codeine/tylenol tablet every evening before going to bead ...
I KNOW when someone is trying to make up time .. I was pissed -- my surgeron was pull into another surgery before I could open my mouth.. I did mention to his staff my that I felt that I was not given the proper time to numb, .. I stated to his staff - it was my assuptiom .. this was his attempt to cut time off of his schedule, as he was running 2 hours behind. All 3 surgerical team members looked at me, and said nothing.
Candy called this morning to check on me and see how I was doing ... a follow up call, I guess. I replay my story to Candy, who typed in my comments, as I heard the key board clucking on her end of the phone ..... Did I mention .. Candy apologized over and over again for my surgeon.
I try and play nice with others .. I really do .. but don't fool around with me and my breast cancer ...
Venting away ...
VickiSam
Comments
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PortDianeBC said:OMG
I am so sorry Vicki! This shouldn't have happened to you. You VENT all you want!
Hugs, Diane ♥
Oh Vicki,
That is so awful. After all you have been through, your surgeon should have had the decency to consult with you before the port and above all to let you numb properly. Is this the same surgeon that will be working with you on your reconstruction or is it some other surgeon that just puts in ports? I know when I had a problem with my port and was sent to the hospital(St.Joes) across from the cancer center, I delt with the port surgeon and he was rather dismissive. I think the port placement is different from what I have seen although, I know from the oncology nurses that arm placement is there first choice because it is easy to access, I don't know if I told you or not but my port is in my right breast (I have bc in the left) so it is really hard for the nurses to give me chemo. I hope you will not be in pain much longer. Love Surf0 -
VickiSam
First let me tell you what a strong person you must be. You truely have been through hell and im so sorry for that. First off, my surgeon put me in a twilight sleep when she did my port and i was out. Im glad she did it that way. My port is in my chest between my breast and collar bone. Thats a strang spot that they stuck yours. You would think they wouldnt put it there because you will constantly be rubbing it against your shirt or something. I dont know, maybe im wrong. I think it is absolutely horrible how they treated you and how your surgeon was. It isnt the same one doing reconstruction is it or your mastectomy? I would complain to the chief for real girl! How terrified you must have been. That just isnt right one bit. Now you got me going girl!!! I am so mad for you. I hope you get to feeling better. I will pray for you. Im so sorry that all happened.
take care
laura0 -
Vicki, that is terrible. I1surfermom said:Port
Oh Vicki,
That is so awful. After all you have been through, your surgeon should have had the decency to consult with you before the port and above all to let you numb properly. Is this the same surgeon that will be working with you on your reconstruction or is it some other surgeon that just puts in ports? I know when I had a problem with my port and was sent to the hospital(St.Joes) across from the cancer center, I delt with the port surgeon and he was rather dismissive. I think the port placement is different from what I have seen although, I know from the oncology nurses that arm placement is there first choice because it is easy to access, I don't know if I told you or not but my port is in my right breast (I have bc in the left) so it is really hard for the nurses to give me chemo. I hope you will not be in pain much longer. Love Surf
Vicki, that is terrible. I hope you find some relief for your pain. I can't believe they were that cruel to you. It just isn't right.0 -
Just about the samelolad said:VickiSam
First let me tell you what a strong person you must be. You truely have been through hell and im so sorry for that. First off, my surgeon put me in a twilight sleep when she did my port and i was out. Im glad she did it that way. My port is in my chest between my breast and collar bone. Thats a strang spot that they stuck yours. You would think they wouldnt put it there because you will constantly be rubbing it against your shirt or something. I dont know, maybe im wrong. I think it is absolutely horrible how they treated you and how your surgeon was. It isnt the same one doing reconstruction is it or your mastectomy? I would complain to the chief for real girl! How terrified you must have been. That just isnt right one bit. Now you got me going girl!!! I am so mad for you. I hope you get to feeling better. I will pray for you. Im so sorry that all happened.
take care
laura
I had just about the same experience when my port was put in.
The radiology did it under conscious sedation but to me there was no sedation at all. They gave me three doses of fentyl and three doses of versed and numbed each area three time and I felt the whole thing. I filed a complaint at my oncologist office and it is in my hospital chart. When my port is removed or if I ever have problems with this port and another has to be put in it is noted that it will under general anesthesia. I told the doctor exactly what he was doing the whole time because I knew and felt everything.
No one should ever have to go through anything like that. The nurses can apologize all they want to but it never gets back to the doctor the way that you want him to understand if it gets to them at all.
Hugs,
Margo0 -
Vicki and tommaseenatommaseena said:Just about the same
I had just about the same experience when my port was put in.
The radiology did it under conscious sedation but to me there was no sedation at all. They gave me three doses of fentyl and three doses of versed and numbed each area three time and I felt the whole thing. I filed a complaint at my oncologist office and it is in my hospital chart. When my port is removed or if I ever have problems with this port and another has to be put in it is noted that it will under general anesthesia. I told the doctor exactly what he was doing the whole time because I knew and felt everything.
No one should ever have to go through anything like that. The nurses can apologize all they want to but it never gets back to the doctor the way that you want him to understand if it gets to them at all.
Hugs,
Margo
I am so, so sorry to hear about your experiences. After everything you've been through to get this kind of treatment for a "minor" procedure is disgraceful.
I thought that most ports were put in the upper chest, shows what I know. To me it seems that you would have an increased risk of infection or port failure if it is placed where your cloths constantly rub it. Again I'm no expert.
I hope that your pain goes away soon.
Love and Peace
Roberta0 -
Mine is inBooberta said:Vicki and tommaseena
I am so, so sorry to hear about your experiences. After everything you've been through to get this kind of treatment for a "minor" procedure is disgraceful.
I thought that most ports were put in the upper chest, shows what I know. To me it seems that you would have an increased risk of infection or port failure if it is placed where your cloths constantly rub it. Again I'm no expert.
I hope that your pain goes away soon.
Love and Peace
Roberta
Mine is in my upper chest and when he got to the vein there was a lot of pain and I started swearing in between my tears.
The nurse told me that I just have a high tolerance to medication. I have a high tolerance to pain but this was worse than giving birth to Jake.
Margo0 -
I'm so sorry...tommaseena said:Mine is in
Mine is in my upper chest and when he got to the vein there was a lot of pain and I started swearing in between my tears.
The nurse told me that I just have a high tolerance to medication. I have a high tolerance to pain but this was worse than giving birth to Jake.
Margo
...you've had to go through this. To me, it is all inexcusable and unacceptable! Each of us has enough to deal with, without also being mistreated. As I read the kinds of treatments my sisters here continue to endure form "so-called medical professionals" I become more and more appreciative of the kindness and considerations that have been shown to me since my dx, surgery and now my treatment. I even get surveys to fill out, rating my care and asking for suggestions of how they can better serve me.
I have had a couple of unpleasant run-ins with some of the staff, but nothing so outrageous as what I have seen here.
My advice is to complain. Learn to complain productively: Don't let your anger or frustration show. And remember, each of those people has a boss. Keep going up the authority ladder until you reach someone who will listen. Keep good notes, day, dates & times, and always ask for the name of the person you're speaking to. ["is that spelled with an ie, or a y?"] If you don't get results, then ask for the name of that person's superior. When they realize you mean business, and you know their names, they usually do fall in line and try to make it right.0 -
So sorry to hear you had to
So sorry to hear you had to go through such an ordeal. I haven't had my port installed yet due to a lovely infection that set in on my lumpectomy incision. Everything has been pushed back.
Vicki, I hope you feel better soon. I will send a prayer for you. Hang in there, your home and sleeping in your cozy bed now.
My best to you.
Bella Luna0 -
OMG!tommaseena said:Mine is in
Mine is in my upper chest and when he got to the vein there was a lot of pain and I started swearing in between my tears.
The nurse told me that I just have a high tolerance to medication. I have a high tolerance to pain but this was worse than giving birth to Jake.
Margo
I'm so sorry to hear for your surgens treating you this way! I hope you don't have to them again! That's horrible. Mine is in my chest by my clavical, I was in a twilight sleep they called it a MAC. I even woke up once and asked the nurse why the hell my face was covered, but I don't remember lol.
I had a choice of a radiologist to do it under a local type or the surgeon that did my mastectomy, I took my surgeon, I trust him.
You should never feel pain even for a "minor" surgery as they say. The way you ladies were treated is horiffic. you should take it to the top or at the very least. Soundboard here we are all ears!
Take Care
TY0 -
VENT AWAY
VickiSam. I was given a choice of local or general anesthetic when I got my port. Since I had a hematoma that needed to be drained (from my mastectomy), I ended up having a general anesthetic anyway. I had very little pain from my port. It was a godsend during chemo. I had it removed last spring (it was on my right chest wall below my collarbone) with a local anesthetic and Valium and that was not very painful either. Oooh, and I loved that Valium! Believe me, I am the wimp of all wimps. It sounds like you have a real complaint. I hope you don't need the same surgeon in the future. So sorry....xoxoxoxo Lynn0 -
Hi VickiSam
I had my port rt side bellow collar bone almost where a tank top strap goes over.
I was put under a local so I was asleep during procedure. Though when a woke up next day
I felt like someone punched me in the shoulder. It was not sore very long though afew days.Now I've had it 2 and a half weeks. No pain a all, except a little tender to touch. I have them numb it before treatment so much easier then having it then try to find my vein. I hope things get better for you ...its funny how Drs. suggest different things, my surgeon
was the one who told me where it would go.0 -
No excuse for such behavior!
There is no excuse for such behavior from both the surgeon AND the hospital to have left you in a hallway for 2 hours. Report all to everybody you can report them to.
My port is in left clavicle area - just to the right of where my bra strap goes and almost completely covered by a tanktop strap. It was put in Aug. 25th and it was a very different experience than you were subjected to. I was kept in a very nice private cubicle until taken directly to OR, went "beddie-bye", woke up feeling no pain and was taken directly to the "we kick you out of here place" (no 'recovery room'), they called Hubby to come back to get me(he had gone to the barn to take care of the horses - much better for him than just sitting in a waiting room), got dressed, ate a muffin and drank ice water and I left.
I am so sorry that you were subjected to such barbaric behavior - please be sure that you make it known to 'everybody'. Nothing can ever take away your trauma but hopefully you can help prevent anyone else from going through the same.
Thoughts and prayers.
Susan0 -
So sorry to hear what you
So sorry to hear what you have had to go through. Unexcusable! I do not know a lot about ports, but your seems to be in an odd place. Have you thought about wearing some type of sling to keep your arm more stationary? Just an idea... Hope you are feeling better soon.
Hugs & prayers...0 -
Dagburn it all to heckTux said:So sorry to hear what you
So sorry to hear what you have had to go through. Unexcusable! I do not know a lot about ports, but your seems to be in an odd place. Have you thought about wearing some type of sling to keep your arm more stationary? Just an idea... Hope you are feeling better soon.
Hugs & prayers...
Dagburn it all to heck, tantrum being thrown here. Never Ever should this happen to anyone!!!
Mine is in my right shoulder just below my collar bone, they put me in a twlite sleep for the procedure, they also left the butterfly access in it cause I had chemo the very next day.
I got 2 count it 2 vanilla shakes that day, and only one the next after chemo. Personaly I think I should have gotten 3 but some people think that it is just way to much sugar for me. hehehe
Make a complaint asap, this was wrong and should not have happened
heal well
tj0 -
OMG
I have not been on for a couple of days because of my chemo on Thursday. I'm reading with horror your ordeal in getting your port put in. I didn't have to have a port because I only have 4 chemo treatments and I must say I'm so glad right now. I'm so sorry you had to go through such a nightmare. It just doesn't seem right! I agree with some of the other comments that you need to take this to a higher level. No human should be treated like you were. I understand there are emergencies but there is also compassion and keeping a waiting patient confortable too! I hope this reply finds you feeling a little better today. Take care and gentle hug sent your way!0 -
Vicki, I hope to see youdyaneb123 said:VickiSam
I've never heard of
VickiSam
I've never heard of a port in the arm. Mine is in my chest above the left breast. It never caused me any pain. I'm so sorry for your bad experience. That is unacceptable.
Vicki, I hope to see you posting soon and letting us know how you are doing.0 -
That is terrible Vicki. Ilolad said:VickiSam
First let me tell you what a strong person you must be. You truely have been through hell and im so sorry for that. First off, my surgeon put me in a twilight sleep when she did my port and i was out. Im glad she did it that way. My port is in my chest between my breast and collar bone. Thats a strang spot that they stuck yours. You would think they wouldnt put it there because you will constantly be rubbing it against your shirt or something. I dont know, maybe im wrong. I think it is absolutely horrible how they treated you and how your surgeon was. It isnt the same one doing reconstruction is it or your mastectomy? I would complain to the chief for real girl! How terrified you must have been. That just isnt right one bit. Now you got me going girl!!! I am so mad for you. I hope you get to feeling better. I will pray for you. Im so sorry that all happened.
take care
laura
That is terrible Vicki. I pray that you are feeling better!
♠♣ Susie ♠♣0
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