Port put in yesterday (is it supose to be so sore in my neck?)

On Febr. 18, I got my port.
On Febr. 18, I got my port. My neck was sore for about a week. My collar bone was also sore, because I have no fat (padding) on my chest. It took 2 weeks for my collar bone and neck to adjust to the tube. Just last week a dissolvable stitch start poking through the suture scar. The nurse trimmed it for me, but I have to wait for my body to dissolve it.

Sorry your veins were illusive, yesterday. Isn't it great to have that worry over with! Hooray for ports.

Ports a great
No - you don't need Plavix - at least I've never heard of anyone being given it - if worried ask your Dr though. After each access heprin is injected in it to prevent clotting. If it isn't used for 4 - 6 weeks then you have to go in and have it flushed (old heprin out, be sure good blood flow and new heprin in and you're done for another few weeks).

Not all facilities use port for blood draws pre chemo (or anything else). At the facility I went to our "resident vampire" (her name for herself) was not an RN so she could not access port for pre-Chemo draw. My port has been in for over 1 1/2 yrs and has only been accessed once for 1 of the 3 CT scans I've had. There was a blood draw but I was in for a flush the day that I needed the draw so the lab just had the RN pull the blood when he did the flush. But then I have great veins (in fact the guy that usually does my draws at the VA says I'm not really a woman - have to be a man to have the veins I have). For me - the anethesologist (sp?) didn't even use it but used a hand vein when I had mast.

You will want to ask about rather or not your Center has numbing spray and/or get EMLA cream. It 'smarts' quite a bit (I think worse than hitting a vein) when the needle is inserted but the spray (which my Center used does a lot to numb it) or the cream (which is put on and covered with Saran wrap about an hour before insertion will take away all the pain - at least for me all - just feel a bit of pressure).

We are each so different so each is different in how we feel/react to pain/discomfort. To me it was on a discomfort at most when i had my port put in - definately not pain. hubby made me take a vicodan when we got home - didn't want it though, made me take another oone at 6 pm - gain didn't want it but humored him, then when he WOKE me up at midnight to take one i put my foot down - NO. Yes it will be tender for a while - I milked it a bit and got out of all barn chores for 2 full weeks but could have done them - I was riding and giving lessons 2 days after implant - just me.

As far as I'm concerned port is the way to go - good or bad veins. To protect the good veins or make it easier/better with bad veins.

Susan

seof said:

Always ask your Dr. because
Always ask your Dr. because he/she knows YOUR body best. However, I have never heard of anyone needing blood thinners on a port. I think some people do have some soreness after it is inserted, though I did not. I agree that the port is definitely the way to go for chemo.

Best wishes, seof.

got my port on 2/8/11 felt
got my port on 2/8/11 felt weird for about a week but don't even think about it until chemo day. did feel like my head wanted to go 1 way and my veins the other for a couple of days it's totally worth it!!! Di

I loved my port.....
They had to put it in my thigh because none of my upper chest veins were any good. Made treatment kind of tricky until I cut a hole in an old pair of sweat pants and they could access it through that.

Glad you got a port since your veins are so bad. I had mine taken out 3 months after my pet scan showed that all is clear now. The doctor wanted me to wait a year but I couldn't see me going in once a month for a year to have it flushed. I just wanted it out of my body as soon as I didn't need it anymore.

Love and Light,
Vicki

port pain
I have experienced pain in the port area since day one. It was placed Jan 5th, 2011, and I finshed chemo March 10. The port worked great for chemo, but the area still bothers me. I will say that it got better as time went on. It is still red at times but no infection. Dr was not concerned and said that it was tied in with the muscle and that is what caused the discomfort. They xrayed it with dye a couple of times to make sure all was working properly...and it was. So I just got use to the port...and the stabbing or burning sensation that I still have to this day. Guess it is just the muscle claiming its territory and rejecting the port. LOL...gotta laugh. I do not regret the port at all and understand that I have to keep it for a while for some further studies to assure that the cancer is gone. I never took blood thinner. Ease your mind and ask your dr these questions. Oh, by the way, I am a bc patient and double myst on October 26, 2010. Hope you are doing great...I just joined the message board so I am responding late. But, I will check back if you have other questions.
Dont worry,be happy.