IP access difficulties

I have an port for my iv
I have an port for my iv treatment of chemo, the only problem I have had is when the draw blood from it. They can flush it but when them try to retract blood from it they can't. This has happen two times and a 15 minute blood draw take two hours. What I have been told it I have a very fine sheeve (not sure on spelling)over the tub in my vain and it will allow something to push through (it lifts up) and will not allow anything pulled out of it, so they have to put a blood thinner (not hepherin again spelling not right) in and let it sit for anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Then when they come back it works just right. Hope that helps I don't know the differnts of the IP verses IV ports.

Anne

Hi 2Tim
I had an IP port placed in my belly in August, 2010. I had 18 weeks of IP chemo. I still have the IP port. I have never had any problems with the IP port.

I think that the MD could easily resolve the problem.

Good luck,

Connie

kayandok said:

Hi 2timothy,
welcome to the board. I read your profile and see that you had surgery on Christmas day. Oh my goodness!

I have read that IP ports are notorious for getting plugged. They are different than the ports in the chest and not anchored, so they move around. My best friend finally had hers out and switched to IV, it was such a pain. Not to mention, her horrible side effects from the chemo going straight into her ab.

I hope you have an appointment to go in soon and have the doc look at it and fix it for you!

What chemo are you on? How have you been able to tolerate it?

Hang in there,
kathleen

my mistake
I thought you talking about an IV port that is put in the chest. Kathy

VictoriaSF said:

hi 2timothy17
hi, i had my surgery in november 2010 and ip port was put in during surgery, but unfortunately when time came to start chemo - it was not accessible. Doctor placed it to high up, under the rib cage, so needle could not reach it, i even went to radiology and they have tried to access under the special machine - did not work,
eventually - it was removed and i have rcvd standard carbo/taxol chemo - 6 rounds, no ip.
but i do have power port in my chest - that one works and i am happy i have it.
thanks
victoria

I had an IP port put in during
my surgery as well. The nurses always said it was deep but there was only one time when they had a hard time accessing it. During one infusion I started to get pain in that area. The nurse checked it and found nothing wrong but the pain began to escalate until I cried to my son that I couldn't stand it anymore. My onc was contacted but they never did find the reason for the pain. They gave me some pain medication and I was able to tolerate it. Needless to say I was scared the next time but they gave me something to calm me and I slept most of the time.

Karen