Bard Power Port

I think that was the kind of port I had -- under the skin, up near my collarbone, on the right.  Mine was put in about a month after I had surgery, about 10 days or so before I was to start chemo.  Aside from waiting for the slit to heal, I can't say I had any real discomfort.

When did I have problems with my port?  Sometimes the nurse had challanges getting a blood return when I went for a blood draw or when I went for chemo.  I had to try a lot of different positions -- even joked about having to stand on my  head -- to finally get that indication that the port was working and ready to "get to work."

I had my port in for over nine months, and in spite of the glitches I had with it, I still am glad that I had that for access rather than my veins.

Maybe your discomfort is more related to just healing from its insertion.

My  Bard  Power Port has been since Aug 09 and I've had no problems at alll.

It was used for 4 neoadjuvant doses of A/C (Adrimycin /Cytoxan) and then 12 adjuvant doses of Taxol.  I have never used it for routine blood draws.  It has been used a couple of times for access during surgeries though.   I go in month to have it flushed unless it has been accessed during the previous month.  It was my choice (along with my Drs approval) to keep it in til I hit 5 yrs as being IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) with 19 pos nodes, the odds are only approx. 25% of not developing mets within 5 yrs.  So to me, it has just made sense to keep it in and ready for use immediately without having to have a new one put in.  I think of it in a 'silly' way - I see it is a little soldier standing guard with M16 at ready so that the evil monster is afraid to raise it"s ugly head but if Monster tries a sneak attack, my little soldier is armed and ready for the battle.  So far so good - as far as I know, still NED!

My port was put in on a Wed morn and it was used the next day for first  A\C.  Pain was never an issue - slight discomfort a few days but nothing to need anything for other than OTC Tylenol for occasionally in the first few days.  My Surgeon did give me a script for oxy but definately not needed.  3 days after it was inserted I was back riding and giving lessons with no problem.  I did get out of doing the 'heavy' barn chores (mucking, carrying water/hay bales/erc.) as Hubby and Son insisted on taking over for 2 weeks.

If your facility does not have numbing spray for the port access ask for a script for EMLA cream (or generic form) to use before going in for infusion.  It hurts a lot more to access a port than to do any stick elsewhere.  Long story short but once my port was accessed with nothing (stupid nuclear meds dept. at hospital had nothing to numb it with).  With the spray, I feel a slight prick but with the cream just a slight sensation of pressure.

Winyan - The Power Within

Susan

Rague said:

My  Bard  Power Port has been

My  Bard  Power Port has been since Aug 09 and I've had no problems at alll.

It was used for 4 neoadjuvant doses of A/C (Adrimycin /Cytoxan) and then 12 adjuvant doses of Taxol.  I have never used it for routine blood draws.  It has been used a couple of times for access during surgeries though.   I go in month to have it flushed unless it has been accessed during the previous month.  It was my choice (along with my Drs approval) to keep it in til I hit 5 yrs as being IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) with 19 pos nodes, the odds are only approx. 25% of not developing mets within 5 yrs.  So to me, it has just made sense to keep it in and ready for use immediately without having to have a new one put in.  I think of it in a 'silly' way - I see it is a little soldier standing guard with M16 at ready so that the evil monster is afraid to raise it"s ugly head but if Monster tries a sneak attack, my little soldier is armed and ready for the battle.  So far so good - as far as I know, still NED!

My port was put in on a Wed morn and it was used the next day for first  A\C.  Pain was never an issue - slight discomfort a few days but nothing to need anything for other than OTC Tylenol for occasionally in the first few days.  My Surgeon did give me a script for oxy but definately not needed.  3 days after it was inserted I was back riding and giving lessons with no problem.  I did get out of doing the 'heavy' barn chores (mucking, carrying water/hay bales/erc.) as Hubby and Son insisted on taking over for 2 weeks.

If your facility does not have numbing spray for the port access ask for a script for EMLA cream (or generic form) to use before going in for infusion.  It hurts a lot more to access a port than to do any stick elsewhere.  Long story short but once my port was accessed with nothing (stupid nuclear meds dept. at hospital had nothing to numb it with).  With the spray, I feel a slight prick but with the cream just a slight sensation of pressure.

Winyan - The Power Within

Susan

 

 

 

I had my port put in in the morning and used for my first chemo the same afternoon. After chemo I told them I did not want it taken out until it HAD to be removed. Onco said I could keep it for 12 months.  I had BMX done last Friday. They used it to start my nap and after I was in surgery they had to find a vein since the IV in my port would be in the way. After surgery they hooked back up to the port.

The two attempts they made in my hand caused swelling and bruising from my wrist to almost the second knuckle of my fingers. My veins in my hands and arms are awful.  After my 12 months are up I am planning on talking them into placing a new one.

It usually takes a minimum of three attempts to put an IV into my vein.

My port is one of my best friends.

My love and prayers are with you.

SANDY

coco2008 said:

I had my port put in in the

I had my port put in in the morning and used for my first chemo the same afternoon. After chemo I told them I did not want it taken out until it HAD to be removed. Onco said I could keep it for 12 months.  I had BMX done last Friday. They used it to start my nap and after I was in surgery they had to find a vein since the IV in my port would be in the way. After surgery they hooked back up to the port.

The two attempts they made in my hand caused swelling and bruising from my wrist to almost the second knuckle of my fingers. My veins in my hands and arms are awful.  After my 12 months are up I am planning on talking them into placing a new one.

It usually takes a minimum of three attempts to put an IV into my vein.

My port is one of my best friends.

My love and prayers are with you.

SANDY

Why would you take one port out at 12 mths and put another one in?  My port has been in for over 4 yrs.  I do have to have it flushed every month (some facilities will say to do every 3 mths but the maker says monthy so that's what VA does for me).

Winyan - The Power Within

Susan

Rague said:

Why?

Why would you take one port out at 12 mths and put another one in?  My port has been in for over 4 yrs.  I do have to have it flushed every month (some facilities will say to do every 3 mths but the maker says monthy so that's what VA does for me).

Winyan - The Power Within

Susan

My onco said 12 months.  Maybe I can just have them leave it in for another 12 months.  Kind of like checking it out 1 year at a time.

Sandy

DeniB said:

Bard Power Port

Hello Edna - My port was put in on July 29th and had chemo the next day. The surgeon left the needle in so there would be easy access...After that the nurses removed the needle...2 days later I was dehydrated and had to go in to be hydrated and they could NOT find my port - 3 tried with no success...so it was pin cushin time for me (my veins roll and also collapse - reason for the port) Had an appoitment with my Primary Care Dr a week later and he also couln't find it!! scheduled a visit to my surgeon that placed it for the next day - guess what - she had to request an xray cause she couldn't find it either!!!  Hmmm - kinda strange...so she used the excuse that it was placed deeper than normal because I am a large woman..longer needle will have to be used..Ok I will settle for that.. Went in this past Monday to have blood draw that is needed before chemo - well guess what!!!  It was pin cushion time once more because after 18 yes 18 different tries from a couple different nurses they still couldn't find it.....So now they want to go in and remove that one and place a new one - I am considering an attorney before it is done - #1 because it should not be chargered to my insurance a second time - this should be on their time and money, and #2 - I am in enough pain and suffering from the cancer itself , how much more should I have to endure?? I am also new to this site - I have Granulosa Cell Tumor (Ovarian Cancer) Stage 3B; I have had 4 out of my 6 scheduled chemo treatments of Carbo/Taxol at 5 hours each time - and after my second treatment I had laproscopic surgery to remove my ovaries and falopian tubes and some scar tissue that was also covered with cancer...

Deni

Sorry Deni. I had port problems also but you dont need a lawyer. Your insurance does have to be charged for the revision. It happens. I had to have mine revised too. Mine never worked so great but you cant sue for it. Yes it pissed me off a lot but hopefully yours will get fixed. But, to try 18 times is bad medical care & I would never do that. That doesnt even make sense. They should have just taken from vein. I have horrible veins but Ive even asked that an infusion nurse do it with an ultrasound machine if Im dehydrated & having a bad vein day.

nearly said:

Bard chemo port

Just a word of caution. My spouse had a Bard chemo port installed near her left collarbone in order to receive chemo for breast cancer. She had the port for 8 months. When it was removed one of the 4 inch catheters originally connected to the port was missing. Long story short, a n xray showed the catheter had traveled to her heart and was lodged there. I had to drive my wife to St. Marys hospital in Madison where the catheter was removed from my wife's heart through a vein in her leg. Guess what niether the hospital that installed or removed the Bard Port or Bard would admit any problem and neither woild accept resposibllity. In fact a Dr. at SSM went so far as to imply that this occurance was not that uncommon and my wife should have been told this before it was removed. (How about before it was installed? So beware. I am looking for anyone who knows of a class action suit I can join. Caveate Emptor. Thanx.

Hello!  I just read your story. I was diagnosed with breast cancer myself in 2014. I had a port put in to help with my chemo treatments which helped. But here the past month and a half I have been experiencing some really bad chest pains, shortness of breath, could not lift up my arms, pain in my neck, and in the top of my shoulders.  I went to the ER and they ran all kinds of test, went to mthe hy family doctor 3 days later for a follow up he set me up with a heart doctor. Then the following week I could not take the pain anymore I called my family doctor to see what I can do. So then he sent me for another cat scan and with in two days I am in the hospital having the broken part of my port cath removed from one of my veins. it was between 5-6 inches long. I am looking into why that happened and if there is anything that can be done. What would of happened if I would not have been one top of the pains I was happened. I really don't want to know. I want answers also. 

Krissy

(looking for answers)

nearly said:

Bard chemo port

Just a word of caution. My spouse had a Bard chemo port installed near her left collarbone in order to receive chemo for breast cancer. She had the port for 8 months. When it was removed one of the 4 inch catheters originally connected to the port was missing. Long story short, a n xray showed the catheter had traveled to her heart and was lodged there. I had to drive my wife to St. Marys hospital in Madison where the catheter was removed from my wife's heart through a vein in her leg. Guess what niether the hospital that installed or removed the Bard Port or Bard would admit any problem and neither woild accept resposibllity. In fact a Dr. at SSM went so far as to imply that this occurance was not that uncommon and my wife should have been told this before it was removed. (How about before it was installed? So beware. I am looking for anyone who knows of a class action suit I can join. Caveate Emptor. Thanx.

I am so sorry your spouse went through that. I got my port in December of 2018. They started chemo right away. Everything was fine until March when I had my last treartment. They were having trouble acessesing it and had to use a longer needle. The last two months my discomfort with the devise has turned into horriblr pain. I couldn't even turn my head with out it feeling like someone was sticking a knife to my throat from the inside. I would tell the doctors and nurses they said it shouldn't hurt anymore. The surgeon who placed it even came and looked at it in the hospital when they were having trouble accessing it. He said it was fine and that he did a good job. Now that I have finished my chemo I wanted it out fast. My insurance changed so I had to go to a different doctor to have it out. She said it would take 15 mins no big deal. Huge deal! When she opened me up she saw the port was twisted. After getting the bulb unattached from my tissue she went to pull the catheter the metal devise holding the tube and bulb together flew off. She said in her 20 yrs of removing ports she has never seen that happen. She couldn't find the rest of the catheter so she sent me to IR to do a live x-ry to remove it. It had moved into my vein which really suprised the doctor since it had only been an hour since the other doctor removed the rest of it. He had to put a wire through my vein to grab it and pull it out. When they looked at it later they found it was frayed. He said it is not suppose to break apart like that especially with such little force and it's not suppose to be frayed. I told him about my pain and he looked surprised. After looking at the catheter again he told me the devise was defective. I got a bad port. I think that thing was in my vien longer then an hour. I think it was there before they tried to take it out and that's why it hurt so much. 

At first, my port was sore and it made me a bit nervous.  Lap belt hurts, put a little pillow there.   Some people cant do them and that is a shame because they are sure easier on you.   Ice and tylenol and it will get better.

Hugs

Annie

desertgirl947 said:

I think that was the kind of

I think that was the kind of port I had -- under the skin, up near my collarbone, on the right.  Mine was put in about a month after I had surgery, about 10 days or so before I was to start chemo.  Aside from waiting for the slit to heal, I can't say I had any real discomfort.

When did I have problems with my port?  Sometimes the nurse had challanges getting a blood return when I went for a blood draw or when I went for chemo.  I had to try a lot of different positions -- even joked about having to stand on my  head -- to finally get that indication that the port was working and ready to "get to work."

I had my port in for over nine months, and in spite of the glitches I had with it, I still am glad that I had that for access rather than my veins.

Maybe your discomfort is more related to just healing from its insertion.

 

I thought I was the only one having to do the port dance.   My port was sore for about a month.  After that it only hurt if a nurse was inexperienced with accessing it.   I had my port in for 6 years.   The only issue I had was that it turned a little making it a little difficult to access.