port flush

pandagypsy
pandagypsy Member Posts: 113 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1

I have a bard port that I usually get flushed every 6 weeks or so.  I will be rv'ing the summer away and don't know where to go to get my port flushed.  If I am REALLY lucky, I may get 3 months if the $$$$$$$ holds out!  My onc. is with Florida Cancer Specialists, and, of course, they are only located in FLA.  I didn't get any suggestions from them; my Dr. says he has had patients wait 3 months for a flush, but I am a  bit worried about waiting too long.  I am on a HMO medicare supplemental with Blue Cross, and my insurance rep. suggested I go to a hospital emergency room.  Any one else ever have this issue?

Comments

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #2
    Port flush

    I would think that any cancer center around the country would be able to flush a port.  I had a really bad experience with the Er.  They did not really know how to access my port and stuck me many times, then insisted they had it working.  I could tell it wasn't in the right place. I am just glad they didn't destroy it with all the poking needles in wrong places.  RVing sounds like so much fun.  Lou Ann

  • Abbycat2
    Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
    #3
    Lou Ann M said:

    Port flush

    I would think that any cancer center around the country would be able to flush a port.  I had a really bad experience with the Er.  They did not really know how to access my port and stuck me many times, then insisted they had it working.  I could tell it wasn't in the right place. I am just glad they didn't destroy it with all the poking needles in wrong places.  RVing sounds like so much fun.  Lou Ann

    ER would be more expensive treatment

    I think I would discuss this further with the onc for his opinion. BTW , one of my oncs is with Florida Cancer Specialist. Where in FL do you receive treatment? I see this oncologist in Vero Beach. Good luck with your search!

  • pandagypsy
    pandagypsy Member Posts: 113 Member
    #4
    Abbycat2 said:

    ER would be more expensive treatment

    I think I would discuss this further with the onc for his opinion. BTW , one of my oncs is with Florida Cancer Specialist. Where in FL do you receive treatment? I see this oncologist in Vero Beach. Good luck with your search!

    Dr. Tang

    I have been seeing Dr. Tang for over 5 years; first in the Brooksville office, now in the County Line office in Spring Hill, since it is closer to where we are now staying. Like I said, he says that he has patients that have gone longer than the recommended time periods for flushing.  I am just in the habit of getting it done on regular intervals, even if I'm not going for any blood testing.

  • pandagypsy
    pandagypsy Member Posts: 113 Member
    #5
    Lou Ann M said:

    Port flush

    I would think that any cancer center around the country would be able to flush a port.  I had a really bad experience with the Er.  They did not really know how to access my port and stuck me many times, then insisted they had it working.  I could tell it wasn't in the right place. I am just glad they didn't destroy it with all the poking needles in wrong places.  RVing sounds like so much fun.  Lou Ann

    I know what you mean!

    Why do they have sooooooooooo much trouble with ports?  Last year, as I was going thru the admitting proceedures at the hospital, the nurse tried sooooooooooooo many times to access my port for the lab........she was saying something was wrong with my port, since she was having so much trouble; after all, she's been doing this for (fill in the blank) years :(  I was so aggravated, I told her I have NEVER had a problem with my port being accessed, in fact, just had it flushed a couple of days before. AAARRRGGHHH. bUT, at another hospital in the area, when I was going to outpatient for a blood transfusion, the staff had no problem accessing my port; but then again, they did this on a regular basis, for patients getting regular IV therapies. 

    While I have heard the worse think is that they won't get blood flow when I get back "home" to get it flushed, I have also been told that there is a risk of blood clot if it is not regularly flushed.

  • marieinlv
    marieinlv Member Posts: 47
    #6
    port

    My Son (30yrs old) does my port most often. It took a home health visit to train probably 2 times. He has no medical experience, i looked into this option for several reasons.

    Traveling and finding a place that can do it, i mean traveling alot, so takes too much effort to look into a new place so often. Long story short, this works for me. We did have trouble with the port and come to find out, i put on about 10-15 lbs and it caused just enough fat to accumulate to need the next size needle up to get to the bottom of port to flush easily! I have been 4 months before flushing at times, my Dr placed a perfect port so it takes some neglect. I understand this isn't reccomend waiting so long, but i get tired of the patient deal and just don't do it.

    By the way, my diagnosis was 11-17-10, i finished chemo 5-11, my ca-125 has been steady between 4-7. I know, cool! It has been tough at times, trying not to dwell on this, but worth the effort for me, yep, it's real easy to get thinin too much and waitin for those test... the worst is in the beginning. My Dr is so calming, her staff is the same. The diagnosis was Uterine Pappillary Serous Carcinoma Stage 1V, i should know how to spell it by now eh? I hope this port info has helped you with your choice.

     

  • pandagypsy
    pandagypsy Member Posts: 113 Member
    #7
    marieinlv said:

    port

    My Son (30yrs old) does my port most often. It took a home health visit to train probably 2 times. He has no medical experience, i looked into this option for several reasons.

    Traveling and finding a place that can do it, i mean traveling alot, so takes too much effort to look into a new place so often. Long story short, this works for me. We did have trouble with the port and come to find out, i put on about 10-15 lbs and it caused just enough fat to accumulate to need the next size needle up to get to the bottom of port to flush easily! I have been 4 months before flushing at times, my Dr placed a perfect port so it takes some neglect. I understand this isn't reccomend waiting so long, but i get tired of the patient deal and just don't do it.

    By the way, my diagnosis was 11-17-10, i finished chemo 5-11, my ca-125 has been steady between 4-7. I know, cool! It has been tough at times, trying not to dwell on this, but worth the effort for me, yep, it's real easy to get thinin too much and waitin for those test... the worst is in the beginning. My Dr is so calming, her staff is the same. The diagnosis was Uterine Pappillary Serous Carcinoma Stage 1V, i should know how to spell it by now eh? I hope this port info has helped you with your choice.

     

    Thanks for the info!  I still

    Thanks for the info!  I still am not sure what I'm going to do while on the road.  I saw my ONC today for my flush before we run away......he gave me a prescription for a port flush for wherever I am go and said if there are any questions for anyone to call him.  He says I know you so well, we've seen each other for so many years.  I DO have his cell #, and he actually ANSWERS it!!!!  BTW, we may not be out wandering for as long as planned.......my husband has been "hinting" at 2 months at the most..........oh, well, that will work out for flushes, and still give me the needed break to get away!

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