Someone explain this pump thing I am going to have to have

Tybtym said:

Pump
Thanks I know I will have a million questions and for some reason talking to others that have done gone through this is much more comforting than talking to a doctor.

Just got my appointment for my port. Must go to Hospital for surgical procedure. I need to know if I can drive after the procedure?  Do I get a local anesthesia. Can I go to work after? I need to tell my job if I am going to be out.  Then I have to get a pump for chemo. Does that also limit showering? Have no idea what to expect.

lou3863 said:

Port and Pump

Just got my appointment for my port. Must go to Hospital for surgical procedure. I need to know if I can drive after the procedure?  Do I get a local anesthesia. Can I go to work after? I need to tell my job if I am going to be out.  Then I have to get a pump for chemo. Does that also limit showering? Have no idea what to expect.

You have asked some good questions, but it is really up to your physician and the hospital to give you specific instructions for your procedure.  I was given twilight anesthesia, not general, but I still could not drive afterwards.  The port incision cannot get wet for a certain length of time after being placed.  If you cover it with a very long piece of Saran wrap that goes a few inches below the port, over the port and up over your shoulder and have someone use waterproof tape to tape down all the edges before you shower, it will keep it dry.  My placement was not a bad procedure and I hope yours goes smoothly as well.

Martha

I had a picc line instead of port.  Wore a fanny pack 5 days a weak with 5fu.  Off on weekends....   Not too much trouble....

Tybtym said:

Pump
Thanks I know I will have a million questions and for some reason talking to others that have done gone through this is much more comforting than talking to a doctor.

Great explanations from all. Just got mine off yesterday, next surgery. You will do fine.

Love and light

BanjoBob said:

I finished my treatments a

I finished my treatments a year ago. I just joined this group today after doing a search regarding "Port Flushing".

I was diagnosed with  a Squamous Cell stage 2 Anal Cancer.

I had the port put in at a Hospital and  they put me out. I wore the pump for 95 hours twice and although it was inconvenient, it wasn't painful, but whatever chemo they gave me was designed to kill all fast growing tissue, which  includes the tissue inside the mouth.

My tongue got sore, almost raw, but they gave me a prescription for what they called "Magic Mouthwash" that numbed my mouth to minimize suffering.

I received radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks, 30 treatments total.

I smoke a pipe, so each time I got the chemo pump, my mouth  got so sore I couldn't smoke  for 2 weeks.

I had an Anal Cancer so they said my smoking didn't cause it, but having the radiation treatments there made me uh ... raw in the working areas making using the bathroom terribly painful, and shortly after getting the pump the  first time I also had difficulty urinating, but they had a solution for every problem, they gave  me Flomax so I could Pee easily, and gave me hydrocortisone cream 2 1/2% for my painful areas and it lessened the pain enough  that my suffering was minimized. They encouraged me to eat and drink a lot, but the last thing I wanted to do was increase frequency of bathroom visits, so I did it MY way and lost 10  pounds in a week, but gained it back the following week after spending a fortune on donuts and those fancy though pricey meals from the natural health foods store. Nothing tasted good, but I could tolerate those foods.

It wasn't too bad, I could do it again.

I just had my 1 year ct scan  and everything still looks good with no new cancers.

After doing allof this the Cancer Center discussed having my Port removed, and  asked if I was having it flushed every 3 Months ... Huh?

Nobody had mentioned this before, and it hasn't been flushed for a year.

I'll probably just have it removed in December or January.

I'm 68 and I've been retired for 7 years. I'm  glad I didn't have to go anywhere whille enduring this.

David

Welcome, I am glad to hear that you are doing well and it is always encouraging to share positive stories with others here. I was initially dx 5 1/2 yrs ago with Stage 3b anal cancer, a year later with breast cancer, and then last year with a recurrance of anal cancer in my lung. That being said.....I am now doing great!!

I have heard a variety of stories regarding port care following treatment, anywhere from getting it flushed (or used to draw blood for labs) every 3 weeks to situations such as yours where no flushing was scheduled. About a year after my initial treatment I had my port removed, in case you're wondering this is usually a simple and painless procedure. I did however need to have a new one placed when dx with mets and have since had it flushed or accessed for blood work about once a month. If not routinely flushed scar tissue or blood flow can be (but not always) a problem if later wanting to access and then if needed a new one may be necessary.

Best of luck to you as you continue to move forward in health!

katheryn

BanjoBob said:

I finished my treatments a

I finished my treatments a year ago. I just joined this group today after doing a search regarding "Port Flushing".

I was diagnosed with  a Squamous Cell stage 2 Anal Cancer.

I had the port put in at a Hospital and  they put me out. I wore the pump for 95 hours twice and although it was inconvenient, it wasn't painful, but whatever chemo they gave me was designed to kill all fast growing tissue, which  includes the tissue inside the mouth.

My tongue got sore, almost raw, but they gave me a prescription for what they called "Magic Mouthwash" that numbed my mouth to minimize suffering.

I received radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks, 30 treatments total.

I smoke a pipe, so each time I got the chemo pump, my mouth  got so sore I couldn't smoke  for 2 weeks.

I had an Anal Cancer so they said my smoking didn't cause it, but having the radiation treatments there made me uh ... raw in the working areas making using the bathroom terribly painful, and shortly after getting the pump the  first time I also had difficulty urinating, but they had a solution for every problem, they gave  me Flomax so I could Pee easily, and gave me hydrocortisone cream 2 1/2% for my painful areas and it lessened the pain enough  that my suffering was minimized. They encouraged me to eat and drink a lot, but the last thing I wanted to do was increase frequency of bathroom visits, so I did it MY way and lost 10  pounds in a week, but gained it back the following week after spending a fortune on donuts and those fancy though pricey meals from the natural health foods store. Nothing tasted good, but I could tolerate those foods.

It wasn't too bad, I could do it again.

I just had my 1 year ct scan  and everything still looks good with no new cancers.

After doing allof this the Cancer Center discussed having my Port removed, and  asked if I was having it flushed every 3 Months ... Huh?

Nobody had mentioned this before, and it hasn't been flushed for a year.

I'll probably just have it removed in December or January.

I'm 68 and I've been retired for 7 years. I'm  glad I didn't have to go anywhere whille enduring this.

David

Can you tell me...  did you have any hair loss and if so do you think it was from the chemo pump or the radiation ? Going to start same treatment next week. 

Nancy 

just thinning.  No other changes.   Bald below for one year maybe more?  Unfortunately the pubic hair came back with a vengeance.  Maybe it's the b12 I'm taking.  Hair loss is more common for breast cancer patients.  

I was diagnosed with stage 3C Rectal cancer August 4, 2017 and I had a colostomy put in at the end of August and I had the port put in over 2 weeks ago and I started the chemo treatments last Monday with the Cadd pump. It doesn't hurt, the area where the port is is still a bit sore. I have radiation treatments in conjunction with the chemo. I go for radiation 5 days a week and the chemo pump stays on 7, I go back Monday to for more. Im jealous of all of you that only use it 4-5 days!! It comes off perm in 4 weeks and then I will have surgery 5 weeks after that. 

I dont remember what type of anesthesia they used all I know I was out like a light and woke up groggy with little pain. So far I have not been brave enough to shower!! I've been giving myself sponge baths and washing my hair in the sink! I don't work or I'd gave done the shower thing by now!! It took me a while to feel comfortable to shower with the ostomy on and now I have this. Eventually I'll try showering with it, I'll try the Saran Wrap and leaving the bag on a stool or something. I know the tubing is long but I'm afraid I'll forget and I'll pull on the tubing Or move too far from the shower door... I've gotten use to it even though the port area is still a but sore but it's not that bad walking around with the bag. The tubing goes under my shirt. its a bit cumbersome at times but mostly I forget I have it on.

it did scare me at first but like I said and others have said, it's not that bad, just the bathing part. I listen for the "whirring" sound the pump makes, when I hear that I feel it's working fine. I know I'd freak out if any alarms went off especially at night!! 

It helps ALOT to read about others experiences. I belong to another forum but its for colostomies and that's a whole other issue!! I was terrified when I first got it, I thought I'd never figure out how to use it but now I can do it with no problems. 

I havent had any nausea, thank goodness, the palms of my hands were starting to peel a bit as was the bottom of my left foot, but I used this really good lotion and it's virtually stopped peeling. I am fatigued a lot, but I was before the treatments. Haven't lost my appetite and I love to eat, but have to be careful because of the colostomy. My fingers are a bit stiff and sore, the soles of my feet are sore at times too as are my muscles in my legs and arms. If I sit too long 1 of my legs will fall asleep pretty bad, my hands will fall asleep too sometimes. Anyone have of those symptoms? I see my radiation oncologist on Monday so I'll talk to her about it and what I can do. I do use a cap when I go out to protect my head and face from the sun, I live outside of Atlanta and we still have days in the upper 80's with lots of sun and I wear long sleeved shirts to protect my arms. I haven't lost any hair. I wouldn't mind if I lost the hair on my legs, I wouldn't have to shave any more!!