Physical restrictions with a chest port?

I had the nurse Spray on a topical anesthetic before inserting the needle.

A friend of my son who has passed on due to lung cancer gave me the tip.

Worked for me.

Mikenh said:

The diagram of cell growth

The diagram of cell growth/death is helpful in understanding how complex regulation is in the body. It is similar to very complex software systems where you pass complicated data structures from module to module or subsystem to subsystem. In this case, mutations cause the system to go awry. Mutations are like data corruption in memory.

That description helps.

Mikenh said:

The port is in. The procedure

The port is in. The procedure was mostly painless, quick and I was awake during the procedure but not far from sleep. Antibiotics for three days. I have to avoid getting water on the port. Some people cover the port with Saran Wrap while showering. No immersion and I will probably have to give up competitive tennis for six months. I should avoid bench press, pullups, lat pulldowns and stuff involving the upper chest. I'm running out of body parts to exercise.

Mail-order pharmacy called back and the Xeloda should arrive on Monday which is a relief.

Yeah, I thought the weights would be a stretch. Sometimes, I have to carry things in my right arm, as the port kind of hurts a tad if I carry too heavy an object in my left.  I was awake for mine too. It was a bit surreal since I am at a teaching hospital. I spent 90 minutes keeping myself from moving while hearing my surgeon explaining the entire procedure to his student. I bought a 5 pound weight to hopefully do some tricep work outs while I don't go to gym. 

Mikenh said:

I think that the gym is fine

I think that the gym is fine if you have isolation machines.

My YMCA has those and I can do curls, triceps press, and lots of lower body stuff. My office gym just has a combination machine which probably isn't very useful. Our office classroom has box steps so I'll do some work on those and it may otherwise be lots of walking. I might try the elliptical and bicycle out too. Maybe the rowing machine as well. I used to use it quite a bit about 20 years ago.

I used elliptical and chin up assist/dip machine. I put my gym on medical freeze because I am just so tired, I didn't think I coud go. And by tired, I mean I feel exhausted most of the time.

Trubrit said:

Wow!

Thats quite the set up. I just had a chair in a cubicle. Quite sparse. 

Tru

You had a cubicle? We have recliners in a big room, all open- well I'm in a smaller area now, at the far end,  close to the restroom because  when I need to get there after being pumped full of fluids for three or four hours, I need to get there quickly. It's actually nice and warm in my little spot because I'm right next to the  big cabinet that heats the blankets. One nice amenity is that we have great Wifi :-)

 Grace/lizard44

NewHere said:

Works For Me

I am a New Yawker going to MSK.  At the five year mark, I should get a small place for a party for the other New Yawkers on the board   (Saw you mention Manhattan)

How is MSK? I was going to get a second opinion there. But hesitated because my surgeon fills me with such confidence. And then, I met my oncologist, and it was absolutely clear to me that he was someone I could trust completely. I am at Mount Sinai West. I am very happy with everyone there. They have so much compassion and they all seem to genuinely care about my recovery.

I’m from Texas and I sure wish they had told me preop that getting the port on the right side would prevent me from using a rifle or shotgun.  Maybe they could have put the port on the left side instead.   But I think I can use .22 rifles if I shoulder them high.

that’s probably not a worry for most of you but maybe this post will help someone else out.

the other thing not really mentioned in detail is immersion.  My doc sent a limit on immersion (baths, hot tubs, pools) for 4 months.  I’m not sure why so long but if I were ornery i’d be tempted to slather on some Vaseline and get in a hot tub.  But if I follow dr’s orders it’s another 6 weeks or so.

Mikenh said:

I asked the nurse about right

I asked the nurse about right side vs left and she said to talk to the doctor as he can put it on the left side. I may just give up some sports for the six months though. Darcher's picture has him shooting arrows so a port would probably affect him as well. It's bad enough just reaching for the seat belt with my right arm.

I would guess that you could find some product that would protect the wound from warm water. I don't know about hot chlorinated water though.

They put mine on left because I am right handed. 

Macdougal said:

Shooting Sports

I’m from Texas and I sure wish they had told me preop that getting the port on the right side would prevent me from using a rifle or shotgun.  Maybe they could have put the port on the left side instead.   But I think I can use .22 rifles if I shoulder them high.

that’s probably not a worry for most of you but maybe this post will help someone else out.

the other thing not really mentioned in detail is immersion.  My doc sent a limit on immersion (baths, hot tubs, pools) for 4 months.  I’m not sure why so long but if I were ornery i’d be tempted to slather on some Vaseline and get in a hot tub.  But if I follow dr’s orders it’s another 6 weeks or so.

They can place the port inbeterrn the breast, that would have worked. 

I would definitely check with your Oncologist before you take your .22 out. Always check!

Welcome to the forum. 

I was never told about not totally immersing in the bath, and being English, baths are pretty much all I have. Long deep baths. I had no problem. But alas, if your Onc says no immersion, then no immersion. 

Tru

I let the port heal for about 2 weeks before i went back to lifting weights.  I stayed light on shoulders because that seem to move the port around the most when I first had it placed.  The rest of the body i exercised the same though I did drop the amount of weight on all exercises.  It wasnt untill the last week that I messed the port up lifting.  I had to take antibiotics for a week before surgery just to be sure and they took it out when they did the recision.  

I hope every one has a Merry Christmas.