PICC
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Comments
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I'm not sure.......
I'm not sure how you managed with that.
My daughter had one in her neck while she was pregnant with her first child, because she couldn't eat. Had to carry a "backpack" with her everywhere for the IV fluids for nourishment. I was amazed at how anyone can live with one of those then.
After seeing yours, I am STILL amazed!
Hugs,
CR0 -
Thanks for that picture.Akiss4me said:Great visual....
Now if only I can see one of a port....I don't know how you did that! How long did you have to have that in? Thanks for the visual, it really does give me a better understanding than just reading about it.
Pammy
Thanks for that picture. You really went thru a lot. That looks painful.0 -
thanks for all the compliments...CR1954 said:I'm not sure.......
I'm not sure how you managed with that.
My daughter had one in her neck while she was pregnant with her first child, because she couldn't eat. Had to carry a "backpack" with her everywhere for the IV fluids for nourishment. I was amazed at how anyone can live with one of those then.
After seeing yours, I am STILL amazed!
Hugs,
CR
but you know, as we go through our journey here, we find out we can put up with just about anything. The real story was my onc asked for the picc first, I told them at the hospital that everyone had a VERY hard time finding my veins, the tech, of course, said "oh no problem, I have the ultrasound which can find the veins". Well she did find a vein, my artery, spurted blood all over her face! So after a half hour, she asked for help and they finally gave up because my arm was swollen to twice it's size (I have big arms, so that was large). The next step was the port (I also will upload a pic of that, but you see nothing but the scar), which didn't work, after much twisting and turning by the doc, so I was now basically useless with both arms. In the mean time I had two chemo appts, the second I finally had the nurse use a vein in my foot, after she found a vein in my hand that leaked. After that the doc refused to do any more treatments without a port or picc, so I said to try the picc again since it is less invasive. It stayed in from the end of May to the end of September. Now that is a really weird feeling when they pull that sucker out! (after your last treatment) So, all those out there who are concerned with the port, just consider the alternative if you do not have cooperative veins ( I just finally told them my veins were the only thing that is shy about me)
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PammyMarcia527 said:I JUST can't look. I'm such
I JUST can't look. I'm such a sissy. Sorry you had a problem.
I'm too chicken to look at the PICC picture ... but with a port there's really nothing to see since it is under the skin. Right after it is "installed" you can see the incision site and you can see the "other end" of it by a small incision site in your neck ... but the one in your neck goes a way very fast and the site where the port is ... is just a "bump." Not very exciting to look at since you can't see anything.
The fascinating thing is to see what the port looks like before it is installed. It's an amazing piece of "equipment." Also amazing is the needle thing they insert into the port to give you chemo. I thought it was "just a needle" until I looked at one still in the package. It's full of wires and all kinds of mechanical looking things. I swear ... whoever invented the port is a genius! I love mine!
hugs.
teena0 -
porttgf said:Pammy
I'm too chicken to look at the PICC picture ... but with a port there's really nothing to see since it is under the skin. Right after it is "installed" you can see the incision site and you can see the "other end" of it by a small incision site in your neck ... but the one in your neck goes a way very fast and the site where the port is ... is just a "bump." Not very exciting to look at since you can't see anything.
The fascinating thing is to see what the port looks like before it is installed. It's an amazing piece of "equipment." Also amazing is the needle thing they insert into the port to give you chemo. I thought it was "just a needle" until I looked at one still in the package. It's full of wires and all kinds of mechanical looking things. I swear ... whoever invented the port is a genius! I love mine!
hugs.
teena
I also have a port but mine sticks out because of the tissue expander under it. I have taken a picture but will have to find the instructions to my camera as how to upload it. I am not good with these things.
Once I figure out how to do it I will post it. Hopefully tonight and then you can see what it looks like.
Port or no port--my personal opinion is port--that is if you have to go through a lot of treatments which I am.
Margo
I did look at the PICC picture I don't know if I could do that.0 -
PortAkiss4me said:Great visual....
Now if only I can see one of a port....I don't know how you did that! How long did you have to have that in? Thanks for the visual, it really does give me a better understanding than just reading about it. Pammy
I did upload a pic of the port.
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hummmm... how much info???
OK... after this thread I pray to God that I don't need CHEMO!!! How much info is TOO MUCH info??? You Cat and everybody else that has gone through this has MY UTMOST ADMIRATION!!! May GOD BLESS each and every one of you!!!!
Take Care, Mike0 -
Geez, Cat...cats_toy said:thanks for all the compliments...
but you know, as we go through our journey here, we find out we can put up with just about anything. The real story was my onc asked for the picc first, I told them at the hospital that everyone had a VERY hard time finding my veins, the tech, of course, said "oh no problem, I have the ultrasound which can find the veins". Well she did find a vein, my artery, spurted blood all over her face! So after a half hour, she asked for help and they finally gave up because my arm was swollen to twice it's size (I have big arms, so that was large). The next step was the port (I also will upload a pic of that, but you see nothing but the scar), which didn't work, after much twisting and turning by the doc, so I was now basically useless with both arms. In the mean time I had two chemo appts, the second I finally had the nurse use a vein in my foot, after she found a vein in my hand that leaked. After that the doc refused to do any more treatments without a port or picc, so I said to try the picc again since it is less invasive. It stayed in from the end of May to the end of September. Now that is a really weird feeling when they pull that sucker out! (after your last treatment) So, all those out there who are concerned with the port, just consider the alternative if you do not have cooperative veins ( I just finally told them my veins were the only thing that is shy about me)
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I had neither picc nor port. And thought I had experienced some nasty standard IV and vein "issues" during chemo. Now I think nothing, compared to your experiences. Not sure if I have the gumption to check out your photos. But, if I work up the nerve - I'll let you know.
Thanks for posting them for the benefit of our members here.
Kind regards, Susan0 -
Cat, thanks for posting yourThe1percen said:hummmm... how much info???
OK... after this thread I pray to God that I don't need CHEMO!!! How much info is TOO MUCH info??? You Cat and everybody else that has gone through this has MY UTMOST ADMIRATION!!! May GOD BLESS each and every one of you!!!!
Take Care, Mike
Cat, thanks for posting your pic. I haven't looked yet, but, I will when I get up enough courage. You truly are one brave soul and like someone else said, thanks for posting this for others to see that may need one. You have helped others by this. Thanks!0 -
thanks KristinKristin N said:Cat, thanks for posting your
Cat, thanks for posting your pic. I haven't looked yet, but, I will when I get up enough courage. You truly are one brave soul and like someone else said, thanks for posting this for others to see that may need one. You have helped others by this. Thanks!
It really isn't bad, don't worry about looking at it, just a bunch of junk sitting on an arm! And no, I am not brave, just doing what needs to be done to conquer the beast!
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Thanks CatAkiss4me said:Thanks Cat...
This really helps alot. Still freaky to have something "in me" so to speak. I had a terrible time with the clip they left in after my biopsy. Couldn't wait to get it out!! But thank you for posting the pics to help us. Pammy
As you know my port went in yesterday. I hope it works. My veins are like yours, hard to get. Between fridays blood draw and yesterdays IV , They blew out most if not all the veins in my left arm. Thanks for the pictures. Always learning here.0 -
I agree with PammyAkiss4me said:Thanks Cat...
This really helps alot. Still freaky to have something "in me" so to speak. I had a terrible time with the clip they left in after my biopsy. Couldn't wait to get it out!! But thank you for posting the pics to help us. Pammy
I thought I was the only one to be freaked out by the little clip thingy, it's still in me for now.
Oh and BTW hope all is going well for you KAT with your knew port and all.
And thanks Cat for the pictures. This whole thing is still overwhelming to me. I've stayed away from looking at pictures on the internet, because when my daughter was looking for a picture of a ribbon on line she came across some really horrific pictures of breast cancer.
Yikes!!!
aurora0 -
my pics are all G ratedaurora2009 said:I agree with Pammy
I thought I was the only one to be freaked out by the little clip thingy, it's still in me for now.
Oh and BTW hope all is going well for you KAT with your knew port and all.
And thanks Cat for the pictures. This whole thing is still overwhelming to me. I've stayed away from looking at pictures on the internet, because when my daughter was looking for a picture of a ribbon on line she came across some really horrific pictures of breast cancer.
Yikes!!!
aurora
at least the ones I posted here....
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yea... G 4 GROSScats_toy said:my pics are all G rated
at least the ones I posted here....
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That is one thing I definately pray against!!! I was an EMT for a couple years and all this talk about ports and piccs freaks me out! However I guess that is something else that may be in my future "Pacemakers" My Dad also has a pacemaker because of the A-Fib and he was about the same age as I am when his started. He is on his second one now!! I guess that's sort of the same thing huh???
Take Care,
Mike0 -
Ok, I looked Cat. Thankscats_toy said:thanks Kristin
It really isn't bad, don't worry about looking at it, just a bunch of junk sitting on an arm! And no, I am not brave, just doing what needs to be done to conquer the beast!
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Ok, I looked Cat. Thanks again for posting those. And, you are brave! I get amazed at what some of you bc survivors have had to go thru. True Warriors!0
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