The problem patient again - more port issues

Kathryn_in_MN
Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Of course I had to be the difficult patient again. My port would not work for blood draws, and they didn't think it was even going to do very well for infusions. After trying to flush it several times she had me put my feet up, no go. Then she tipped me back with my head low, no go. Then lay on right side - nothing. Then lay on left side - bingo - we got some blood coming out. But not much. Another flush and nothing. Another flush and just a little blood. So I had to have a chemical injected to clean things out. They felt something was on the other side blocking everything. I had my labs drawn from my arm again.

I must have had a chemo crystal or blood clot or something blocking my port. Now it might be coincidence, or it might be connected, but after they did this my pain in my right collarbone and right shoulder that I have had ever since this port went in cleared up.

Anyone else have anything similar to this happen? I had one other day they couldn't draw labs from my port. I've only had it for a month. This was only my third chemo cycle. I did have a small blood clot in my arm last week. I'm wondering if I had another one by my port?

Comments

  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #2
    Port
    George had trouble getting blood draws through his port so they took it from his arm. He had no problem with the chemo going in so rather than go through all the hassle every time trying to get blood from the port, he just has his blood draws from he arm. You are not the only one with port prolems.
  • PamPam2
    PamPam2 Member Posts: 370 Member
    #3
    no outie
    Mine was the same, could never get blood out, but did work to put the chemo in, that's the most important thing.
    Pam
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #4
    PamPam2 said:

    no outie
    Mine was the same, could never get blood out, but did work to put the chemo in, that's the most important thing.
    Pam

    Portly problems
    Mine only worked 60 % of the time because the line had moved up against blood vessel wall. Then no one told me it needed to be flushed every few weeks so when needed for postop chemo, it wouldn't work at all so now I have a PICC line sticking out of me (with old port still in chest-told surgeon leave it if it won't hurt nothing for time being) PICC has its own problems-need to be flushed every few days with bandaging needing replacement weekly.....Steve
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #5
    coloCan said:

    Portly problems
    Mine only worked 60 % of the time because the line had moved up against blood vessel wall. Then no one told me it needed to be flushed every few weeks so when needed for postop chemo, it wouldn't work at all so now I have a PICC line sticking out of me (with old port still in chest-told surgeon leave it if it won't hurt nothing for time being) PICC has its own problems-need to be flushed every few days with bandaging needing replacement weekly.....Steve

    My
    Port is the same, doesn't stay opened. My Onc said sometimes a sheath forms around it, which makes it hard to draw blood, but the chemo nurses always try to get both working each time (I have a power port, double barrell) and they flush both each time. If they can't get it working with the Heparin, they try something I believe called Apolex or something, which is stronger then Heparin, they leave it in anywhere from 5-20 minutes, and then BOOM! the blood is coming!

    But they never will do chemo unless both are drawing blood, they like to make sure they are both properly flushed and drawing blood, which I like at least, that they work hard to get them to work, and cleaned out with the flushing.

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • Wenchie
    Wenchie Member Posts: 88
    #6
    Port Problems
    Kathryn I had port problems too and after my third port, I went to a picc line in my arm. With the third port, they could not get blood return and kept poking around until they finally did. I ended up with a blood clot in my arm too but that was only the beginning. Port was accessed on Tuesday and by Thursday night I could not even turn over in bed due to chest pain. Come to find out, I had a very large pulmonary embolism and sepsis. 7 days in intensive care and the removal of that damn port and I'm happy with the picc line. Be very careful with even the small blood clots in the arms. Cancer patients have a tendency to get blood clots and the pulmonary ones can be deadly.
  • mcsauder
    mcsauder Member Posts: 68
    #7
    PORT
    Hi everyone
    I have had a double port for 4 years and yes I went throw the same thing
    the 2nd year I had it some type of blood clot happened they got something from the Pharmacy and then sat for one hour then everything started to work
    I was in the hospital three mouths ago and they could not get it to work so they had to put a IV in my arm I now have a apartment at the end of December in infusion room to get working one more time
    So no your not the only one and I'm like Donna I like to see the blood return
    Mike
  • Julie 44
    Julie 44 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #8
    mcsauder said:

    PORT
    Hi everyone
    I have had a double port for 4 years and yes I went throw the same thing
    the 2nd year I had it some type of blood clot happened they got something from the Pharmacy and then sat for one hour then everything started to work
    I was in the hospital three mouths ago and they could not get it to work so they had to put a IV in my arm I now have a apartment at the end of December in infusion room to get working one more time
    So no your not the only one and I'm like Donna I like to see the blood return
    Mike

    Me Too
    From day one they couldn't draw blood from my port..They could flush it fine and infuse the chemo just fine....My shoulder also aches after wards...So everytime they get blood from my arm....So you are not the only one......JULIE
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #9
    I guess I have been lucky;
    I guess I have been lucky; my power port has caused me no problems whatsoever & I am hardly aware it is there. It is flushed with saline.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #10
    AnneCan said:

    I guess I have been lucky;
    I guess I have been lucky; my power port has caused me no problems whatsoever & I am hardly aware it is there. It is flushed with saline.

    Same here
    Seems as if the maker of this device sells it as a two way street. Its not working that way. Mine has never given any blood, just taken in chemo, flushed or not. seems to be a design flaw or just something added to spark a little more interest in the cancer field so that they become a hotter item. Mine is a single...
  • claud1951
    claud1951 Member Posts: 424 Member
    #11
    Buzzard said:

    Same here
    Seems as if the maker of this device sells it as a two way street. Its not working that way. Mine has never given any blood, just taken in chemo, flushed or not. seems to be a design flaw or just something added to spark a little more interest in the cancer field so that they become a hotter item. Mine is a single...

    Yes, I had trouble as well.
    Yes, I had trouble as well. The chemo drugs went in fine but they could not get blood from the port. I did have a .....can't remember what it was, but they infused liquid and looked to see if it was working properly...Yes..going in was fine and I just kept it that way.

    Didn't want to remove port and add another one. They put chemo in but took blood from arm.


    Sending good thoughts
    Claudia

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