Is port flushing painful? Answers needed please

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EissetB
EissetB Member Posts: 133
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I will be on my third treatment with FOLFOX today. Praying the dripping won't escaped from the vein this time. It did last time, I didn't know it was dripping off the vein, all I remember was the severe pain. It drip off the vein for 46 hours causes and left massive bruises on my chest all the way to my underarm. Very painful. The bruise is slowly going away. Then on my next schedule will have the port flush on the list. Would it hurt me? I mean, is it painful? Any comment is appreciated. 

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  • Tunadog
    Tunadog Member Posts: 235 Member
    edited May 2017 #2
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    Shouldn't be..

    They push some saline through the port and a sealer. It should not hurt.

    If it hurts I would have it replaced.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #3
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    Port flush

    The port flush never hurt me. The taste in the mouth while they pushed the saline through, was rather yukkie, but other than that, it was a breeze. 

    I hope you are going to mention the problem you had with your last infusion, and tell them you don't want it to happen again. 

    Good luck!

    TRU

  • EissetB
    EissetB Member Posts: 133
    #4
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    Thank you

    Thanks for the prompted replies!!! I appreciated it much. Sue, I just got back from hematology clinic. I'd seen the oncologist and she checked my bruise on my breast. She said I should get my infusion today, so I agreed. She instructed a nurse to be careful and to listen to the patient's complain if there will be any. So far today the infusion is going well. No pain, just jaw spasm. Once in a while my hands get numbed when I touched anything cold. 46 hours drippings. Nine more treatments after this one. I think I'll be okay as long as it won't leave anymore bruises nor pain. God bless us all. God is Good!!

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #5
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    Happy day!

    I am glad to hear all is going well with this infusion, and that you got a nurse who is caring well for you.  

    The jaw spasms are usually short lived, but you may have problems with the cold for a while. Keep a pair of gloves handy, especially when going into the fridge or handling anything that is cold. 

    I hope this treatment is good to you. Take care! 

    Tru

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #6
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    I didn't have any pain or

    I didn't have any pain or unpleasantness with my flush, either. I'd have posted earlier but I was having trouble with the site so I don;t know if you've already had it done.

    Jan

  • EissetB
    EissetB Member Posts: 133
    #7
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    The flushing will be done at

    The flushing will be done at the end of this month of May. I am happy to hear about having no problem on this procedure. Thank you much. This makes me smile! God bless us all always!!

  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    #8
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    EissetB said:

    The flushing will be done at

    The flushing will be done at the end of this month of May. I am happy to hear about having no problem on this procedure. Thank you much. This makes me smile! God bless us all always!!

    flushing port

    They should be flushing your port with saline before infusion to make sure that the needle is inserted correctly and that it's not leaking anywhere.  After infusion, they should flush with saline then heparin.  The saline is to flush the last bit of chemo into your system and the heparin is to prevent blood clots.  I cannot remember if there's one last saline flush after the heparin, I think there is.  I like that I can smell the saline (I don't taste it like most folks), it's an extra reassurance that the port is are working properly.

    While you are on chemo, there shouldn't be need to flush monthly, that's for when you have a port that's not being accessed at least monthly to make sure no blood clots form in the line.  They should flush with saline, then heparin, and I think one last time with saline.  I've gone as long as 4 months and was very lucky to have my port still open.  I would not advise waiting that long.  A week on either side of a month is probably okay. 

    I was happy to hear your latest infusion went smoothly.  I hope you don't have additional problems.  When I was 11 I had IV contrast injected into my arm, not my vein and it burned like He$$.  I cannot imagine chemo for 46 hours, you're a trooper!  Good luck, Traci

  • lizard44
    lizard44 Member Posts: 409 Member
    edited May 2017 #9
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    Port flushing

    Glad your  infusion went well, and hope that  continues to be the case.  I haven't  had any pain or problems with the flushes, but I do get a yucky taste in my mouth with both the saline and the heparin lock.When I first  complained about a yucky metallic taste in my mouth the nurse   got me a peppermint. It did mask the smell and the taste so now I always carry a couple of peppermints with me to  treatment to pop in my mouth before they  begin flushing.

    Grace/lizard44

     

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #10
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    Port care

    As stated above, general flush is done every chemo session with saline followed by heparin.

    There is another "flush" that they do, particularly if they are having trouble getting a blood draw or infusion.  Apparently there is some fibrus material which can "clog" things up.  Not sure if it is vein reaction to chemo or what.  My sister had to have the "clean out flush" done on her port.  Did not hurt.

    Just for your peace of mind you might ask how the "monthly" flush they want to do varies from the session one.

    Marie who loves kitties

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #11
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    Lovekitties said:

    Port care

    As stated above, general flush is done every chemo session with saline followed by heparin.

    There is another "flush" that they do, particularly if they are having trouble getting a blood draw or infusion.  Apparently there is some fibrus material which can "clog" things up.  Not sure if it is vein reaction to chemo or what.  My sister had to have the "clean out flush" done on her port.  Did not hurt.

    Just for your peace of mind you might ask how the "monthly" flush they want to do varies from the session one.

    Marie who loves kitties

    I also had to have them clean

    I also had to have them clean mine out at one point. I was scared that it would be unpleasant but it wasn't. I felt nothing.

    Jan

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