Port Questions

[Angela]

They have scheduled me to receive a port next Thursday. What should I expect? Will I be able to return to work on Friday? Will I need pain meds? Any information will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Angela

[tousled1]

Angela,

Getting your port in is a breeze. I had mine done without a general anesthesia -- sort of in a twighlight zone. You should not require any pain medication meds and should be able to go to work the following day. When I had my port put in I went to my surgeon's surgery center had the port put in and then went to the oncologist's office for my first round of chemo.

[Chelee]

Angela, I had no problems with mine either as Kate already mentioned. I really dreaded it and didn't want to do it but it was a piece of cake. I was wide awake and they just numb that area. (Mine is in my upper arm.) I just layed there while he put in it. I did NOT feel a thing.

As to what to expect...we are all different. But for me...I did have a little soreness in mine for a few days. It wasn't too bad though....just uncomfortable. But its done pretty quickly and I have had no problems with it since it was put in back in March o6. (Knock wood.)

I know I was told to keep mine clean and dry for a week I believe it was? But again...my port is in my arm unlike others that get theirs in the chest area.

Good luck...but don't worry about this...it really is no problem.

Chelee

[tricia keegan]

Angela my port was in my chest and I had it put in with "Twilight" sedation although it completly knocked me out so I don't remember much.

I did have some soreness for 7-10 days but nothing too bad that would have kept me off work.
I just had mine removed after my last herceptin with a local and it was fine.
Good luck.
Tricia

[janet/FL]

I was shoveling rocks the day after I had my port put in. Later I read the insturctions and they said no heavy lifting for 48 hours! No problems at all.

[KRISS]

I have a question following this line. I am assuming I will get a port. How do you keep it clean and dry. I am a zoo keeper and am around flying crap and hay and dust all day. I'm starting to worry with the heavy lifitng and poop I may have some problems.

[tousled1]

My port is in my upper chest and I was told to keep it clean and dry for a short period of time. Just enough time for it to heal over. After that no problem - I can go swimming, shower, etc without fear of getting it wet. I've had mine in for a year now and have basically gone on with my regular life style without any problems.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hi Angela!
It is unnerving when they do anything to me! At least the thinking about it is! But I'm such a chicken until the time to do whatever comes. Once I see what will happen I do great!
But the port was easy. They did put me to sleep to put mine in my upper chest, left side. It's been there 9 months and it's worked great! I didn't need anything but Tylenol (once) afterwards. They tell you just to be careful a few days. And I did that! Soap and water when you shower is what they told me to do to keep the area clean from germs! I got my first chemo about 5 days later.
I'm so glad that I did the port. It has made chemo easier.
Best of luck and Happy New Year!

[Heart Sutra]

Hi Angela,

I had my port put in on Tuesday of this week and was very scared as well to have this done without being knocked out.

It was really a piece of cake!!! I'm a little sore, but nothing I can't handle. Mine is in my chest and I was awake as well. The worst part for me was getting the I.V. I'm so glad I don't have that worry any longer.

I am very black and blue though. I think that has a lot to do with my physical shape. I'm a personal trainer and have a lot of muscle mass. The radiologist really had to push this into place, so I think that's why I'm so brused.

They inserted a powerport. Does anyone else have this kind of port? From what the radiologist said it's new, they can do all through this port even CT/contrast injections.

[tousled1]

I have an HMP Access Device with Vortex Technology. My port is used to give me chemo and blood draws. I also had it used for anesthesia when I had my surgery.

[Sbacer]

Hi
It depends on the Dr, there are different kinds/places to put ports. Although heavy lifting is considered a No No. My port is an underarm port on the other side of my chest wall and completely covered by my skin. Right after my port was put in I had my first Chemo and that helped me as I was still a little loopy from the knock out and I could cross an AC off at the same time.

Take care
Sandy

[janet11]

Kriss,

A port is totally under the skin, so it's protested quite well from flying debris. Mine is in my chest just above the breast, in an area covered by my shirts and blouses. They used a general anesthetic for me when they put it in and after a couple weeks, it didn't bother me when I lay on my side to sleep. It's been wonderful!!!

Janet

[Chelee]

Sue, Your port must be new. My port and most that I know of can't be used for CT/contrast dyes, etc. I wish mine could be used for that...would make things much easier for all my scans. Sounds like you lucked out with this new type of port.

You mentioned being black and blue. I can relate...mine was placed in my upper arm and it was black & blue ALL the way AROUND my entire upper arm. It looked awful. Looked worse then it felt...but I had blood thinners in me at that time so I think that is what made mine worse. I know several nurses asked me what happened? lol No one wanted to touch mine for over a week. Thats how bruised and discolored it was. But thankfully its been working great...does the job.

Enjoy your power port...sounds pretty cool. You must of gotten to drive the latest model off the lot. lol http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif Thats going to come in handy! Wish I would of had one like that to start with.

Chelee

[LAURIE]

I have a port installed above my breast and before hand thought I can't stand the thought of having this thing inside of me. I was even concerned about the little scar. I rememeber asking my surgeon about the scar and I could see the look on his face like "you just wait till your surgery" That was in last August. So if your feeling this way it's normal to me. I guess I am okay with it now. It only midly hurt for a few days afterwards and it is really easier for surgery, nurses and easier for us too. Trust me I am really a wimp when it comes to pain and it is not that bad. I told my surgeon that if I can take something for pain I always will. I took a couple vicodin for a couple days later. After my chemo treatments I complained of my collar bone (and lower, in the port area) hurting (I even thought it was swollen) and they did an x-ray. It was fine. I am just real sensitive to any pain and just geting stick in my port was enough for me to complain about. Even now I am so aware of every ache and pain in my body. I think I am getting better about what is normal and not as much of a complainer anymore (I am sure my husband would agree with that). What I am trying to say is that if you read all these posts and you still don't like the idea of having a port it's okay. Why would anyone want it, if they don't have to. But the fact is we have to, and we do it because it is the best thing for us to do. So if you have any pain after your port placement and think your a wimp because you do, who cares. Let yourself feel that way.

[KellyA]

Hi there. My port is also on the inside of my upper arm (they called it a passport (sp?)). I was scared to death when I went to get it put in- and needles don't usually bother me. I was completely awake for it and other than the IV, and a little numbing medicine at the site, I didn't feel a thing. It went in pretty quickly also. Afterwards, it was a little sore, only if I touched it. As a matter of fact, I kept forgetting that it was there and was using my arm to shut doors and all and would quickly remember when the pain hit!! The tenderness went away after a few days and it did bruise a little, but not too bad.

Love, Kelly

[tousled1]

Laurie,

If it bothers you when they stick you for chemo you can ask your oncologist for a prescription for "Lidocaine Cream." I have it and I just put a blob of it on the port and cover it with a small piece of plastic wrap about 1/2 hour before chemo. Alas, no pain when they stick you!

[Adriana Mangus]

I had a port put on 3 years ago, mine got infected and it had to be removed. I would stay home, what's the rush? We're not indispensable, believe me. Take care of yourself, once you get better then you can go back to your normal life.

[Chelee]

Kriss, As to keeping your port clean...I am not sure about the ports that are placed in the chest, but mine was put in the upper arm where you would put a blood pressure cuff. For me...they put these BIG CLEAR square patches that had adhesive on the backs of them and boy do they stick! Totally sealed off from moisture, dirt, etc. It wrapped all the way around my arm. They told me to keep it clean. And believe me...with these big sheets of adhesive patches it was easy to keep clean.

They gave me extras to take home so I could put news ones on it when needed. I am not sure if they use something like this for the ones that go in the chest? But I am sure someone here can tell you how they deal with the ones in the chest area.

Chelee

[Soccermom]

Dear Kris,
I believe the patch that Chelee is referring to is called Tegaderm.I had an external port originally (subclavian catheter) and had to keep it "dressed" 24/7. The coverings for that were sold to me by the medical supply dept. at MDAnderson (who implanted cath w only alocal anesthetic). When I ran short my local pharmacy sold me the Tegaderm which was trickier to work with (like saran wrap w glue!) but did thejob as afr as keeping cath dry and clean.
I had that removed in June 0f 2005 and replaced with an implanted port (BARD) which I still have (hopefullythey will give me the go ahead in June to remove!). I FORGET that its there, REALLY! I have been fortunate to not have had one single problem (knock wood) and have never had to cover itto protect it. I am just sorry I didnt know to ask about a pediatric sized port as I have no extra "meat" on my chest to pad it.
I hope your experience w a port is as noneventful as mine!

Marcia

[sdhaem]

I have had two chest ports ,,, completely under the skin.. and you just care for it like your skin... my first one from day one was uncomfortable and I ran a low grade temp then it started looking red around it.. and Doc said it had to come out it was infected,, they said it was no fault of mine, sometimes that just happens.. the second one (Bard) put on the other side of my chest ,,I have had no trouble with... don't know its there... I wish to they could use it for more uses, like blood tests... and for the IV's when they do Muga and CT's but I guess those people aren't trained to use them ...

[Brenda_D]

I had my chest port put in last January. They used Twilight sleep, and I don't remember anything after the anesthesiologist said "and now you will get some nice happy juice". Lol
My port area was sore for awhile. Mostly because I kept laying on that side during sleep, and pushing against it.
I don't know if my port is getting closed off or what, but they haven't been able to draw blood from it, and last time I got Herceptin, the nurse had a hard time "pushing" the first flush in.
Otherwise, I'm happy to have it and not have them dig around to find a vein every time I get a treatment.

[weezie1053]

Hard to believe, but I have had my ports for over a year now. Accessing the port will come second nature as brushing your teeth after while. I remember using the numbing cream, then I graduated to ice. Now, the nurses and I count "1,2,3" and pop the sucker in. Voila!

It will save your veins, and you will wonder what all the fuss was about a year later.

Louise

[Joanne S]

http://www.curesearch.org/images/illustrations/006-Mediport2.gif

[Joanne S]

I have an implanted port in my chest just as shown on my previous post.

I hope you find this information helpful. Best to you.


http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Central-Venous-Catheters-Topic-Overviewfficeffice (http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Central-Venous-Catheters-Topic-Overviewfficeffice)"

What is a central venous catheter?>>
A central venous catheter, or vascular access device (VAD), is a long, thin, flexible tube used to give medications, fluids, nutrients, or blood products over a long period of time, usually several weeks or more. The catheter is inserted through the skin into a vein often in the neck or chest. It is threaded through the vein until it reaches a large vein near the heart.>>
>>
>>
What types of central venous catheters are there?>>
There are several types of central venous catheters.>>

· A PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line is a central venous catheter inserted into a vein in the arm rather than a vein in the neck or chest. >>

· A tunneled catheter is surgically inserted into a vein in the neck or chest and passed under the skin. Only the end of the catheter is brought through the skin through which medications can be given. Passing the catheter under the skin helps keep it in place better, makes it less restrictive of activities, and makes it less visible. >>

· An implanted port is similar to a tunneled catheter but is left entirely under the skin. Medications are injected through the skin into the catheter. Some implanted ports contain a small reservoir that can be refilled in the same way. Once filled, the reservoir slowly releases the medication into the bloodstream. An implanted port is less obvious than a tunneled catheter and requires very little daily care. It has less impact on a person's activities than a PICC or tunneled catheter. >>
>>

[Lee]

Kriss -
If you get a port in your chest, it is completely under the skin so no special care is needed. It just looks like a bump on your chest. When the port is accessed, they have to stick it with a short needle, but it really doesn't hurt much at all.

It is so much easier when getting chemo - I have never regretted having one put in.

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

My port was installed in '98 in my upper chest under twilight. I love my port. It is a tiny half a golf ball lump that is a bluish tinge.

I used to get a lidocaine spray, but nurses have told me that IT IS JUST ANOTHER INVITATION FOR GERMS AND AN INFECTION TO GET IN THERE. So, now, I just brave it out. A skilled nurse gets dead center and you basically feel nothing.

IF YOU ARE BETWEEN TX for a long period of time -- remember -- you must get your port FLUSHED monthly!

IF YOU HAVE DENTAL WORK (including cleaning) my onc says that if you have a port -- YOU MUST TAKE AMOXICYLINE (how in the world do you spell that??!) which is an antibiotic -- 1 hr prior to dental appt. 4 X 500 mg.

A PORT IS A DIRECT LINE INTO YOUR VEINS AND HEART. You must protect it at all times. I am most particular about who I allow to access it. (When I broke my ankle and required surgery in '01, they did not know how to access a port in anesthesia, or they preferred not to use it.) After surgery, I was receiving morphine through my port, when it came time to check out sev days later I kept calling the nurse to take out the morphine needle. Apparently, she didn't know how and kept leaving and coming back, then when she removed it/yanked it out, blood starting pouring all over! So, I have learned a good lesson.

Before and after accessing, they use saline to clear the port and then heplok to seal it. They also use something to sterilize the area prior. Afterward, they put a circle bandaid to keep in place till I shower, as they would an injection. I am told they do not need to put gauze and tape on it, it isn't a wound.

HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL! My port is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I just love having it (as the one part of me that is *skinny* is my veins)! I am told once they find one it rolls over, collapses or blows out. So they just keep stabbing -- and digging -- away otherwise. Be good to your port, ladies. It's your best friend. Keep it, and YOU, safe.... Love,
Andi http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05fca/06