Port Flipped
 

I went for my routine port flush today. What!?!?! The nurse couldn't penetrate my port. No it's not blocked. They think it flipped where the back of the port is facing forward. How did this happen? Have you ever heard of this before? Uncommon? Is this weird or what? Why does this weird stuff happen to me? Now I have to see my breast surgeon to get it turned over? or replaced? haaaaaa aaaaah

Re: Port Flipped
 

Hi Joanne
My port hasn't flipped but has certainly moved to a new angle! this makes it difficult to access. I was told it was the shape of my chest! They have to press one side now to level it off before they can use it.
Ellie

Re: Port Flipped
 

My port put me in the hospital for 5 days and I still think it was worth it! The amount of pokes in the one good arm there are just to many! Hope all goes well!

Re: Port Flipped
 

Hi, my port has flipped several times. Sometimes they can flip it manually, but I have had to have surgery. After the second time, the surgeon moved it more to the center of my chest, closer to the clavicle, and so far so good.

If you are not in treatment, you may just want to have it removed, and worry about a new one if it is ever needed in the future.

Laurie

Re: Port Flipped
 

Hi Joanne,

My port flipped for my first chemo - it had been placed in a few days before, and the same thing happened to me that happened to you - the nurse could not penetrate it (luckily I did not feel the numerous needles as I had applied EMLA cream - lidocaine in the States).
They sent me down to the day surgery and squeezed me in for the "reflip" - I was lucky the surgeon who had initially inserted it was able just to freeze me and flip it back. I remember apologizing to him, thinking I had done something wrong, but he said not to worry, it happens occasionally -

Never had a problem after that.

all the best
caya

Re: Port Flipped
 

Well shoot! That does happen and I recall a patient next to me in the infustion suite having that, as it was easy to overhear the nurse through the curtain. That nurse said it often happens at night when changing sleeping positions.

I know you are back in treatment and need the darn thing, so here is wishing you an easy fix!