Problems with my Port--any one else had this experience?

Cal-Gal · 10-24-2009, 11:28 AM

Has anyone else had this or a similar issue with their port?

I had my port placed about 3 and a half weeks ago-yesterday was to be my 4th Herceptin treatment through the port--the previous 3 rounds of H went fine--

However they could not get a blood flow-they pumped me with several flushes of heparin--and then something else--when that didnt work they gave me a shot-through the port of a blood thinner--starts with an "A" forgot--as I didnt write it down--that took 30min--after my H which was given in the vein---they were able to flush it(the Port)--they said if they had not been able to, I would of had to go to the Hospital for a dye test??

They said they will try again next week and see what happens--but for now it is flushed---

I just finished #20 of #52 treatments and have a quite lengthy appointment schedule in front of me---

Also was just not in the mood for dealing with something else.....

I have some weird swelling-looks like maybe fluid in the center of my chest along the scar line and below it-and above-- (bilat mastectomy) always had a bit of tissue about the size of a quarter-between where my breasts used to be--this is now same area but larger and swollen-ish--

Onco checked and did not palpatate a lump-(either did I)
already have appt w/Dr (surgeon) for that next week--

Anyone had that either???

Thanks so much---

Midwest Alice · 10-24-2009, 11:38 AM

The problem I had with my port was that it would not give blood a few times. Then it was fine. They could always flush it, so I always got my meds through my port.

I have several pockets of fluid on my chest. They keep check with ultra sounds. They have all turned out OK.

Hope this helps.

Hugs Alice

Chelee · 10-24-2009, 01:31 PM

Cal-gal, I can't help with the port question however I'm sure many here can. But as to the swelling on chest and scar line I bet will turn out to be a seroma. Very common after mastectomies. I've had one since my first mastectomy almost 4 yrs ago. It was drained a couple times but comes back. Mine always shows up on PET/CT, and I was having an ultrasound every 6 months to check on it. They thought in time my body would absorb it but that hasn't happened. If it is a seroma your surgeon will just drain it and most the time they will go away after doing that. So I wouldn't worry to much about that.

Chelee

Cal-Gal · 10-24-2009, 06:48 PM

Thanks Alice and Chelee-

Chelee-I just had my CT Scans last week and all was clear

-except a 0.2cm micro-nodule on my upper R lung which was present in my first PET/CT after surgery-w/no nodes Onc believes it was there prior--it has been unchanged since first scans--

So this swelling whatever it is does not show on scans--but it is there-and probably just fluid accumulation--but will have Dr check on Friday--

Good wishes to you both for a peaceful and restful evening--

Diane H · 10-24-2009, 10:04 PM

I had a similar problem with my port. The tube/catheter had shifted and I could no longer use it. They did the last few herceptins in my hand,

and then I had it removed

.
Sounds like they have yours up and running and I hope that it stays that way for you. I had the dye test too.
Hugs,
Diane

Cal-Gal · 10-25-2009, 12:11 PM

Hi Diane--
Thanks so much for letting me know that you had similar issues w/the Port--
I have my fingers crossed that all is good and this was a one-time issue--
Have a great Sunday--

Brenda_D · 10-25-2009, 03:35 PM

They could never get my port to give blood. They could do flushes and treatments, and one time she had a hard time pushing the initial flush and had to switch to a shorter needle. They weren't worried about it not giving blood.

Cal-Gal · 10-25-2009, 04:13 PM

Hi Brenda-

Sorry for the mis-communication-they were not able to administer my treatment via the Port-

Evidently if they cannot achieve a good 'blood flow' in and out of the Port-they consider that it is not working properly-usually due to a clot--so it is not blood they were after to 'give' they were looking at the fact that the Port was not working properly and thus were not able to administer treatment through the Port--

Thanks so much for your reply--

Sandra in GA · 10-25-2009, 04:37 PM

Hi CalGal,
About five months after my bilateral mastectomies with 21 nodes removed from under my left arm, I noticed a lump near the incision in the area where they removed the nodes. It was quite scarry at first, but after a sonogram they dicided it was a seroma about 8 cm in size. The surgeon drained it and now they are watching it. It continues to grow smaller, but I can still feel it. This one is very close to the area where one of my drains was placed. I understand this is a common occurance. I hope you get an explaination for you fluid pocket soon. I know how you feel.

My port was stubborn a few times in the beginning and they had to recline me and put a warm pad on it before the blood would flow. What kind of port do you have? I have a power port and even though it is on the large side, it has served we well almost a year and a half now. I hope they get yours going soon. Take care!

Sandra

Cal-Gal · 10-25-2009, 04:52 PM

Hi Sandra-
Thanks so much for your post-I have a "Vaxcel" Port..I am unsure of the different types-I saw Chelees post on her Power Port and I see you have that also listed in your signature line--not sure if mine is the 'Power' type or not--it does seem large--perhaps just because it is implanted into my body!!!!

Chelee also mentioned a 'seroma'--I am hoping that is what the swelling is on my scar line-my swelling is actually in the middle of the chest--between-- where my breasts used to be....

I feel so much better about it since Chelee posted and now you also have had the same experience-it has helped slow down the voices in my head!!!

Thanks again for sharing---

Nancy L · 10-25-2009, 06:52 PM

My sister had nothing but problems with her port. Only one oncology nurse at Cedars Sinai was able to access it. The problem was that it was tipped and that it was totally below the surface. I think the doc went for the best cosmetic result.

I have never had one single problem with my port and it is four years now. I had it installed by the doc they call the "Port King" of the Palm Springs area. With all the seniors down here, he does them daily. My port is very visible and I think that helps---the nurses tell me it is a dream. One thing the port doc does is put all his patients with a port on 1 mg of coumadin daily to prevent any possible problem with a clot. This low dose does not require getting your PTT/INR tested and I have never had an issue with clotting. I tell everyone I know who is diagnosed to get a port before any treatment. I didn't and now I have very few veins that can be used.

Cal-Gal · 10-25-2009, 07:01 PM

Thanks Nancy for this info, I really appreciate it!!!!

Cal-Gal · 10-26-2009, 09:53 AM

Sandra and Chelee-
Were your seromas painfu????

--I have had pain-from burning pain to constant pain in this area of swelling--

Thanks so much---

Colleens_Husband · 10-26-2009, 12:30 PM

Cal Gal:

Colleen had constant grief with her port just like you did. They did the dye tests repeatedly and it always said it was working except that they could never get a blood return. One of the few times they did get a blood return the port clogged and it backed up causing Colleen considerable pain.

The surgeon said there was a couple possible reasons for the problem. One, the end of the port which goes into a heart aorta may have been too close to arterial (or was it a vein?) wall and that when you apply suction for the blood return it vacuums itself onto the arterial wall and plugs up. If you can run saline through the port so that the patient can taste the saline, then you know the port is functioning.

Another possibility is that by touching or feeling the port membranes or sometimes just by active living the port sucks blood into the tip of the port in the aorta which coagulates and plugs everything up. If you have a double port than that increases the chances of the thing plugging up.

I hope that helps. Even though Colleen's port was unending grief, Colleen was probably better off than her sister who didn't have a port and still has problems with her veins years after all of her chemotherapy.

Lee

Sheila · 10-26-2009, 12:36 PM

CalGal

Since my brother in a radiology interventologist....I went straight to him...the med they gave you is given to break up a clot that can form on the tip...similar to the TPA given for a heart attack or stroke, known as the clot buster...and made by Genentech.

Here is the info on Activase

http://www.gene.com/gene/products/information/cardiovascular/cathflo-activase/

Cal-Gal · 10-26-2009, 01:29 PM

Thanks Lee for letting me about Collen's issues with her Port-since I have 32 weekly (who's counting?)Herceptin treatments left the Port is the logical answer--but I am not up for all this stuff that is going along with it--almost prefer going back to the veins.............

Thank you Sheila for taking the time to contact your brother about this--sounds like that was it--and thank you for the link--now I can check up on the side effects of Activase--I have been eating like I am on steriods and depressed--neither of which I was prior to this all happening on Friday--

Going to google it now!!!!

Thanks again to both of YOU!!!!