Hi to unregistered 3/24, My port was put in by Dr. Newsome(sp?) at Alex Inova Aug 05. I think it's a BARD. Smaller than a dime but still not pretty. Zero problems. Surgery was easy. I woke up but they had told me that was possible. All I remember is feeling happy and chatty until they knocked me out again. Some of my infusion roomies have had problems with ports installed too deeply(which could require a couple of sticks to infuse) or clotting(which requires port replacement). Is it the surgeon or the device brand or the body type?

I hated the whole idea of a port, but I'm used to it now. Some people love them. So in any case, you'll be fine. Good luck, BB

Help for veins
 

Hi,
I don't know if this will help, but when I was having problems with my veins, I was told by a nurse to eat Chinese food the night before (salty food) and drink lots of water. Additionally I have been getting arm/wrist massages by a trained therapist directly before my treatments. Good Luck!!!

Wow! Thank you everybody for your replies. They have been really interesting. Since this post, I have had a port inserted into my chest. I was only given a sedation, so was awake the whole time, and the surgeon was wonderful. I was also at a different hospital to the last time. I cannot believe the difference between this port and the last one. I had minimal pain, unlike the last time needing morphine for days. The port is much smaller than the last one also, and we have easily accessed it twice since. My nurse is rapt, as she used to shake seeing me walk in!

Thank you to all of you for your input. I really appreciate it.

Love Lisa

Getting a vein
 

This sounds too simple to be true, but it happened. I do all the things you've mentioned, and still "they call in the experts" (my sister says) to find a vein for my infusions. Once it took two nurses an hour to get the IV started.

Another time, the nurse failed once and then, on her second vein, told me to relax. (!) Then I remembered all the relaxation training I had before chemo, so I did it, and she got the IV in on the first try! It's your basic, imagine a wonderful place you love to be, breathe deeply, etc. I wish all nurses were trained to suggest this. I know it but the chemo drugs attacked my memory, so I needed a reminder.

Hi,

I had a port put in below my left collarbone the day I had my first chemo in September 2004. The surgeon left the needle in so I could go down to chemo and get my infusion without the nurse having to access the port. It is so easy with a port. I took Coumadin for about six months but my oncologsit said it was not necessary to take it anymore. It will be two years in Spetember since I had it put in and my oncologist has advised me to keep it in for at least two more years. I will have to go once a month and have it flushed after I finish my weekly Herceptins in two weeks. It has not bothered me at all.

Susan