Will I be PORTable ???
 

A question for many of you who have a port...I met with the surgeon last week as I am scheduled to get a port placed this Thursday...my brother from California was home, brought 2 of the latest and greatest NEW ports that they use at Kaiser and USC where he works as a cardiac interventologist....In Chicago where I go for treatment, they use the BARD ports...but the one my brother brought me is not available here yet..it is a BARD POWER PORT...able to take high pressure injections from the new CT scanners and MRI's...these have only been out a month...and only in limited areas...my hospital does not have them yet, although they are scheduled to get them...they use the same huber needles for access, but a different needle for MRI's and Scans. The surgeon said he would place the new model in me since it is sealed in a sterile package as it came from the distributor...if everything goes OK, I will be the first here to get this new style port. My question is, I am scheduled to get the port placed first thing Thursday, then go for my triple treatment (longgggg day!). With Christmas things to do, & me going to San Antonio in 2 1/2 weeks, am I going to have a problem with alot of soreness? I truly hope not, as my veins may not last another treatment....4 years of IV's has done me in! Thanks for anyones experience with this...just want to be prepared!

Hi Sheila
Everyone is different, but I had no problems regarding the placement of the port. The next day I was out shoveling rocks! Then I read the instruction sheet and it said not to do heaving lifting, etc. But I still had no problems. So read the instructions, and you should have no problems, either.
Hope you new port is great and that it is soon available for others.
Hugs

Hi Sheila,
I had my port removed on a Tues. and was fine the rest of that day. I was very sore the next day and took Tylenol for it. The next day it was much better, so I would say that I was sore enough to limit my lifting and such for 2 days. After that I was fine. As I am not a youngster anymore, age 52, I attribute some of the general soreness to my age.
Good luck with the port placement and your upcoming treatments.
Stay strong!
Emelie

Sheila, how are you doing? How do you feel? I always read your posts but you mostly support the others.
Thinking of you.
Michka

Hi Shelia
I did the same thing. Port in and then straight for my first chemo. Very long day. But really had no problems other than chemo related. My chest was a little sore to the touch but movement was fine. I'm sure you will do great. You are such a fighter I don't think no little stinking piece of plastic will keep you down. Besides you have margaritias to drink in San Antone

They gave me a week to heal in between port placement and my first chemo.
I was put under twilight sleep for my port placement, and was wonky the rest of the day. I wouldn't have been able to go sit for chemo that day.
I guess it depends on how they do yours.
It sounds like you have a good doc and a good brother. :)

hi sheila, i will be getting my port in on Thursday as well then straight to Chemo for my first tx. I was wondering the same thing...so lets hope we can handle some stinging while we carry on.
i'll be thinking about ya...good luck

suzanne

Hi Sheila,

You will love your port - and it sounds like you are getting a state of the art one.

They couldn't fit in my port placement before my first chemo, so I had to do the first round with the IV. I had the port placed about 10 days before my 2nd chemo, and like Brenda D I was in a twilight sleep. I was very tired the rest of the day, I doubt I could have sat through hours of an infusion. But it may be different for you.

Good luck.

all the best
caya

Hi Sheila
You must have had "amazing" veins. Mine gave out on me
after 4 treatments. Having a port changes the whole "chemo
experience". You will love it .... no more nurses slapping the
top of your hand, no more soaking your hand in warm water..
you just walk in and get hooked up. My last iv went in with
my hand wrapped around a tennis ball.

I had a different kind of port put in, but it went into my
jugular vein, under my skin, and out a little opening in my
chest. My chemo nurse used it the next day and I had
very little pain around either site (my neck and my chest).
Good luck....

My port installation in the end of Oct was considered an outpatient surgical proceedure. Later the same day went to the treatment room for a blood draw. The next day the port site was very red, swollen, hot and painful. I needed to apply ice and take antibiotics and pain relievers. The surgeon wondered if it had been too soon to use it after the install. I was concerned because I had travel plans several days later. The symptoms improved without further incident. Although I experienced discomfort on my trip. And could not wear the clothes I had planned.
The port is STILL "tender". I have been given numbing ointment to apply prior to infusions. And clothing still annoys it. Straps mostly. Although it does not like anything pressed against it. I am hoping that improves with more healing time.
I am sure the placement plays a role too. My doc said that I was so thin (thanks to losing my appetite during earlier chemo!!) she had difficulty finding a fatty area in which to imbed it. so it it quite near the surface and the outer margin of my chest. (Prior to the proceedure, we did try to determine where to place it, in relation to clothes, straps, etc. but it ended up where it had to go)
So my experience was that it is not completly a breeze and that you need to plan for all contingencies. In retrospcet, I would not have done it prior to my trip becuase it was still so sore. But at the same time, it is important to my treatment and that comes before discomfort.
Good luck!

Thanks for all the info from everyone...it will be done in surgery under twilight aka Phentenyl, Versed and IDGAS (I don't give a sh-t) meds....Good luck Suzanne...we will be getting ports the same day....Pink, my brother said they use the jugular vein all the time...in Chicago at Rush, they use the subclavian most of the time, and do it under fluoroscopy so they know where they are going....
Bonnie, I don't have to worry about the "being too thin"....I've been eating too much chocolate trying to get my feet to shrink! (Pink told me the secret).
I just hope they dont "pop" my implant....oh well, there goes the low cut & strapless shirts!...Actually , truth be told, I am more upset that I can't wear turtlenecks for treatments, but it will be nice to have 2 hands free when I make the bathroom trips, which can be frequesnt with 3 IV's....

Sheila
Just a tip in getting the correct port placement. Take a magic marker and outline your bra and straps to make sure that they don't put the port where the straps would irritate them. I also put a big X on the side they weren't supposed to use--the one where I had had lymph nodes removed.
Hugs,

Sheila,

Boy I hope you get better Christmas presents than a power port- but at least you can brag it is the latest model. I don't have a power port, but they have used my port for surgery and PET and MRI injections and lots of blood draws (oncology office and the hospital). It is the handiest little thing and I mean little. It is called a P.A.S. Port and it is small and placed next to my bicep on my inner part of my upper arm. I hardly notice it. Not sure if this would be applicable to you, but wanted gals and guys to know that chest ports are not the only option.

Good luck with your surgery and I am trying that chocolate trick too!

Janet is right about drawing an outline in order to do a good placement. The surgeon and I did it a day prior. But, in my case, they had to adjust the location despite the drawing.

The seatbelt was more of an issue for me...

Good luck with the port...you will do fine!

Maria

Multiple Issues To Be Addressed...
 

Sheila! As usual, so many points to make. First off, my port is the best thing I ever did. Outpatient w/all the who cares what they do meds. BARD, older version ('98). They told me to wait 2 days before doing chemo. It was sore. I was woozy for the rest of the day and was happy to rest comfortably at home sleeping on and off. Think the chemo same day thing out, please. I know you are made of steel, but, be good to yourself.

Does the new model have an opening that leaves it prone to infection? One of the ports does, and I would not want that personally. I do use my port for all blood draws, and contrast. Have been a regular at the Imagining Center for CTs since '98 and never had a problem. Two salines flushes before and after w/Heploc.

Re numbing spray! I used this for yrs. Then I learned that it is viewed by some chemo nurses as another invitation to expose the port to infection, which has a direct line to your heart. It also degrades the skin. So I have sworn off the lidocaine. It pinches for an instant, then done, IN.

With a port -- my onc says you must take 4 500 mg Amoxicillin 1 hr prior to any and all dental work. I also checked w/gastro guy before colonoscopy. Antibiotic to protect you is essential at such times! Hope everyone knows this. I mentioned it at the dental office. Very efficient Collette said she just read NEW guidelines on the Net, don't need antibiotic anymore. I called my onc. YES. IF YOU HAVE A PORT YOU MUST TAKE ANTIBIOTIC! VERY IMPORTANT. Seems new guidelines pertain to matters of the heart, not to port patients. I clarified that w/Collette for others, who may be misled. Thank you for telling me, blah, blah.

So, Sheila, much to think about here. I am sending you my love and constant amazement over your extraordinary strength, courage and attitude. You are a role model for us all! I will think of you on Thursday. Please consider not overdoing.

Bottom line -- you're going to love your port! But you will learn to guard it well. I won't let anyone who isn't familiar w/accessing a port touch me! Which is yet another conundrum -- having a top of the line model that no one has worked w/. That's the good news and the bad. Sorry, to be full of so much advice, but I guess that's what comes w/a two timer. (This is my 2nd port which I got w/my met...)

Keep smiling, sweet Sheila! We all love ya...
Andi http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05fca/06

Sheila, I had my port for a week before my first chemo. It was a little tender but nothing major. I'm so glad I got it, I don't even need numbing cream or numbing spray when they access it, doesn't hurt a bit. The first couple of times they used it, they sprayed me with the numbing spray and truthfully, I think that made it hurt worse. I do have trouble with a seat belt when I'm driving, I have to kind of juggle it around and wear just the lap belt. You're gonna love the port and you have both hands free while getting the chemo. Good luck, I know you'll do great.
Big hugs

Sheila, I just answered Anne's question about power ports on the Tykerb board, so hope you don't mind as I just copied and pasted it here, but all the info I have is contained. It wasn't particularly painful after wards as far as the old port site, I had the new one placed on the opposite side. But, in the past when the old port was replaced(I was on my third port) it was simply put in the old site after the old one was removed, and again, nothing particularly painful, just needed some hydrocodone for a couple of days, then regular Tylenol did the trick for a few more days, then it was fine except for sleeping on that side.

Bard Power Port
http://www.crbard.com/news/innovatio...lantedPort.cfm

I had my old port replaced recently with this type of port specifically so I could receive the CT injections and other "high speed contrast" injections, as I have lymphedema in both arms and needle sticks are a real danger for me as they aggravate the lymphedema. Your surgeon will have to confer with the CT/MRI department to insure that their imaging programs will accomadate the slight difference in the speed at which the dye circulates through the system, as the software is set to a precise timing related to the injection.

The procedure for placing the power port is the same as the one you underwent for the port you now have, hopefully there would not be any complications. Mine is placed on my left upper chest, just above the bra line. I had no problem with my procedure, and the port is comfortable although still somewhat tender to sleep on that side(it's been one month since the surgery).

I haven't had a scan yet which would necessitate using the port, but my nurses at my infusion room have told me to just come there (lucky for me located just across the way from the imaging department),and they will access the port for the scan techs, leaving the cathetar line in place for the techs to plug their line into, then I will go back to the nurses after and they will withdraw the line. That way no problems with inept techs damaging the port as it does take special training to do an access.

The reason they don't use regular ports for these type of high speed injections is the contrast goes in at a much faster rate than the slow IV drips, and it could possibly "blow" the catheter line from the port resevoir. Not a good thing. The power ports are designed to withstand the high speed injections. They are of course fine for the usual IV's and draws.
Hope this helps.

<3 Lolly<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Sheila, I had a P.A.S port in my upper outer part of my arm. I did have quite a bit of soreness for almost two weeks. But in all fairness I think that was due to the fact I was layed up in the hospital due to low ANC count that caused an infection. I ended up on blood thinners so when they put my port in my arm it was black & blue all the way around my arm and very sore. My onc was shocked on how bad my arm looked & told everyone my arm/port was off limits for a while. Had it been under *normal* circumstances I am pretty darned sure it would of been fine in about two days...maybe three. I do know I'm glad I had one...made things so much easier. I don't think you will have alot of problems. Good luck.

Chelee

Portability will be very nice!

My port is in my right chest since my bc was on the left side. Getting the port implanted was a piece of cake for me---I talked through the whole procedure even though I was doped up. I did have some pain for a week, but not severe. However, I was instructed not to use the port for a week to avoid the possibility of infection in the incision and to avoid aggravating the entire tender port site area. I have not had any problems.

Since you have to get your chemo the same day, perhaps you could ask your surgeon to (prep you for chemo) insert the appropriate huber needle with piggyback tube (don't know what it's called) while you are still under---that way when you go for chemo the nurses can avoid touching and hurting you at the port site --- except to remove the needle and flush the port and cover it with a bandage.

Best of luck. I know you will do fine!

You may also want to check out these post about port problems:


click: Whew! I'm sorry to hear your...

click:
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=30656

Lolly
Yes thats the one...like I said, my brother brought it to me from California...the ultimate gift! Now if all goes right, it is the one I'll get...they are supposed to get it ready for my first treatment when they install it....seems like tip placement is such a problem with many ports...I have seen people do everything but stand on their heads to get blood return from their port...if the end or sheath rests against the vein, there seems to always be problems...
Again
thanks for all the info!!!!!