Port Removal after Treatment - Discomfort??
 

I have my last Herceptin treatment this Friday. I am going to meet with my Onc regarding scheduling the removal of the little gizmo. Do I need to plan on being out of work for a couple of days??? I work retail and this is a crazy time of year for me. I am so anxious to have it removed, but I am wondering if I should be patient and have it removed after the first of the year.

Louise

Port removal
 

I just had my port removed on Monday. In office procedure, no pain, no down time. Was just told not to lie flat on my back for sox hours. All healed now and you can hardly see the scar. . Jeanette

Jeanette, thank you. No pain and no down time is music to my ears. I have a double port, and I am sooo ready to lose it.

I'm sure this is NOT normal but my port removal was a nightmare. I had mine in my under arm. (Facing outwards on my upper arm.) The port itself worked great the entire time I had it.

But the radiologist that removed my port seemed like he was in a hurry. He removed it and put the sutures in and told me I did NOT need to come back because he used dissolvable stitches. Two techs that were there finished up and covered it with gauze & this clear adhesive stuff that looked like saran wrap. The only thing they said was NOT to get it wet.

I left there and it was no more the 20 minutes and it was bleeding pretty bad. I was told to go to the ER asap where I spent 4 1/2 hours. I was told NO showers or nothing for over a week and to keep it clean and dry. Mine was a little painful and it did get in the way of my normal activities. In fact it ruined a good two wks of my life so I WISHED I had waited to have it removed. Plus my sutures NEVER did dissolve as promised. They were in my arm for almost 2 months till I got my surgeon to remove them. Again, I am sure this is NOT the norm as I've had many women say they had no problems. I believe you will find most women's experience with port removal went as smoothly as Jeanette's. I'm the only one I know of as always that had a problem. I have a good 4 inch red scar across my arm and its been 6 months since my port was removed. I seriously have never heard of anyone having a problem but me...I really think you will be fine. :) (It just so happens that Murphy is my best friend)

Chelee

Louise
Lucky You getting it out, and I am getting one in 2 weeks, I meet with the surgeon the 20th...my veins have gone south all of a sudden!
I hope getting it out is simple for you and you have no problems....

I had my remove back in 97 at the facility were I had my chemo treatment. The numbe the area, pull the port out, and put pressure on that area. You will be back doing the same things like before. Wish you will.

Rendi

I had absolutely no discomfort when I had my port removed. The area was numbed and the port removed in the doctor's office. Unfortunately I developed mets and had to have another one put in.

I only dream of getting mine out, but until they come up with a pill for Zometa, looks like I will have one for the rest of my life.

Good luck, and congradulations!

Verna

Sore for 1-2 days
 

I had my port out on Nov. 7 as on out-patient and was very sore for 2 days after the procedure. It has healed now and the scar is much bigger than I thought it would be.
If you have to do a lot of lifting, I would wait.
Just my opinion.
Good luck,
Emelie