[Erin]

I had my port placed after my first TCH because I got an infection in the vein they used. Mine is a "power port" which sounds like a good thing, and I suppose it is, since they say I can receive injections of dyes, etc in it for other kinds of tests I might need. The bummer is that it is pretty big - 1inch by 1 inch and sticks out of my chest about 1/4 inch. Pretty obvious. I couldn't get it put in my arm since the right is the BC side, and the infection was in the left arm.

The procedure was uneventful. I did not take the offered sedative since I wanted to drive home later that morning. There was a lot of pushing and pulling, and I could definitely "feel" the tubing going into the vein. Didn't hurt, but kind of creepy. I had my second round of TCH only three days after the port was put in and it was no problem at all. I actually prefer it to using a vein...it hurts less and it leaves both my arms free to read, eat, etc during infusions.

Good luck with your procedure and keep us posted
:-)