My port was installed in '98 in my upper chest under twilight. I love my port. It is a tiny half a golf ball lump that is a bluish tinge.
I used to get a lidocaine spray, but nurses have told me that IT IS JUST ANOTHER INVITATION FOR GERMS AND AN INFECTION TO GET IN THERE. So, now, I just brave it out. A skilled nurse gets dead center and you basically feel nothing.
IF YOU ARE BETWEEN TX for a long period of time -- remember -- you must get your port FLUSHED monthly!
IF YOU HAVE DENTAL WORK (including cleaning) my onc says that if you have a port -- YOU MUST TAKE AMOXICYLINE (how in the world do you spell that??!) which is an antibiotic -- 1 hr prior to dental appt. 4 X 500 mg.
A PORT IS A DIRECT LINE INTO YOUR VEINS AND HEART. You must protect it at all times. I am most particular about who I allow to access it. (When I broke my ankle and required surgery in '01, they did not know how to access a port in anesthesia, or they preferred not to use it.) After surgery, I was receiving morphine through my port, when it came time to check out sev days later I kept calling the nurse to take out the morphine needle. Apparently, she didn't know how and kept leaving and coming back, then when she removed it/yanked it out, blood starting pouring all over! So, I have learned a good lesson.
Before and after accessing, they use saline to clear the port and then heplok to seal it. They also use something to sterilize the area prior. Afterward, they put a circle bandaid to keep in place till I shower, as they would an injection. I am told they do not need to put gauze and tape on it, it isn't a wound.
HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL! My port is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I just love having it (as the one part of me that is *skinny* is my veins)! I am told once they find one it rolls over, collapses or blows out. So they just keep stabbing -- and digging -- away otherwise. Be good to your port, ladies. It's your best friend. Keep it, and YOU, safe.... Love,
Andi 