[madubois63]

I've had 2 ports, 2 Hickman catheters, a central line in my neck and a pick-line in my upper right arm, so I think I have a little experience in this department. My first port (8 years ago), was used immediately. It worked great and I had no complaints until it became the ever amazing flipping port. Don't know how it happened, but I woke up one morning and it didn't look right. I went in for treatment and told the nurse. She didn't believe me and tried to access the port - idiot. She kept hitting metal (the back). She then sent me downstairs for an x-ray. The x-ray showed, get this, that the port had flipped - duh! It was my last treatment, so it was no big deal. I got it removed shortly thereafter. Four years later, I had the relapse and got another port. It was placed high up on the chest on the bc side. The doctor that put it in used an ultrasound to find the best vein to use. This one didn't flip, was used immediately and lasted over 2 years. Then came the leukemia and a Hickman catheter was placed on the opposite side. Hickman catheters have 2 or 3 lines hanging on the outside of you and have specific care needs. Ports have to be flushed if not being used. Just before my bone marrow transplant, they replaced my catheter - they wanted a fresh line. My nerves and the cold operating room got the best of me, and I got the chills. when they brought me back to my room, I had a 101 fever that lasted about an hour. They decided my port was infected (I don't believe that) and sent me back down to remove it (I was angry about that). This past June, when I was in the hospital and my liver went in to failure, they discovered 2 (hospital) infections in my catheter and pulled it - leaving me with nothing. Then they stuck a central line in my neck - ugh!! That was HORRIBLE. Very uncomfortable and a bit painful when they put it in (Morphine city!!). The morning they released me, they pulled the central line (yeah) and placed a pick-line in my inner, upper (non-bc) arm. I bought new socks (thick slouchy kind) and cut the ends off. I wore them over the tagaderm patch covering the line (and matched the colors to my outfits - you can see the pink one I was wearing in my picture). This was a pain in the neck, because I had to cover and tape my arm to take a shower everyday. It worked great until the day it fell out - about a month ago. Since then, I've been getting stuck in the hand. It's the only veins that work anymore. Thank God, I've been graduated to labs/doctor visits every other week as of today - YEAH!! I HIGHLY recommend the port!!! It is the most comfortable and easiest to care for of all the options. I know a few people that have had tattoos to cover the scars.