HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Port infection -what causes them? My lousey experience...

Chelee · 07-18-2006, 11:34 PM

Kimberly, I won't be much help to you, but I just wanted to let you know I got angry when I read your post! Thats awful how you were treated when your called about your port. So many ignorant people out there. But that coming from a nurse is in excusable to me.

I have been through almost the exact same thing so I know how that feels to be insulted. I have anxiety and one of the first times I called my onc doc about breathing problems after my chemo (TCH)...he same as said I was a bit sensitive and maybe I ought to take a extra xanax & lay down. (I was calling him because I could NOT breath, I was scared!) Four days of breathing problems and guess who ended up in the hospital and almost died! I am so tired of being insulted. I know my body better then anyone...and I know when something is wrong. I don't call them for the fun of it.

This type of thing has happened more then once...they never believe me till something happens like it DID to you. You think they would believe us..we ought to know when something is wrong.

I am really sorry you had to deal with such an ignorant person. Plus it cost you all that un-necessary stress and your infection COULD of gotten out of control due to her. But I am glad your doing ok. But that is awful you have to have the port removed and replaced.

Its always something...isn't it. I do *think* you CAN have the port placed in the other side even though you had the snb. But others here will know for sure. But I am pretty darned sure you can.

As to what causes the infection...one never really knows? I know my port is in my upper left arm and it got all red and warm to touch. Starting to get infected. I was given antibiotics right away and it cleared up thank goodness. Too bad your darned nurse didn't believe you...might of saved you from having a new port put in?

Good luck to you. Warn & healing thoughts coming your way.

Chelee

07-18-2006, 11:34 PM	#2
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Kimberly, I won't be much help to you, but I just wanted to let you know I got angry when I read your post! Thats awful how you were treated when your called about your port. So many ignorant people out there. But that coming from a nurse is in excusable to me. I have been through almost the exact same thing so I know how that feels to be insulted. I have anxiety and one of the first times I called my onc doc about breathing problems after my chemo (TCH)...he same as said I was a bit sensitive and maybe I ought to take a extra xanax & lay down. (I was calling him because I could NOT breath, I was scared!) Four days of breathing problems and guess who ended up in the hospital and almost died! I am so tired of being insulted. I know my body better then anyone...and I know when something is wrong. I don't call them for the fun of it. This type of thing has happened more then once...they never believe me till something happens like it DID to you. You think they would believe us..we ought to know when something is wrong. I am really sorry you had to deal with such an ignorant person. Plus it cost you all that un-necessary stress and your infection COULD of gotten out of control due to her. But I am glad your doing ok. But that is awful you have to have the port removed and replaced. Its always something...isn't it. I do think you CAN have the port placed in the other side even though you had the snb. But others here will know for sure. But I am pretty darned sure you can. As to what causes the infection...one never really knows? I know my port is in my upper left arm and it got all red and warm to touch. Starting to get infected. I was given antibiotics right away and it cleared up thank goodness. Too bad your darned nurse didn't believe you...might of saved you from having a new port put in? Good luck to you. Warn & healing thoughts coming your way. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.