PORT PLACEMENT - Detailed description of process
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Bump for bethen.
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I had my port put in last Wed and then my 1st treatment the next day. My BS did the port and warned me about the lung puncture, so I was aware, and thankfully it didn't occur. You are all troopers!!! Wow...I can't imagine going through all that.
My only complaint, other than having to sleep on my back, is that the area around the port feels tight - is this common?
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Char,
You had your port placed so very recently. It is still healing. Be patient and eventually you barely notice it's there.
As to lung punctures, I want to say again how rare they are. Everyone should know about the possibility because it is mentioned in the surgical consent form. Most people do recognize it when it happens. I was the rarity among rarities. As one doctor put it " You had a very unusual presentation".
Caryn0 -
Hi
I just had my port placement yesterday, it went alot smoother than I thought that it would. Today I do feel like I have been hit by a truck, more like a constant achy bruise. How long does this take to heal? I was told not to shower for a week, my first chemo is next week so I am hopeful that it does not ache at that time. No problems with lungs thank goodness. And the description at the beginning of this topic was spot on,so thanks so much for posting it, I personally like to know ahead of time what I am going to experience.
Betsy
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Betsy, i too felt like i'd been hit by a truck and it was extremely painful getting out of bed for the first week. I would say that you will be feeling fine in a week. I was really glad to have my port. I was just so surprised at how painful the first week was.
Good luck with your first chemo and let us know how it goes.
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To all- each port experience is different. Several keys.
Emergency stuff-----shortness of breath, unusual feelings of breathing, impending sense of doom, change in breathing pattern,-----------you feel something is wrong call EMS------forget calling doc ...When you get EMS bill ----state it was a medical emergency and it's covered by your taxes---------They are just trying to recover some costs------
Ports shouldn't have unusual pain-----if so---ask for evaluation.
Going into a facility that doesn't want to access your port---------bitch-------ask for a port certified person -------even if it's the middle of the night. ------of course if you are a trauma victim - duh .
Get a bracelet that identifies no access to the AND/LE side
My husbands last admission , I asked for his "no draw pink armband be put on his left arm. The respiratory therapasist that came to do a blood draw went for his left arm."I asked do you not see the band on his arm" Her response was "I will get the blood where I will get it."-------I said "no you won't' She said"I'll try the other arm and if I can't get it , I will get it from this arm"---------I said like hell you will, do you not know what this hospitals policies are b/c I do."----------Took it to the CEO----------------I hate people that don't follow policy---------they should be fired-------no council-------fired-------they believe themselves above policy-------cluck'em
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I also had my chemo port put in today. 1/19/12. However, the only instructions I received were not to shower to get the area wet for 48 hours. I did not receive any information on any dressing changes and my first chemotherapy treatment (Taxotere and Cytoxan) is one week from today. Did anyone receive any additional information on how long to leave the first dressing on and then how to change it going forward? I really do not want another infection and am trying to be very careful. Thank you so very much.
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LLilly-best to call doc's office. It was responsibility to write instructions. he probably wrote them in your chart. Review your discharge papers again before calling him. Remember you had a drug that causes amnesia. They could have told you and you just don't remember.0
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Anyone interested I wrote a new topic thread on constipation------ah the things we share-sheila
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topic/781867?page=1#post_2830873
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Thanks for the information. My port is being placed at 730 a tomorrow and it was great reading this info.
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Bump
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I was also told not to get the area wet (left the tape/bandage on) for several days. I didn't have to do any dressing changes or anything. I just took the tape off after about a week.
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I was told not to shower, sponge bath only for 5 days after the port placement. There was minor discomfort really. Although laughing made it ache a little LOL! I took the bandage off shower day too and was told to just let the steri strips peel off on their own. Kind of feels like a big bug bite size wise. A little weird but I think it's best for the long run. I had another woman tell me she was sorry she didn't have it done and she only had TC X 4 (same as me) but I have to have Herceptin for a year as well. If it goes OK, I think I'll leave it in for a while until I decide about reconstruction, might as well save the veins in my good arm.
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I got my port-a-cath today. Crap!! It hurt! I asked for some "happy juice" and the onco told me that after it was over, I would see that I did not need it. He ate his words. He had a tough time finding a vein, prodding and poking. He apologized for net being able to find it. He is an excellent doctor and has done thousands of these, so I am sure it was me. I am a hard stick anyway for blood draws, but he said that did not matter, he should have gotten it. He finally did, but I sure wish I'd had something other than lidocaine. Now, it is worn off!!
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Ketch, I so wish your doc had listened to you. If there is ever another need for something to be done, refuse to have it done unless you get the Happy Juice
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my port was put in in surgery--a special trip for surgery. and am so glad--i think its barbaric to do it any other way. Especially after all we go through. maybe it is a West Coast thing. It was incredibly painful for about a week--i could hardly get out of bed. anyone know what that could be?
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I am fine today. A little bit sore, but manageable. I have not taken tylenol all day. the port is ok, but will be glad when the tenderness goes away in a few days.
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Ketch and all -A chest port will always be put in the hospital setting b/c of the risk of collapsing a lung. The newer ports put in the brachial artery-----arm , not sure.
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Port next Thursday!!! 3/15
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Had a power port put in on Monday afternoon with "twilight sleep.". NO pain, didn't even take a Tylenol afterward. Got TCH the next morning. Still no discomfort or pain. Guess I am really lucky or the previous chemos have fried my nerve endings.
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thanks, am nervous!!
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i have to have a port installed- any feedback on interventional radiology and bard x power port slim design?
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Just got my port this morning and went immediately (after a stop at the cafeteria for food on stomach) for my first TCH infusion. Arrived hospital 6:30 and left 6:15. Long day, but happy that the port is in, as my only good arm is hard for sticks (medical keeps resort to the hand, which is a hard place for a stick). I'm feeling well, tired. Going to bed.
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maginutah, I am glad your port placement and first treatment went well. Good luck for a pain free and SE free weekend.
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I had port put in Mar. 16th, was supposed to have Chemo Mar,27, but there was a kink in the Port and it wouldn't draw blood.. So I went Friday for one day surgery and they revised the port .. Hope it works I sure am tired of being Cut on..
Now supposed tto have Chemo Wed. Apr. 4.
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Does anyone know if it is ok to get chemo the day after your port insertion? I am getting my port Wed and Thursday start chemo. T/C X4.
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Tangela ---------so glad they were able to fix port-----Yeah
Florida 55--------Yes aport can be used the next day. It can be used the same day if need be----------Your good to go girl
Sorry this answers a few days late, you have probably received several treatments by now. Suggest wearing sleeveless tees at night. Keeps your fingers from scratching site in your sleep. Keep nails short. I washed all tees in clorox, but if you find that too harsh use Dreft.0 -
Bump
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Bump----read thead from beginning, has much info from many giving people sheila
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BUMP
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