PORT PLACEMENT - Detailed description of process
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We bump this thread every few days, for those that have need of it, so that it won't get lost in time. There are a few of us that watch it. If you have a need and we aren't here to answer it, please, Pm one of the bumpers. If we don't have an answer, we will try to help find one. There is so much info in tbird57's topic box and so much info from the beginning that other members have offered don't forget to read from the beginning. Your answer may already be here. Hugs sassy, aaoaao, and exbrnxgrl.
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Hello ladies,
While looking for port info tonight I came across this thread and want to float a question out there to those who may be post-treatment and post-port. I will be done with rads in 2 weeks and have an appointment the following week for day surgery, a bit of general anesthesia, and port removal. I wonder now if this is overkill and maybe I should have it removed with just local anesthesia. Has anyone gone this route and can you describe how it was, in particular if it was painful or awful in any way? Thanks!0 -
hi Susan,
I don't know about removing ports since I'm a lifer, but hopefully, you'll get a response soon. Is there a thread on port removal?0 -
Susan, I think there are several answers to your question----writing , just wanted to let you know I'm here... I wrote about it sevral pages back it. might just be easier for me to find the page and bring the link
Susan try page 16 and see if the posts re: removal answer your questions? The one modification is asking for a local is feasible, not sure how insurance would handle it.
On PG 15 I describe all the reasons ports are the greatest. Taking a port out is the reverse of that process. So, every reason to have it done under the controlled environment of the Operating room or in Interventional radiology suite apply to the reverse of the process i.e. removal. In that post I do describe everything that can go wrong. It's not to scare anyone. It's to make sisters(brothers) understand this type of procedure can have serious consequences
Having it removed as you described is the highest degree of patient safety and best for infection control.
If your question isn't answered then post here and send me a PM and I'll come on back
Have you considered keeping your port for awhile?
Hi exbrn
Thanks again for being a bumper and advisor sassy0 -
Thanks for the info. I have not thought too long or hard about keeping it since my doctor said to feel free to have it removed 3 months after chemo if all is well. I am so thankful for my port but I never adjusted too well to the lump....we have a confusing relationship! I would get a port again if I had it to do over but I also want this guy out if only as a symbol of the end of a year of fighting for my life. The mammogram that started the journey was on 12-12-12 and I should be having the stitches out from the port removal on 12-12-13. This HAS to be a good sign! I think I'll go operating room. Thanks again.0 -
Susan-----Yay 12-12-13. Come on back if you need help.
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Thanks for posting this detailed description! I am having it soon, but I m not as brave as you and will welcome the happy juice!
JoAnn
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Hi JoAnn, I was completely out when they put my port in and it was painless. The incision wasn't big and healed pretty fast. I only had a little soreness and itchiness when it was healing. I love my port because I have deep anxiety over IVs. Hope everything goes well for you and you love your post too.0 -
I like the suggestion I read earlier about writing notes on yourself to the Dr. My port was placed on the right side( same side as my cancer). When my breast surgeon saw it he was shocked. Why would you put it on the same side as the cancer if you had a choice? He told me he could deal with it and since I was having neo adjuvant treatment to try to shrink my tumor enough to have a lumpectomy, we would probably not have a problem. It worked! But he did tell me later that it may have caused a problem if I had decided to have a mastectomy in the end. It might have been in the way! I look forward to having it removed but don't want the same guy who put it in to be the one who removes it. Yikes!
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Thank you for this post!!
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I had my port surgery on Friday, and I have to say, I'm experiencing a lot more pain than I expected. Swelling was intense the first couple of days, and there is a lot of redness and bruising around it. I see my surgeon tomorrow, but wondering if this is a normal reaction? When the pain meds wear off, I'm getting deep sharp pains into my scapula. As well as a lot of local burning pain all around where the device is implanted.
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My port placement is tomorrow with my first chemo treatment on Thursday. Thanks so much for taking some of the 'unknown' out of it all.
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GG good luck.
Marvel, your presentation isn't the usual, let us know what your doc says. You have multiple signs. Bruising usually minimal. Swelling can be individual, but also can indicate tissue was manipulated more than usual. Redness same. Scapular pain indicates to me the arm position needs to be questioned or position on the table. Could be totally unrelated to operating room scenario. Could be position post-op. But all concerns should be brought to your surgeons attention and discussed thoroughly.
Are you fair skinned? Are you a red head? Either or both does make a difference
I thought I'd Pm my post to you as it's late. Please post on the thread
Don't mean to create a situation of second guessing your surgeon.Pain with any surgery is different within a range. Tolerance varies all over, with much based on past history. Someone that has certain pre-existing conditions, like fibromyalgia, post polio, many autoimmune disorders like RA feel pain much more acutely and may need more meds for pain control. Conversely, same population group may push through the pain much more than the average. If some ones never had surgery before, the first time can be a shock to deal with.
Type of pain med may not be effective for you. As I said above, talk in depth with your doc. Please, comeback and tell us how things turned out..
I didn't mention infection b/c your description identified redness right from surgery. That's why I think that sign is more tissue manipulation.
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Sas, I am fair skinned. I have been through lots of surgeries including liver/kidney surgery and three spinal surgeries, and have a fairly high pain tolerance. Pain is a little better today, and I see him tomorrow, so I'll ask if he had any difficulties with placement.
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Marvel, well then, you are a well experienced surgical patient. Being fair skinned and or redhead can change things. The skin on the anterior chest may respond to sx differently than flank(side) and spine, but your concerns need addressed. Is that politically correct enough???sassy
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BUMP:) sassy
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My port is a lot more comfortable now. I saw my surgeon last Tuesday, and he said the likely cause of the excessive pain I was having is because I had developed a large hematoma from the surgery. Just to be careful because he is always careful, he sent me for a chest X-ray, and everything looked good. No pneumothorax (punctured lung), so that was a relief. I had an MRI guided biopsy on Friday and got a huge hematoma from that too, so I guess I'm just prone to bleeding.
Today was supposed to be my first day of chemo but it is postponed till tomorrow because one of the drugs hadn't been yet approved by my insurance. I hope it isn't the Perjeta!
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Marvel. Glad things are figured out. Question and suggestion. QUESTION: is anyone like your MO looking at your blood studies , clotting time, Bleeding time(different from clotting time) anything else related to blood and coagulation studies that I'm not thinking of ? SUGGESTION: this should be done before you have anything else done, and you should be considered very seriously for some of the genetic studies that can be done to determine coagulation problems BEFORE more surgery is done. AND someone should be looking at all your meds and the chemo you're going to get to determine if any meds can affect coagulation. This should be done ASAP. Unusual description re: development of both hematomas. MO Pharmacist and surgeon should all be involved the study of this problem.
Until the available coagulation genetic studies are done, I would be seriously concerned about any medications that increase bleeding time. There are drugs that once given can't be reversed. I hate to scare you, but people have died b/c of this.
Until the reason for the hematomas is absolutely known, please, proceed very carefully.
I'm seeing a big red flag waving.
Please, let us know the outcome of your problem here. Never know when someone else will run in to the same problem.
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Well, the MRI Biopsy doctor told me ahead of time that this kind of biopsy will probably give me a hematoma, so I'm not sure this is out of the ordinary. I did not get excessive bleeding with the first core biopsy. I have had so many surgeries, none of which have required transfusions for excessive blood loss except my revision surgery on my neck for which I had donated blood ahead of time due to that possibility. I have had bleeding time tests before, and have always passed, so I am not overly concerned. If I was a newbie to these kinds of medical interventions I'd be more concerned, but I already have been through so many things in my lifetime, including a major liver and kidney cyst fenestration that would certainly put me over the edge if I had that tendency as it was a six hour procedure deroofing 110 cysts on one kidney and throughout my liver, so I am not alarmed, especially since my doctors were not alarmed. Both my surgeon and oncologist are known for being ultra careful. Thanks for your concern though, and I will definitely mention it again when I get the opportunity.
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Thanks marvel for the update, it's always nice to here how things turn out
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I have a question, I was told today that my oncotype scored for chemo, I am having a port because I will be having ac every two weeks for four cycles and taxol every week for twelve weeks. I have terrible veins to say the least, three try's in my hand this last surgery, wound up with a 20 or 22 gauge needle whatever that means. It felt like they ripped my vein open, and then I couldn't move my hand because it hurt so much. Anyway, will this cause any issues with port placement? I would also like to find out if I could keep this forever, for blood draws etc., since I am a terrible stick.
My mo prescribed a cream to use prior to chemo so the puncture does not hurt, does it really work. I am so Needle shy after the various ivs I have had I am like a big baby, anticipating pain. I get myself all worked up. I know that's what the Ativans for!
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