pain after port placement
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So I just got my port on the left side. But my neck is really bothering me on the RIGHT side? Is that normal? Is that from body positioning while they do the port? It actually hurts more on the right side of my neck than the port site (no pain at all)?
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It depends on the pathway of the port catheter. I have heard that a left-side placement has to travel through more veins. Perhaps it passes through something on the right in your case? I'll bet we can google that one. I'm curious now. Checking.
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I called the nurse - it's more uncomfortable than pain? She says it could be from positioning during the install - to put a warm compress on it if I need it - but def. call should it get to PAIN or swelling or anything like that, FYI for ladies that don't have your ports yet.
Just for the sake of people who haven't gotten a port - I have been able to work comfortably all day today - mostly I'm just scared I'm going to hurt it more than it's bothering me ;-)
MombieZombie I imagine that is also what Dr. Google says?
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Always check with your DR (or her/his PA or RN) - not that QUACK 'Dr Google'!
I'm certainly no expert but I have never heard of one placed on the left going to the right side. Probably how you were laying during surgery or at night? Also different Drs have different levels of expertise. Some Surgeons will do it with 2 incisions - one on upper chest and one on neck. I had 1 incision. Something else Surgeon told me was that your size/weight had an effect on how easy/hard it is for the Surgeon to get the implant done. I was surprised that he said the smaller/leaner you are, it is harder than ones who are heavier.
I had no pain issues at all. I was back giving riding lessons in 2 days with no issues at all. I was riding but did take it a bit easier with training for a few days. I did get out of barn chores (carrying hay bales/water buckets and mucking) as Dr told Hubby no lifting for 2 weeks so he and Son did all that for 2 weeks. I did any and every thing I wanted to do. But we are all different but from my experience - nothing to worry about or be afraid of.
Bye the bye - my port has been in for 5 1/2+ yrs with no problems at all. (Reminder to self - flush tomorrow)
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Honestly, didn't find what I was looking for in that net search. What I did find was evidence of another fib from the doctor who insisted that I had to have my port on the right side of my chest. I asked for it in my arm. She said that didn't exist. So then I requested that it be on my left side so that all my scars would be on one side. She said that it was too dangerous on the left and the catheter would have to travel too far. That was why I had the misconception about Princess's port. I have found that everything that port surgeon said was a fib. And now I'm stuck with a constantly painful port installed where I least wanted. Grrrrr....Sorry, needed to vent.
I only trust my doctors when I can back it up with reputible info on the net and in books. (I didn't mean Google specifically.) I've been lied to too often.
That's interesting about it being more difficult to install if you are leaner. I am lean and on the bony side in the chest area. Maybe that would explain part of the pain issues. They screwed the stitches up in mine and had to go back in to fix them. They weren't dissolving and were burrowing holes to the surface of my skin. I was told I would have one scar in the first placement and woke up with two.
I don't want to freak out anyone who hasn't had their port yet, so I'll add that most of the people I know with a port are quite happy and feel no pain. My pain is constant, but I am able to do everything I want to do. The chemo nurses told me that there are others out there like me, but it's not the norm.
Princess--Your port is fairly new. I was told that it just takes time for the body to adjust in most cases. I'm sure you will be fine soon.
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Thank you ladies!! All the info is so re-assuring!!
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MombieZombie - My port is on my left as I had a right UMX. I was told that needed to be on the opposite side from where surgery would be done (I did neoadjuvant A/C). My port Surgeon was my UMX Surgeon. He did a great job on both.
From what I 'know' ports can be put in arms or if necessary legs. Hat is part of why I have kept my port (with flushes monthly) for years. It is there 'in case needed in the future'. I 'm IBC so anything is possible and it is there and ready IF needed. I see it as my little soldier standing guard with his rifle at ready so the Monster will not attack but IF it does - ready for the battle. Yeah - that's a bit juvenile but how I 'see' it. It's there so if needed ready - don't need a surgery to put a new one somewhere else.
I had no external sutures - Surgeon used 'glue' and 3 sterile strips for port. For UMX - no external sutures either - glue and compression. Months later I did have small pieces of internal sutures that did 'work out'.
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I had a very sore throat yesterday. Better today. It was from the tube down my throat during general anesthesia. If you had general then that could be it
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Hi ladies:)
I just got my port yesterday...my bc is on the left side...so the port was put on the right side...i am not having pain at the port site..but i am having pain in my right shoulder and neck...the pain medicine is helping...i do think my body has to get use to the change..lol...hopefully the pain is gone by monday before i go back to work...my surgeon did inform me before surgery that small women do tend to be more sorer than women with weight on them. i am a women with weight..lol
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I just wanted to thank all of you for these posts... I feel your pain... my port was put in last Thursday. I haven't slept for more than a few hours at a time... and when I do, I wake up dizzy... or so I think... (trying to talk myself out of it). My jugular is uncomfortable. The headaches went away - thank God. But, I guess some of these things are going to stick around. I am just uncomfortable.
I will read more of the 'tricks of the trade'! Hugs!0 -
Iamkathomas-
We are so sorry for the discomfort your're experiencing! We're glad you've found us, and hope you find some support and helpful advice here!
The Mods
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Well, this is enough to say to heck with any and all of it. I'm canceling port surgery, chemo, Herceptin, and all of it. At my age, I don't need all this. The lumpectomy and axillary dissection already did more damage than I can tolerate. Thanks for your honesty, ladies. You've helped me reach an important decision about what I really want.
Update: I got over my freak-out and my port was installed yesterday. Evidently the twilight sleep wasn't enough, as they told me afterward I moved and cried and they had to intubate me and do a full general anesthetic. I was there for 5 hours. To day I am sore and red and my throat hurts, but at least it is over. My nurses were fantastic, and told me to tell him to put the port deep so it wouldn't show so much, and he did. I can feel the catheter all the way from the port to the jugular vein, but I can't see it. The neck wound is more sore than the port wound. I STILL FIND THIS THING REPULSIVE, but I'll be forced to keep it for a full year for Herceptin.
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I had my port put in on Friday so 3 days ago. My pain meds don't seem to help. I tried a warm compress i tried everything i can think of and it's not helping. What should i do? Should i see if my doc should change my pain meds or what? HELP!!
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Sorry your port is bothering you so much mn07. I was not comfortable for a few days but I was not in pain. I did take Tylenol and used gel freezer packs wrapped in a cloth to numb my chest. Not directly on the port but more my shoulder area. I think it was mu muscles but that ached the most. It felt much better after a few days. I'dcall the doctor in the morning if you are still in a lot of pain.
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Did they leave your port accessed after they inserted it? They left the needle access in mine because I was due for chemo two days later,and it was unbearably painful. It hurt more than my lumpectomy. Once the needle access was removed, the pain subsided.
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mn07, I am so sorry your port is hurting you. Mine hurt so badly I wanted it taken out and I have a very high tolerance for pain. I was pretty bruised and felt like I had been ran over by a truck. Pain meds took the edge off, but the pain lasted for several days and I had a sore throat that drove me crazy. I found that laying down made it worse, so I slept with several pillows in an upright position. After the first week the pain improved but it would hurt when I laid back or bent over. Once the pain went away the tenderness did linger for a little, but it was tolerable. I was most comfortable riding with my seat belt under my armpit till the tenderness completely went away, but today I have no issues and I love my port. How are you feeling today? I hope you find relief very soon.
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There was a needle left 'sticking out' of your port when you left surgery for the implant? That sounds bizarre to me! There was no access needle left out from my port from when it was implanted. The next day when I went to chemo they accessed it then. A PICC line the needle is there.
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My port was left with access since I had chemo the next day too.
I was told it is standard practice to do that and not have to access when things are so very tender already.
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Yep they left the needle in mine as well since they had to access it the next day. It was well bandaged so as not to cause any issues.
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All I can say is WOW - Unbelievable! An open needle (that was long enough to do chemo) was left in at surgery that went directly to a vein/artery for a day or 2? IF my Surgeon had done something like that, I'd been getting a competent Surgeon before I'd have let the ???? do my mast.
Yes I did start A/C the day after port was implanted. They used 'numbing' spray and it was fine.
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Kicks - My surgeon was very competent and did a great job on my surgery. I read all the horror stories on here about port issues, and see the not so pretty results and am grateful to have had such a skilled surgeon. It is not uncommon and caused no issues. The nurse that couldn't hit my port caused more trouble than a needle inserted during surgery.
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I'm so sorry you're having port pain - it's a wonderful device (I'm on my second, this once I've had for 17 months), even if it's uncomfortable. Typically the pain will lessen after a few days; after a couple of weeks I'd actually forgotton I had mine. I never used any numbing cream prior to access and honestly have never had a lick of pain when accessed. The finger prick for blookwork hurts me more. I hope you find the same is true for you, once it starts to feel a little better.
Kicks, I was offered the opportunity to have the port left accessed after placement, prior to my first chemo, but I declined because I was a tad bit creeped out by the thought. However, when I developed a serious infection post-recon, the hospital sent me home with my port accessed so I could self-administer IV antibiotics every day for over two weeks. I had to have the access needle changed once a week at the oncologist's office, and I kept the port and needle covered with one of those sticky clear bandages, but the access line itself wasn't covered. I cleaned it thoroughly every day before I attached it to the IV. Frankly it was a little scary to be having that much access to and control of my port, but it was easy, and quite the godsend.
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Perhaps it's a new 'thang' being done to leave a needle sticking out of a port and sent out after implant. To me- this is definitely up there at the top (or close to the top) of the 'scary port stories'!I_brain - my port was implanted before my UMX - not after a lumpectomy. I will say again - if I had been sent home from implant with a needle sticking out of my port I would not have had that Surgeon do my UMX. I guess if surgery had already been done with no issues then use the same surgeon for port. Not all have surgery before port. You may have read the 'horror stories' but not the ones that are not 'horrors' of which there are many. But unfortunately, the HSs are the ones that many choose to remember and exclude those that aren't 'HS'. How could an RN not hit.the port? At least on my Bard Power Port there are 3 'nubbies' that are easily felt and just go to the center of the area - no brainer.
NancyHB - I could somewhat understand leaving a needle in for someone to do self IVs when needed. I don't understand that you say the port and needle were covered but not the access line? What about establishing the heparin block to prevent clotting in the vein after use?
My port has been in since Aug 25, 2009 and there it will stay. Flushed every 8 weeks - never any issue. Well, one time there were some Student RNs and I was asked if I minded them doing my flush - the first one who tried did not even get into the port as she was trying to be 'gentle'.
Yes - for me access hurts like Hades! Had to have it accessed once (long story but Hospital - not Cancer Center had no numbing spray) and it was far worse than accessing hand veins! The Cancer Care Center I went to had numbing spray but in the years since I've used numbing cream.
I still think it is bizarre to be wandering around with a needle sticking out of a port for a day or more ( other than a very few possible exceptions).
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If you notice, when you receive Chemo, when a huber needle is placed(a regular needle is not used) there is a special connection with a short piece of infusion tubing and a special cap is on the end of the tubing that is accessed for infusions. They can remain in place for several days...
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Ok, I have SEVERE pain after four months...tightening in my throat, pain in chest, neck, shoulders, and arms. When I get my treatment my port hurts very bad. They leave it in in between treatments and it hurts so bad it's not even cool. I've told my DR and nurse and all I get is, 'Ive never heard of a port hurting."
That's great that you have never heard of it, but that is what is happening.
Any input would be great.
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Pez, I think something is wrong with your port and you are having too much pain. Have you discussed this with your doc who put it in? I'm so sorry to hear this.
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Hey, can I ask about reactions to having the port placed? Mine was put in on Thursday last week. Five hours later I was in so much pain, with swelling of the site, that I called the doctor. They had me come in the next day and looked at the amazing redness and swelling. The doctor thought I might be allergic to the tape they were using (but still used it!). Now it's Monday and still much the same-- red, now oozing clear fluid, with bumps around the port and quite severe pain. I saw my plastic surgeon today, who looked really concerned and told me to go back to them tomorrow if it's not better. She thinks it might be an allergic reaction to the liquid stitches they use, so she removed them. Honestly, I feel pretty horrible and don't know what's normal when a port is put in vs. abnormal. The vascular surgeon doesn't seem too concerned.
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i have moderate to severe pain i think is caused by my port. It isn't constant but by the end of the day after being actor abd holding my infant daughter i have burning stinging pain all the way from my port, my breast and all the way to my fingertips. I see a dr thursday for it. Anyone have this issue? Im 8 months post implantation of the port
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Hi Lauralee-
We want to welcome you to our community at BCO! We're glad you've found us and joined in the conversation. But we are sorry to hear about the pain! Hopefully your doctor has some ideas, and surely you'll hear from others in the community who've experienced the same and who can offer advice. Keep us posted on how your appointment goes!
The Mods
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Hi Lauralee
Yes, I had pain with my port. It just was never right. I am not sure what can be done. I never did find an answer. Even after removal the scar was tender for years. It is also a scar that hasn't healed well. They call it keloid. I'm not sure why some of us are unlucky with it and others have no problem at all, but I wish you all the best with chemo and that you do find answers and resolve the pain.
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