Nervous about port
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I have a port and am so thankful for it. I have lots of veins but it seems they are pretty tiny. After my surgery I had 5 iv’s infiltrate in one day, so the port decision was easy for me. The last thing I need is chemo infiltrating in my arm, you know? Plus, it is easily hidden. No one knows I have it and it’s very convenient. I went swimming today and you wouldn’t be able to do that if you had something like a PICC. And the insertion is easy and it’s just a tiny poke when they access it. The least of my worries!
Take care and best of luck!Susie
Randi-A port is the easiest part of your journey!! It takes just an hour or so with sedation. I remember going out to dinner when my procedure was over.
Ports make your life easier, they can do all your blood draws usually. I had to have mine removed due to other complications (I had gone septic so all foriegn objects were removed), I was so upset. Chemo was so much easier. My veins are pretty well ruined thanks to chemo, so when I do blood draws now, anything less than 3 sticks is a good draw!!
Lots of prayers-CathyRandi, is a port like a pic line or power line? Teddy never had chemo but he was in the hospital so long they put in a pic or power line. It was terriffic!!
I too was very worried about a port. It took me half way thru chemo to get one. getting it in was just an out patient procedure and it really saved me so much pain and aggravation. One of the nurses said that she thought people should be born with ports! Getting it out was an in office visit for me.
Try not to worry too much about it and focus on how much easier and faster it will when they don’t have to poke you so much! Good luck!Mn,
Yes, I love Dr. Lenz and Taline. After I get the port I will continue with the gemzar and xeloda. I have my six week scan this week and hopefully everything is still stable. I have been having more pain, so we”ll see.
Everyone tells me I will be happier with the port. Thank you for your kind words and reassurance. I pray for all of the families on this board each day.
JtoroMy friend is undergoing chemo treatmens for breast cancer and her only complaint is that the seat belt bothers her.
All my best wishes,
MarionDon’t worry about the port. After my mother had her initial surgery (they removed her gallbladder and 1/3 of her liver), the nurses came in almost hourly to take my moms blood. My mothers arms were all swollen and bruised. However, she had the port put in and it has made labs so much easier. It was hard to adjust for at first, but she does not want to have it removed. She did have some complications with blood clotting and her doctor wanted to have the port taken out now that she is no longer doing chemo. However, my mother refuses to have it taken out.
I am glad to hear that you are seeing Dr. Lenz. I do love him and Talin. His nurse is great. We would see Dr. Lenz for my mothers second opinions…just to make sure her doctor’s were doing what they were suppose to be doing.
Good luck on them inserting the port…in a few months you will realize it is one of the best things you could have done, and you will wonder why you didn’t do it from the beginning. Will you still do Gemzar from the port?
I can understand you being nervous. I was too when I had to get mine in January. It really isn’t that bad and is alot easier when your veins become so hard to access. It was taking 3-4 tries to get an IV in. I had to get a port because of the chemo combo I started on. Just make sure you rest the first day and dont lift anything. I made the mistake of picking up a heavy package off the front porch when I got home from the hospital. Ouch
They have a cream you use to numb the area before they use it. It really is easy. The first couple of weeks when it is healing is the only time it has bothered me. Hope this helps and if you have any other questions or need to chat, please feel free to contact me. Take care and God Bless,
Jamie
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