physical restrictions with port a cath
- This topic has 29 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 1 month ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Hi Scott! I am with you as I love that little nap when anything unusual is going on! Happy wearing of the Green!
You’re welcome, Scott!
Good luck with the port placement, and happy St. Paddy’s day to you too!
-Karen
Port placement is scheduled to happen on April 14th. They gave me the option of local freezing, or put me under. I chose to be put under; I find seeing and hearing whats going on kinda stressful.
Happy St Paddy’s Day everyone!!!Scott, I know about doing what we love to do, in spite of health issues, it is not the port that may slow you down the most, you may feel less active when they begin to use it. Doing what you love is key, it is what defines us. I would suggest an electric winch for the boat trailer with remote, a log splitter and a wheeled cart for split wood, and perhaps a snow blower. It’s not about exercise, it’s about stamina and energy to go do things. If you don’t feel like opening the laptop, you might not feel up to shoveling the drive either. Staying active is part of your great attitude, you are driven and motivated to move ahead, I admire and agree with that, however I would try to anticipate the fatigue the medications may cause. I use all of these items and still get a decent amount of exercise from them. good luck and keep moving, Pat
Thanks for all the info people, it’s a huge help fo sure. Its a relief kowing that I wont have a tube hanging out of my arm very soon. I cant evsn look at the picc line, I find it disgusting.
I will add what little more I can. I had a port that wasn’t put in very well/always tipped wrong which made for difficult access for my nurses. That said, if I needed one again, I wouldn’t hesitate to try another one and have it put in place…just by a different Doctor.
After the incision heals and the stitches dissolved, I had no restrictions. Once a couple days went by, I could get the area wet, though I gave it longer to be on the safe side. My Mayo nurse told me that whenever I had it accessed, to be sure that they applied the antiseptic for the full time (I can’t remember now if it was one or two minutes). I remember a nurse in the hospital was going to access it…..and I told her the Mayo instructions, and she casually said that she does it for 30 seconds and that was their protacol. I responded to her that she would do it the “Mayo” way if she was going to do it on ME. She balked a bit…..but I told her that I was going to time her….and that she should stop when she thought it was a minute. She stopped at 17 seconds!!! So, be sure that you watch that the person accessing does this important part for long enough.
I had no restrictions on lifting anything once the area was sufficiently healed….but it was never an issue because I was generally too tired from the chemo.
Julie T.
One more thing ….
After the surgery and after each chemo session keep it the are clean. It is important not to get any infections.
Cheers
Hi Scott,
A port, your new best friend ! Is it one your chest .
I have one and I love it. No restrictions whatsoever. I have hiked, run, kite surfed, surfed, golfed and all kinds of things.
It protrudes like a coin on your chest and that’s it. Just be careful not to hit as you might feel pain ( same as if you hit any other part of your body )
A catheter port is a blessing !Enjoy
Alejandro
Dear Scott, my favorite hillbilly! I wish there was something I could do or say but sometimes we just have to hang in and hang on. When Teddy had his pic it was only while he was in the hospital. You never know how strong you are until “strong” is the only choice you have! Like Gavin said, not too much going on but I sure do miss you!
Hi Scott!
Oh I am so sorry to hear that your PICC is giving you trouble. I know that they can be kind of a hassle if you are a very active person. I understand your frustration….don’t lift anything on this arm, don’t get it wet, be careful that you don’t bump it with anything, etc. etc. Then on top of it, you have to have the dressings changed every 7 days and get it flushed. I would probably be a down in the dumps about it too.
PICCs do serve a very important role in intravenous therapy, but if you are going to be having very long term therapy, a port a cath is a better option in my opinion.Although I have not personally experienced having a port, the port care that I have given it fairly straight forward. Ports will be placed under your skin and you will have tubing going into a major vessel to your heart. All of this will be internal other than the doorbell type apparatus that is able to be felt under the skin of your upper chest.
Here is a link to a post I did awhile ago on ports.
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=13800
After your outpatient procedure to have the port placed, you will have to keep the new surgical site dry for a bit to allow the skin to heal. After healing has occurred, there will be nothing outside of your skin. You will only have two minimal surgical scars. You will be able to swim, shower, bike, and do your normal activities, but I would probably be careful with carrying the wood against your chest on that side. I know that when I stack wood I hold the logs up to my chest and it can get fairly heavy! So my suggestion would be to make more log carrying/stacking trips.
I should mention though that you will still have to periodically have the port “accessed” and “flushed” just as with the PICC. This needs to occur at least once a month if the port is not actively being used.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask and I will answer them as best that I can!
-Karen, RN, CHPN
Hi Scott,
Great to hear from you again! No problems with you not being on here so much lately, totally understandable what with everything that is going on with you right now. Not sure I can answer your question for you so will leave that one to the others.
All the best Scott,
Gavin
Thanks very much, that is very kind. I’ll just be glad to lose this picc line. I have to wear one of those gloves that farmers wear over their arms to have artifical sexy time with cows. The line has bled a lot too, so I spend lots of time either at outpatients or calling the von trying to get the dressing changed.
Scott….hoping for others to chime in on this. In the meantime I contacted Karen, Oncology Nurse, member of the CCF Nursing Advisory Board, for additional information.
Hugs,
MarionHi people! How have you all been? Between the shit kicking that irinotican/5 fu is giving me, and the depression from the PICC line, I never feel like coming on. I’ve never had anything break my spirit like this PICC . It has been a series of complications and ” you are not allowed to do that anymore”.
Anyway, I have a pre op meeting with Dr Heisler next week for a port a cath. I’m just wondering what physical restrictions are there with a port? Golf, swimming, Loading/launching my boat, shovelling snow, and carrying/stacking firewood are my main concerns. Online says I should be fine, but I always want to hear what you guys say.
- The forum ‘General Discussion’ is closed to new topics and replies.