accessing port

[Kelli]

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. How miserable.

I had a port in my arm and it was more difficult to 'hit' than the port in my chest.

A few bits of advice....
1. Ask nurse if she is good at accessing and if she has a lot of experience. Seriously. People may think I'm a b*tch but I don't care, it's my arm (or chest), my body, and I'M the one who feels the pain.

2. Tell them to hold the port between their thumb and forefinger. My port was 'lose' and would move around, they had to have a good hold on it or they would miss.

3. Emla (spelling) cream, it's supposed to numb you. Never really worked great for me..but it might help take the edge off.

I've had horrible luck w/the port in my arm, they had missed tons of time, and hit metal (which is such a freaking nasty feeling),etc.
The port in my chest is 100% an easy hit. Never a problem, which is great. I hate having more pokes than I need.
You should not have to deal w/this crap. I'd say when you are ordering up a home nurse, to only send a well experienced one. YOU shouldn't have to suffer for the nurses inability to do her job correctly. Either that or give her one chance! (and let her know that up front). Like I said, you might come off as harsh, but you HAVE to advocate for yourself!!!!!

Good luck and I really hope this improves for you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. How miserable.

I had a port in my arm and it was more difficult to 'hit' than the port in my chest.

A few bits of advice....
1. Ask nurse if she is good at accessing and if she has a lot of experience. Seriously. People may think I'm a b*tch but I don't care, it's my arm (or chest), my body, and I'M the one who feels the pain.

2. Tell them to hold the port between their thumb and forefinger. My port was 'lose' and would move around, they had to have a good hold on it or they would miss.

3. Emla (spelling) cream, it's supposed to numb you. Never really worked great for me..but it might help take the edge off.

I've had horrible luck w/the port in my arm, they had missed tons of time, and hit metal (which is such a freaking nasty feeling),etc.
The port in my chest is 100% an easy hit. Never a problem, which is great. I hate having more pokes than I need.
You should not have to deal w/this crap. I'd say when you are ordering up a home nurse, to only send a well experienced one. YOU shouldn't have to suffer for the nurses inability to do her job correctly. Either that or give her one chance! (and let her know that up front). Like I said, you might come off as harsh, but you HAVE to advocate for yourself!!!!!

Good luck and I really hope this improves for you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. How miserable.

I had a port in my arm and it was more difficult to 'hit' than the port in my chest.

A few bits of advice....
1. Ask nurse if she is good at accessing and if she has a lot of experience. Seriously. People may think I'm a b*tch but I don't care, it's my arm (or chest), my body, and I'M the one who feels the pain.

2. Tell them to hold the port between their thumb and forefinger. My port was 'lose' and would move around, they had to have a good hold on it or they would miss.

3. Emla (spelling) cream, it's supposed to numb you. Never really worked great for me..but it might help take the edge off.

I've had horrible luck w/the port in my arm, they had missed tons of time, and hit metal (which is such a freaking nasty feeling),etc.
The port in my chest is 100% an easy hit. Never a problem, which is great. I hate having more pokes than I need.
You should not have to deal w/this crap. I'd say when you are ordering up a home nurse, to only send a well experienced one. YOU shouldn't have to suffer for the nurses inability to do her job correctly. Either that or give her one chance! (and let her know that up front). Like I said, you might come off as harsh, but you HAVE to advocate for yourself!!!!!

Good luck and I really hope this improves for you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. How miserable.

I had a port in my arm and it was more difficult to 'hit' than the port in my chest.

A few bits of advice....
1. Ask nurse if she is good at accessing and if she has a lot of experience. Seriously. People may think I'm a b*tch but I don't care, it's my arm (or chest), my body, and I'M the one who feels the pain.

2. Tell them to hold the port between their thumb and forefinger. My port was 'lose' and would move around, they had to have a good hold on it or they would miss.

3. Emla (spelling) cream, it's supposed to numb you. Never really worked great for me..but it might help take the edge off.

I've had horrible luck w/the port in my arm, they had missed tons of time, and hit metal (which is such a freaking nasty feeling),etc.
The port in my chest is 100% an easy hit. Never a problem, which is great. I hate having more pokes than I need.
You should not have to deal w/this crap. I'd say when you are ordering up a home nurse, to only send a well experienced one. YOU shouldn't have to suffer for the nurses inability to do her job correctly. Either that or give her one chance! (and let her know that up front). Like I said, you might come off as harsh, but you HAVE to advocate for yourself!!!!!

Good luck and I really hope this improves for you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. How miserable.
<br />
<br />I had a port in my arm and it was more difficult to 'hit' than the port in my chest.
<br />
<br />A few bits of advice....
<br />1. Ask nurse if she is good at accessing and if she has a lot of experience. Seriously. People may think I'm a b*tch but I don't care, it's my arm (or chest), my body, and I'M the one who feels the pain.
<br />
<br />2. Tell them to hold the port between their thumb and forefinger. My port was 'lose' and would move around, they had to have a good hold on it or they would miss.
<br />
<br />3. Emla (spelling) cream, it's supposed to numb you. Never really worked great for me..but it might help take the edge off.
<br />
<br />I've had horrible luck w/the port in my arm, they had missed tons of time, and hit metal (which is such a freaking nasty feeling),etc.
<br />The port in my chest is 100% an easy hit. Never a problem, which is great. I hate having more pokes than I need.
<br />You should not have to deal w/this crap. I'd say when you are ordering up a home nurse, to only send a well experienced one. YOU shouldn't have to suffer for the nurses inability to do her job correctly. Either that or give her one chance! (and let her know that up front). Like I said, you might come off as harsh, but you HAVE to advocate for yourself!!!!!
<br />
<br />Good luck and I really hope this improves for you. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I forgot one last thing....

Instead of having a home nurse come out (I never know who I will get!) I just drive myself to the hospital to get my port accessed. So when I have IV's I go once a week to get a new needle. It's an hour drive each way but I hate having inexperienced people 'practice' on me.

Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I forgot one last thing....

Instead of having a home nurse come out (I never know who I will get!) I just drive myself to the hospital to get my port accessed. So when I have IV's I go once a week to get a new needle. It's an hour drive each way but I hate having inexperienced people 'practice' on me.

Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I forgot one last thing....

Instead of having a home nurse come out (I never know who I will get!) I just drive myself to the hospital to get my port accessed. So when I have IV's I go once a week to get a new needle. It's an hour drive each way but I hate having inexperienced people 'practice' on me.

Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I forgot one last thing....

Instead of having a home nurse come out (I never know who I will get!) I just drive myself to the hospital to get my port accessed. So when I have IV's I go once a week to get a new needle. It's an hour drive each way but I hate having inexperienced people 'practice' on me.

Kelli

 

[Kelli]

I forgot one last thing....
<br />
<br />Instead of having a home nurse come out (I never know who I will get!) I just drive myself to the hospital to get my port accessed. So when I have IV's I go once a week to get a new needle. It's an hour drive each way but I hate having inexperienced people 'practice' on me.
<br />
<br />Kelli

 

[mom2lillian]

I had home health care come to my home and teach my husband and myself to do it. If you dont feel comfortable doing that then one idea is to have them bring some emla cream for you. It is a numbing cream that they use when they draw blood from babies but if you put it on (its just lotion) and put a piece of saran wrap over it for 20 minutes they can poke away and you wont feel a thing!

one advantage to doing it yoruself is that instead changing my needle once a week I change it every tiem I change bandage, this allows me to have 8 horus 'free' to the air for a LONG shower and some needle free vesting and a good workout without getting poked.

 

[mom2lillian]

I had home health care come to my home and teach my husband and myself to do it. If you dont feel comfortable doing that then one idea is to have them bring some emla cream for you. It is a numbing cream that they use when they draw blood from babies but if you put it on (its just lotion) and put a piece of saran wrap over it for 20 minutes they can poke away and you wont feel a thing!

one advantage to doing it yoruself is that instead changing my needle once a week I change it every tiem I change bandage, this allows me to have 8 horus 'free' to the air for a LONG shower and some needle free vesting and a good workout without getting poked.

 

[mom2lillian]

I had home health care come to my home and teach my husband and myself to do it. If you dont feel comfortable doing that then one idea is to have them bring some emla cream for you. It is a numbing cream that they use when they draw blood from babies but if you put it on (its just lotion) and put a piece of saran wrap over it for 20 minutes they can poke away and you wont feel a thing!

one advantage to doing it yoruself is that instead changing my needle once a week I change it every tiem I change bandage, this allows me to have 8 horus 'free' to the air for a LONG shower and some needle free vesting and a good workout without getting poked.

 

[mom2lillian]

I had home health care come to my home and teach my husband and myself to do it. If you dont feel comfortable doing that then one idea is to have them bring some emla cream for you. It is a numbing cream that they use when they draw blood from babies but if you put it on (its just lotion) and put a piece of saran wrap over it for 20 minutes they can poke away and you wont feel a thing!

one advantage to doing it yoruself is that instead changing my needle once a week I change it every tiem I change bandage, this allows me to have 8 horus 'free' to the air for a LONG shower and some needle free vesting and a good workout without getting poked.

 

[mom2lillian]

I had home health care come to my home and teach my husband and myself to do it. If you dont feel comfortable doing that then one idea is to have them bring some emla cream for you. It is a numbing cream that they use when they draw blood from babies but if you put it on (its just lotion) and put a piece of saran wrap over it for 20 minutes they can poke away and you wont feel a thing!
<br />
<br />one advantage to doing it yoruself is that instead changing my needle once a week I change it every tiem I change bandage, this allows me to have 8 horus 'free' to the air for a LONG shower and some needle free vesting and a good workout without getting poked.

 

[just1more]

There is NO excuse for a nurse to miss your port.

I am just a 'normal' guy and in the last 2 years I have learned to not only start IV's but access my son's port. It takes a bit of practice, but honestly the port is 100x easier than an IV stick. Since he has Hemophilia we access him 2x/week for about 20 minutes to push an infusion of clotting factor and then de-access.

If the nurse is not capable of hitting your port, ask and then if necessary demand they find a qualified nurse. The one(s) you are getting are obviously out of practice and need some urgent training and this is not that hard.

Don't let them use you as like a hamster or mouse to practice on.

Also, you can get either Emla or LMX which are both lidocaine creams, your Dr. should be able to give you an order for them, or I know you can find LMX online as it is common with plastic surgery (botox). We use on our son and it takes about 15-20 minutes and it does take 90% of the pain, especially on the port since you are only going through skin, not veins or tissue.

 

[just1more]

There is NO excuse for a nurse to miss your port.

I am just a 'normal' guy and in the last 2 years I have learned to not only start IV's but access my son's port. It takes a bit of practice, but honestly the port is 100x easier than an IV stick. Since he has Hemophilia we access him 2x/week for about 20 minutes to push an infusion of clotting factor and then de-access.

If the nurse is not capable of hitting your port, ask and then if necessary demand they find a qualified nurse. The one(s) you are getting are obviously out of practice and need some urgent training and this is not that hard.

Don't let them use you as like a hamster or mouse to practice on.

Also, you can get either Emla or LMX which are both lidocaine creams, your Dr. should be able to give you an order for them, or I know you can find LMX online as it is common with plastic surgery (botox). We use on our son and it takes about 15-20 minutes and it does take 90% of the pain, especially on the port since you are only going through skin, not veins or tissue.

 

[just1more]

There is NO excuse for a nurse to miss your port.

I am just a 'normal' guy and in the last 2 years I have learned to not only start IV's but access my son's port. It takes a bit of practice, but honestly the port is 100x easier than an IV stick. Since he has Hemophilia we access him 2x/week for about 20 minutes to push an infusion of clotting factor and then de-access.

If the nurse is not capable of hitting your port, ask and then if necessary demand they find a qualified nurse. The one(s) you are getting are obviously out of practice and need some urgent training and this is not that hard.

Don't let them use you as like a hamster or mouse to practice on.

Also, you can get either Emla or LMX which are both lidocaine creams, your Dr. should be able to give you an order for them, or I know you can find LMX online as it is common with plastic surgery (botox). We use on our son and it takes about 15-20 minutes and it does take 90% of the pain, especially on the port since you are only going through skin, not veins or tissue.

 

[just1more]

There is NO excuse for a nurse to miss your port.

I am just a 'normal' guy and in the last 2 years I have learned to not only start IV's but access my son's port. It takes a bit of practice, but honestly the port is 100x easier than an IV stick. Since he has Hemophilia we access him 2x/week for about 20 minutes to push an infusion of clotting factor and then de-access.

If the nurse is not capable of hitting your port, ask and then if necessary demand they find a qualified nurse. The one(s) you are getting are obviously out of practice and need some urgent training and this is not that hard.

Don't let them use you as like a hamster or mouse to practice on.

Also, you can get either Emla or LMX which are both lidocaine creams, your Dr. should be able to give you an order for them, or I know you can find LMX online as it is common with plastic surgery (botox). We use on our son and it takes about 15-20 minutes and it does take 90% of the pain, especially on the port since you are only going through skin, not veins or tissue.

 

[just1more]

There is NO excuse for a nurse to miss your port.
<br />
<br />I am just a 'normal' guy and in the last 2 years I have learned to not only start IV's but access my son's port. It takes a bit of practice, but honestly the port is 100x easier than an IV stick. Since he has Hemophilia we access him 2x/week for about 20 minutes to push an infusion of clotting factor and then de-access.
<br />
<br />If the nurse is not capable of hitting your port, ask and then if necessary demand they find a qualified nurse. The one(s) you are getting are obviously out of practice and need some urgent training and this is not that hard.
<br />
<br />Don't let them use you as like a hamster or mouse to practice on.
<br />
<br />Also, you can get either Emla or LMX which are both lidocaine creams, your Dr. should be able to give you an order for them, or I know you can find LMX online as it is common with plastic surgery (botox). We use on our son and it takes about 15-20 minutes and it does take 90% of the pain, especially on the port since you are only going through skin, not veins or tissue.