PepperKitty
New member
I LOVE PORTS! They are wonderful!
My 1st port was 16 years ago! I've had several. They make home & hospital IV's much easier. I'm on IV's every 2-3 months. In between I love to swim, something I could'nt do with a PICC.
It doesn't hurt much to access as long as you hit the port-other wise it hurts! I'd recommend you access it yourself or get someone you trust because home health nurses aren't always the best.
Usually ports are great for drawing blood. But doctors won't use them for IV drug levels. It might screw the results. Only authorized nurses are allowed to draw blood from the ports. I have really bad veins & I hate getting my blood drawn, but unless I can time routine blood tests durring a flush, It is less painful to be poked in the arm.
My port is on my shoulder. I'm a little to skinny so it sticks out about an inch. My last port was lower & much more hidden. I like it to poke out, because it is easier to access. It doesn't show under clothes, but does with a swimming suit.
Be cautious because things can go wrong. No matter how sterile or careful you are.
I had one flip over once, It had to be replaced.
Two became infected from my lungs. They had to be replaced.
My last Port, that was replaced in the spring, had a hole worn through the line causing permanent scar tissue to form. Durring removal it snapped in two. Part of the line was floating in my body, with no way to get it out. A very bad thing! Fortunately, I had a very skilled doctor. He threaded a wire up through my groin, managed to grab the tube & then pull it down through my stomach and out. It took almost 5 hours. I was only sedated through the whole thing. Thankfully, the doctors didn't tell me about the complications until after I was back in my room. I remember thinking this procedure aeems to be taking an awfully long time.
If the doctor hadn't retreaved the tube. I would have had to have lung surgery with a 12' scar.
Due to were the scar tissue is in my vein I either have to always have a port or never again be able to have a port. The scar tissue make PICC lines not possible.
I want you to know ports are great! But there can be downsides!
Thanks,
Faith 35/CF DD508
My 1st port was 16 years ago! I've had several. They make home & hospital IV's much easier. I'm on IV's every 2-3 months. In between I love to swim, something I could'nt do with a PICC.
It doesn't hurt much to access as long as you hit the port-other wise it hurts! I'd recommend you access it yourself or get someone you trust because home health nurses aren't always the best.
Usually ports are great for drawing blood. But doctors won't use them for IV drug levels. It might screw the results. Only authorized nurses are allowed to draw blood from the ports. I have really bad veins & I hate getting my blood drawn, but unless I can time routine blood tests durring a flush, It is less painful to be poked in the arm.
My port is on my shoulder. I'm a little to skinny so it sticks out about an inch. My last port was lower & much more hidden. I like it to poke out, because it is easier to access. It doesn't show under clothes, but does with a swimming suit.
Be cautious because things can go wrong. No matter how sterile or careful you are.
I had one flip over once, It had to be replaced.
Two became infected from my lungs. They had to be replaced.
My last Port, that was replaced in the spring, had a hole worn through the line causing permanent scar tissue to form. Durring removal it snapped in two. Part of the line was floating in my body, with no way to get it out. A very bad thing! Fortunately, I had a very skilled doctor. He threaded a wire up through my groin, managed to grab the tube & then pull it down through my stomach and out. It took almost 5 hours. I was only sedated through the whole thing. Thankfully, the doctors didn't tell me about the complications until after I was back in my room. I remember thinking this procedure aeems to be taking an awfully long time.
If the doctor hadn't retreaved the tube. I would have had to have lung surgery with a 12' scar.
Due to were the scar tissue is in my vein I either have to always have a port or never again be able to have a port. The scar tissue make PICC lines not possible.
I want you to know ports are great! But there can be downsides!
Thanks,
Faith 35/CF DD508