Another Port Question

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CowTown

New member
I got my port placed Monday and it's healing well I guess. I'm still getting to use the whole thing b/c it certainly doesn't feel natural yet.

My question is does anyone have theirs where they can see the cathedar going from the port area up to the jugular neck area? I didn't hear anyone mention this with all my questions so I'm curious.

So apparently they entered through my neck (there's a little scar) then I guess threaded the cathedar from there down my main artery in my neck (which leads it to my heart area), and that connects to the actual port which was placed under my collar bone. So you can see the cathedar line under my skin going the port area up to my neck. It's quite obvious and is not going through a blood vessel at all which is why you can see it so clearly. This isn't a spot where you normally see people's blood vessels popping out of their neck, so it's kind of grossing me out. Anyone else experience this neck thing?

The other thing was that once my port dressing was changed, they put this little round cushion on top of where the port needle is and now you can actually see the port needle going into my skin I think. I'm still trying to understand this whole thing. Are you suppose to see the needle there? I asked my nurse about it and she said it looked okay, but wow, the needle sticks so far out. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0">

I don't "love" my port yet that's for sure. Maybe one day I will like so many of you do. It's still sensitive to me and painful a bit and totally creaps me out. Hopefully I will get used to sticking the port with a needle to flush it when I'm home and by myself. Yuckeeeeeeeee!
 
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HairGirl

New member
Kelly, you can see my cathedar up just passed my collar bone, yeah it doesn't look good but oh well. As for the needle thing, I think the hospital ones are bigger and longer than the home ones, also the top butterfly things are bigger, I love the home health needles better, so this last time I had my husband access me before I went into the hospital.

The first while I didn't love my port as much as I do now. So hopefully it will grow on you. I don't flush my port my husband does (but then again he's a hospital kinda guy, going to PA school one day) so anyone that can do it themselves is awesome in my book!!!!

Hope you continue to get better!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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kybert

New member
oh dear, you have the dreaded jugular trail. usually happens when they put the catheter there because theres not alot of skin covering it or because the surgeon didnt place it deep enough. id say it wasnt placed deep enough seeing as you can see the catheter where the actual port is [usually its invisible near the port and visible in the neck]. not much you can do im afraid! just be careful not to damage it. at least its safer being in the jugular. the needle isnt supposed to stick out far. tell them to change it. if you accidently knocked it hard enough you could snap it somehow.
 
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Emily65Roses

New member
Mind you, the needle should be barely sticking out. Most of it should be in your skin / the port. I once had two MORON nurses put a needle in without checking the size (port was still new to me, I didn't know there were sizes, though it makes sense...). I use 3/4 of an inch, and they put in an inch. It stayed all night, and oh boy was it tons more painful. If there's any needle sticking out other than a TINY BIT, you need a different size.
 
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littledebbie

New member
Yah I have a scar on my neck where they went in and it did a loop
thing that was visible but most people thought was a crazy As$
vein.  it bugged me way more than anyone else...no one else
knew really noticed...it blends, sort of.  I never did flush
mine...creepy made my skin crawl thinking about it...I know I'm a
wimpy...i don't care.  i have to say that even though some
things definitely bugged me about my port,every time i had to do
antibiotics I was soo glad I had it...it's perks more than made up
for it's creepy factor.
 
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CowTown

New member
I have another question. Do you guys have special ways of covering the port up when you're in public, especially in the summer? I wear tank tops all the time, and now I'm going to have this thing there with a funky vein. I'm trying to get my mind into the state of 'I don't care', but I'm not squite there yet. Any good ideas for covering it up, like some type of skin colored cloth or bandage or something? Especially when during IV time. I have to be on IVs for the next 2 months! How do I cover it? Thanks.
 
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CowTown

New member
Okay...I have another question!

So I'm suppose to go home from the hospital Monday and my case manager has been trying to set up home nursing and med delivery, etc. Because I live in the middle of nowhere and my insurance is connected to MediCal (ghpp), no one will accept to work with me. It's such a hurdle. The only thing we've been able to set up is Quorum Home Health Care in Sacramento but they will only agree to offer med equipment (home iv stuff) but NOT nursing services. Since this port is new to me I don't know how to access and don't know if I even want to access it myself. I've done home ivs plenty of other times though so I feel comfortable flushing and connecting meds (on the pole or the bubbles).

So what do you guys do when you're using your port at home? Do you always have home nurses, and is it critical and necessary do you think? Or, I was thinking maybe a solution would be for me to go once a month to UCDavis where they accept my insurance and have them change this port needle 1x week for me and then do the daily med iv by myself. Is this something you guys do too, or what?

Thanks so much for all your feedback! I'd be so lost without all this info.
 
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Emily65Roses

New member
After you learn how to access it yourself, a home nurse isn't necessary. It can make things easier, BUT, I've done it before without one. Basically, the only purpose they serve (besides accessing it) is drawing blood for testing, and you can have it arranged to do that at any nearby lab place. Like, I have a Quest right downtown. The nurse wanted to come in the morning, but I had to babysit Mike's cousins, so I had to arrange the blood draw on my own time. Not too big a deal.
 
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HairGirl

New member
Kelly, I know at the beginning it's a little scary but I don't use the home health nurses, if you could go to UCDavis and get the needles changed one a week that would be fine! My dressing usually lasts that long too, if not that isn't a hard thing to change.

As for the tank tops, just choose ones with bigger straps.
 
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CowTown

New member
Hairgirl and Emily, thanks for all your feedback! You've both been big helps to me this week. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

As it turns out, we finally found a hospital that is willing to work with me from my little town. I'm feel so relieved. So I think we have the med company and the home care company all lined up. Thanks again for everyone's input.
 
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Allisa35

Member
Kelly, I don't have a port, but my sister does. I think hers might be in the same place. Her vein is a little bit raised on her neck (which really GROSSES me out) and the port is just below her collar bone. I think she has nurses come out to flush it every so often. I will send her this link; maybe she can offer you some additional information. Hope all goes well, I feel for ya. Hope I never have to have one (lol).
 
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CowTown

New member
Hi guys - another question....

Does everyone's port have a good blood return?

I know the theory is that if there is blood return then that must mean that the port is working properly, right? What if it doesn't? My home nurse replaced the needle yesterday and now it doesn't have any blood return, but it does work for the IV meds. We started the meds eventhough there wasn't a blood return and it seemed to work fine, without any infiltration (meds going into the skin instead of the vein). Has this happened to anyone? If so, did the port eventually situate itself so blood was drawn later? I'm really hoping so they don't need to stick my arm anymore for the weekly tests.

Any thoughts?

And...I am lovin that emla cream! Thanks goodness for that stuff.

Do people ever ask you "what is that on your chest" when they see the port bump? I'm feeling very self concience and I haven't even been out in public yet. I just feel like all eyes are going to be on this tumor looking bump, probably b/c it freaks ME out. How do you guys deal with public comments on such a thing? No one is going to guess what it is, I would imagine most people would just wonder what the heck is that?!
 
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Emily65Roses

New member
I usually have a good blood return (some nurses check it, some don't, but keep in mind I do the IVs myself these days), but I also don't usually check it anymore. As long as I can push saline and meds, I figure the line is fine, and leave it be. I heard once (and I have NO IDEA if there's any real basis for this or not) that if you <i>often</i> try to get blood returns, the port will need to be replaced sooner. Like I said, that could be complete crap. But for me, as long as the meds go in, I don't try to get blood out. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

As for what to say to people, I may not be any help to you. I personally don't give half a damn. So when someone asks me what it is, I tell them it's a port. When they continue to look confused, I tell them it's kind of a permanent IV. That usually gives them enough information that they leave it be. If it's someone other than some stranger on the street, they may ask you more questions. But generally if it's people who know you, they're asking because they care and want to learn, not because they want to call you a freak or anything. Heh.

My port, as you can see from the pictures, is hidden most of the time. I do wear two piece swimsuits and you can see it then. Don't care. Honestly, what bothers me far more than the questions are the stares. I'd <b>much</b> prefer someone just ask me what it is, learn a little bit, and walk away. People who stare like blithering idiots with their tongues hanging out drive me <b>nuts</b>. I also am never shy about showing it to people. If I'm actually using it, on IVs, and I'm in public, I will lift my shirt (only enough to use the port, I do stay decent) and play with it wherever I am. I simply don't care.

The only other thing I can tell you is that it's interesting. Strangers who stare... frankly, screw them. Most anyone who knows you at all will be interested, not creeped out. I occasionally get an "ew" and I just laugh ("ew"s from friends are usually well-intended and well-received). Mike's friends all thought it was cool and proceeded to feel it and the vein in my collarbone area (you can feel where the tube is in one of my veins up near my left shoulder, it just feels like something solid chillin in my vein). Mike himself thinks it's really cool too. He says it's unique, it's part of me, makes me interesting. Says the same thing about my scars too. Each one tells a story about me and who I am, he once told me. I happen to agree. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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spicyone18

New member
I'm with Emily on this one, I didn't care what ppl thought. I did get asked a lot about what is that in your chest. As mine did stick out really bad. Mine was just under my collarbone and I wear tank tops a lot so it was almost always showing. When ever some one asked I would tell them what it was, and tried to answer any quiestion they had. If I was wearing a shirt that you coun't see the port but you can see the spot on my neck, ppl would ask what I did to my neck. I would explain then show them my port. I've recently got my port removed, and I have ppl asking what I did. One night I went out with some friends and I still had a bandage over where the port was, and some one asked if I was on the patch. LOL. Anyway rambling now....prolly wasnt much help, since I don't care what ppl think <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">
 
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