Clots in a Port

[CowTown]

I had a port o cath placed about 6 months ago for the first time. I used it for 1 month, then stopped IVs and haven't used it since. I get it flushed 1x / month with saline and heparin. Last month it stopped working and my nurse was not able to flush it with saline. I've only had it for 6 months and have taken care of it well. I know they are suppose to last upwards of 3-8 years or something.

Today the interventional radiology cleared the line with some anti clotting fluid and all is fine now. They don't know what happened though. Has anyone else had a port clot so quickly? Why does that happen if you're flushing it regularly? I don't want it to clot again next month or else they'll need to replace it.

I'd like to hear about anyone's experience with this. Thanks!

 

[CowTown]

I had a port o cath placed about 6 months ago for the first time. I used it for 1 month, then stopped IVs and haven't used it since. I get it flushed 1x / month with saline and heparin. Last month it stopped working and my nurse was not able to flush it with saline. I've only had it for 6 months and have taken care of it well. I know they are suppose to last upwards of 3-8 years or something.

Today the interventional radiology cleared the line with some anti clotting fluid and all is fine now. They don't know what happened though. Has anyone else had a port clot so quickly? Why does that happen if you're flushing it regularly? I don't want it to clot again next month or else they'll need to replace it.

I'd like to hear about anyone's experience with this. Thanks!

 

[CowTown]

I had a port o cath placed about 6 months ago for the first time. I used it for 1 month, then stopped IVs and haven't used it since. I get it flushed 1x / month with saline and heparin. Last month it stopped working and my nurse was not able to flush it with saline. I've only had it for 6 months and have taken care of it well. I know they are suppose to last upwards of 3-8 years or something.

Today the interventional radiology cleared the line with some anti clotting fluid and all is fine now. They don't know what happened though. Has anyone else had a port clot so quickly? Why does that happen if you're flushing it regularly? I don't want it to clot again next month or else they'll need to replace it.

I'd like to hear about anyone's experience with this. Thanks!

 

[coltsfan715]

I have never had a port - so I have never had one clot - but I had a thought when I read this post.

Maybe you clot faster or more quickly than the norm. Is it possible that your docs could have blood work done to check your clotting time. Maybe you would simply need to flush the line more often than ever 4 weeks - maybe every 3 weeks or something.

Again I haven't had to deal with that cause I haven't had a port, but just a thought.

Take Care and I hope you are able to get it worked out and that it doesn't clot again.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

I have never had a port - so I have never had one clot - but I had a thought when I read this post.

Maybe you clot faster or more quickly than the norm. Is it possible that your docs could have blood work done to check your clotting time. Maybe you would simply need to flush the line more often than ever 4 weeks - maybe every 3 weeks or something.

Again I haven't had to deal with that cause I haven't had a port, but just a thought.

Take Care and I hope you are able to get it worked out and that it doesn't clot again.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

I have never had a port - so I have never had one clot - but I had a thought when I read this post.

Maybe you clot faster or more quickly than the norm. Is it possible that your docs could have blood work done to check your clotting time. Maybe you would simply need to flush the line more often than ever 4 weeks - maybe every 3 weeks or something.

Again I haven't had to deal with that cause I haven't had a port, but just a thought.

Take Care and I hope you are able to get it worked out and that it doesn't clot again.

Take Care,
Lindsey

 

[Jane]

That stinks Kelly. And everyone says the port is easier! Josh always had problems with his PICCs clotting up, but so far he hasn't had the trouble with his port. He got his in July and had IVs until October. He's had it flushed 3 times now.

Does your nurse use the stronger heparin? (I think its called 100 unit? In a yellow labeled syringe). There was a question about Josh's heparin. AT first they used regular, but we were told the stronger works better.

I'm glad you got it worked out, but wouldn't it be nice if things worked as they should?<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[Jane]

That stinks Kelly. And everyone says the port is easier! Josh always had problems with his PICCs clotting up, but so far he hasn't had the trouble with his port. He got his in July and had IVs until October. He's had it flushed 3 times now.

Does your nurse use the stronger heparin? (I think its called 100 unit? In a yellow labeled syringe). There was a question about Josh's heparin. AT first they used regular, but we were told the stronger works better.

I'm glad you got it worked out, but wouldn't it be nice if things worked as they should?<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[Jane]

That stinks Kelly. And everyone says the port is easier! Josh always had problems with his PICCs clotting up, but so far he hasn't had the trouble with his port. He got his in July and had IVs until October. He's had it flushed 3 times now.

Does your nurse use the stronger heparin? (I think its called 100 unit? In a yellow labeled syringe). There was a question about Josh's heparin. AT first they used regular, but we were told the stronger works better.

I'm glad you got it worked out, but wouldn't it be nice if things worked as they should?<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">

 

[mum2kj]

Kj has had her port for almost 7 years now and no trouble yet.

Have had some worrying moments when we forgot the monthly date and was two weeks late for a flush lol. My calendar comes in handy lol.

The only time we had trouble with flushing was when they put the wrong size needle in. It works great when they use the right needle.

One time at the end of a tune up they flushed it and took the needle out and sent us home, only to realise later when a nurse rang up telling us to come back in as they had only done the 24hr flush and not the monthly flush. So I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn't of figured that out.

But really the port is the best invention ever, Kj used to have alot of painful admissions before it.

I hope you get many more years with your port <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[mum2kj]

Kj has had her port for almost 7 years now and no trouble yet.

Have had some worrying moments when we forgot the monthly date and was two weeks late for a flush lol. My calendar comes in handy lol.

The only time we had trouble with flushing was when they put the wrong size needle in. It works great when they use the right needle.

One time at the end of a tune up they flushed it and took the needle out and sent us home, only to realise later when a nurse rang up telling us to come back in as they had only done the 24hr flush and not the monthly flush. So I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn't of figured that out.

But really the port is the best invention ever, Kj used to have alot of painful admissions before it.

I hope you get many more years with your port <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[mum2kj]

Kj has had her port for almost 7 years now and no trouble yet.

Have had some worrying moments when we forgot the monthly date and was two weeks late for a flush lol. My calendar comes in handy lol.

The only time we had trouble with flushing was when they put the wrong size needle in. It works great when they use the right needle.

One time at the end of a tune up they flushed it and took the needle out and sent us home, only to realise later when a nurse rang up telling us to come back in as they had only done the 24hr flush and not the monthly flush. So I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn't of figured that out.

But really the port is the best invention ever, Kj used to have alot of painful admissions before it.

I hope you get many more years with your port <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[karenanne99]

Hi Kelly,
I'm sorry to hear that you had a clot in your port. I have had my port for approximately 2 years. 2 months ago I had a clot as well and I was very worried that I would need to get it replaced, thankfully my doctor unclotted it using an anti-clotting "stuff". I had taken care of my port as well and always was sure to have it hepranized every month. I am not sure why it had clotted or why yours had. I am so scared that it will clot again so the next time I see my doctor I am going to check into ways to prevent it from happennig again. I am going to check if maybe getting hepranized more often would be a good idea. Anywas I will let you know what my doctor says.

Karen

 

[karenanne99]

Hi Kelly,
I'm sorry to hear that you had a clot in your port. I have had my port for approximately 2 years. 2 months ago I had a clot as well and I was very worried that I would need to get it replaced, thankfully my doctor unclotted it using an anti-clotting "stuff". I had taken care of my port as well and always was sure to have it hepranized every month. I am not sure why it had clotted or why yours had. I am so scared that it will clot again so the next time I see my doctor I am going to check into ways to prevent it from happennig again. I am going to check if maybe getting hepranized more often would be a good idea. Anywas I will let you know what my doctor says.

Karen

 

[karenanne99]

Hi Kelly,
I'm sorry to hear that you had a clot in your port. I have had my port for approximately 2 years. 2 months ago I had a clot as well and I was very worried that I would need to get it replaced, thankfully my doctor unclotted it using an anti-clotting "stuff". I had taken care of my port as well and always was sure to have it hepranized every month. I am not sure why it had clotted or why yours had. I am so scared that it will clot again so the next time I see my doctor I am going to check into ways to prevent it from happennig again. I am going to check if maybe getting hepranized more often would be a good idea. Anywas I will let you know what my doctor says.

Karen

 

[Jennifer1981]

Hey Kelly,

I'm sorry to hear that you had problems with your port. I've had mine for 3.5 years now without any problems. I do the monthly care just like you. I am surprised though that I don't have problems because a PICC line for me would clot off completely within 2-3 weeks. That is why I ended up getting a port. My veins were so bad with blockage that they use to have to shoot dye up my viens and use ultrasound to ensure that the PICC lines were entering a vein that wasn't blocked. It was a real pain in the a**. I always had poor veins. Well, I wish you bettter luck!

 

[Jennifer1981]

Hey Kelly,

I'm sorry to hear that you had problems with your port. I've had mine for 3.5 years now without any problems. I do the monthly care just like you. I am surprised though that I don't have problems because a PICC line for me would clot off completely within 2-3 weeks. That is why I ended up getting a port. My veins were so bad with blockage that they use to have to shoot dye up my viens and use ultrasound to ensure that the PICC lines were entering a vein that wasn't blocked. It was a real pain in the a**. I always had poor veins. Well, I wish you bettter luck!

 

[Jennifer1981]

Hey Kelly,

I'm sorry to hear that you had problems with your port. I've had mine for 3.5 years now without any problems. I do the monthly care just like you. I am surprised though that I don't have problems because a PICC line for me would clot off completely within 2-3 weeks. That is why I ended up getting a port. My veins were so bad with blockage that they use to have to shoot dye up my viens and use ultrasound to ensure that the PICC lines were entering a vein that wasn't blocked. It was a real pain in the a**. I always had poor veins. Well, I wish you bettter luck!

 

[beleache]

Hi Kelly, sorry your having problems with your port, hopefully your docs can get it straightened out. I had my port a couple of years (loved it) but had to have it removed in june due to a blood clot in my jugular and sub clavien. i had to be on blood thinners for six months after that, am now off. last time i was in for a tune up i had a picc line, when i get piccs i will have to be on blood thinners and i i ever get another port will have to be on thinners from then on..

 

[beleache]

Hi Kelly, sorry your having problems with your port, hopefully your docs can get it straightened out. I had my port a couple of years (loved it) but had to have it removed in june due to a blood clot in my jugular and sub clavien. i had to be on blood thinners for six months after that, am now off. last time i was in for a tune up i had a picc line, when i get piccs i will have to be on blood thinners and i i ever get another port will have to be on thinners from then on..