NYCLawGirl
New member
Mine is in my upper left arm, on the inside so that it technically rests right against my body if my arm is hanging to my side. I have had it for 9 years with no problems whatsoever.
Good parts about this placement:
1. It is totally unnoticable when not accessed. Seriously, it MIGHT show a tiny bump, but no one looks at the inside of your upper arm anyway. No one has ever noticed it and asked me what it was.
2. Even when accessed, it is easily covered by long sleeves. Again, no one ever thinks anything of a little bump under your sleeve, and I can also wrap it if I want.
3. Though I don't recall placement being particularly painful (I was 18 so I may have just forgotten), the pain wouldn't interfere with the vest or chest physio in any way.
4. No worries about the vest or other airway clearance when accessed.
5. I can sleep in any position with it accessed, including on my stomach, because it's just in my arm and there's no tenderness.
6. As a female, I find it less awkward than the chest, but this is a personal thing.
Bad parts:
1. It tends to make nurses, who are much more used to chest ports, nervous. It also (I am told) moves more, but since it is my first port I have no comparison.
2. It's a little smaller than chest ports, which again is a pain for access.
3. I can't access or flush it myself b/c I would have to do so one-handed, and it moves.
4. I have heard that arm ports don't last as long. As I said, mine has worked like a charm for 9 years, so I think this is probably more myth than reality.
Good parts about this placement:
1. It is totally unnoticable when not accessed. Seriously, it MIGHT show a tiny bump, but no one looks at the inside of your upper arm anyway. No one has ever noticed it and asked me what it was.
2. Even when accessed, it is easily covered by long sleeves. Again, no one ever thinks anything of a little bump under your sleeve, and I can also wrap it if I want.
3. Though I don't recall placement being particularly painful (I was 18 so I may have just forgotten), the pain wouldn't interfere with the vest or chest physio in any way.
4. No worries about the vest or other airway clearance when accessed.
5. I can sleep in any position with it accessed, including on my stomach, because it's just in my arm and there's no tenderness.
6. As a female, I find it less awkward than the chest, but this is a personal thing.
Bad parts:
1. It tends to make nurses, who are much more used to chest ports, nervous. It also (I am told) moves more, but since it is my first port I have no comparison.
2. It's a little smaller than chest ports, which again is a pain for access.
3. I can't access or flush it myself b/c I would have to do so one-handed, and it moves.
4. I have heard that arm ports don't last as long. As I said, mine has worked like a charm for 9 years, so I think this is probably more myth than reality.