<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>billykeith</b></i>
Hello, my name is billy i also have cf. i am 32. i was wondering about the port. when do you think it's necessary to get one? i get like 3 picc lines per year and with each one it seems that the difficulty increases with getting it to work properly. Hope you are doing well with yours. thanks. bk</end quote></div>
It's usually a combination of # of PICCs per year and the difficulty getting them in that decide the need for a port.
My center says around 4+ PICCs a year, and it's a good time to start thinking about a port. Even with less than that, it might be a good idea if you are having a ton of trouble getting them in. (My last PICC took 8 sticks... and that was in Interventional Radiology >_>)
Also, it is just personal preference. Some people hate the idea of a chunk of metal inside them at all times, so they don't get a port even if they do IVs many many times a year.
Whew, sorry to get so offtopic, maybe we should just make a new thread.
Anyway, just wanted to say grats on your port success, but sorry you are feeling a bit punky. Hopefully those meds you're getting in your shiny new port will do the trick. Feel better soon! Even if your arm feels ok, make sure you rest it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">