Im worried about having a portacath done..

B

billiewoolley

Guest
Hiiii! i'm Billiefrom the UK, and i'm new too this! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> i'm 17 years of age, 18 in september. I was diagnosed with CF at 3 months old, i dont suffer with Diabetes (my heart goes out too everyone that does already, as I'm sure I'm on the list too get it eventually), and I'm a pretty out going person! Until recently...
I was recently admitted too hospital, but only had one week worthof IV's, because of my veins collapsingover 10 times!Canula's defiantly are nota thing for me, haha. I'm now back in hospital, and my chest isn't doing no good. A few months ago, I could walk up a flight of stairs, run even!, and i wouldnt be breathless, but now I am, and quite badly that I have too stop for a couple of minutes too get my breathe back. I'm back admitted in hospital now, and they've fitted me with a PICC line, which is brilliant!! It is a thousand times better, than being stabbed so many times with needles and canula's! I've had 5 day's worth of IV's now, and already my chest is feeling so much better. In the past 10 years, i've been quite lucky and only been admitted4 times! But with my veins being so terrible and collapsing on me so easily and quickly, my doctor has mentioned about a portacath, which i thought was a brilliant idea, and something i'm willing too go through with. I just wanted too hear off anyone who already has a portacath.. does it hurt? what can you and cant you do? how long have yours lasted? i know someone who's had 5 in 4 years.. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0"> quite off putting!, but i'm still very willing too have one.
Thank You for taking the time too read this, and thank you so much anyone that replies! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">x
 
B

billiewoolley

Guest
Hiiii! i'm Billiefrom the UK, and i'm new too this! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> i'm 17 years of age, 18 in september. I was diagnosed with CF at 3 months old, i dont suffer with Diabetes (my heart goes out too everyone that does already, as I'm sure I'm on the list too get it eventually), and I'm a pretty out going person! Until recently...
I was recently admitted too hospital, but only had one week worthof IV's, because of my veins collapsingover 10 times!Canula's defiantly are nota thing for me, haha. I'm now back in hospital, and my chest isn't doing no good. A few months ago, I could walk up a flight of stairs, run even!, and i wouldnt be breathless, but now I am, and quite badly that I have too stop for a couple of minutes too get my breathe back. I'm back admitted in hospital now, and they've fitted me with a PICC line, which is brilliant!! It is a thousand times better, than being stabbed so many times with needles and canula's! I've had 5 day's worth of IV's now, and already my chest is feeling so much better. In the past 10 years, i've been quite lucky and only been admitted4 times! But with my veins being so terrible and collapsing on me so easily and quickly, my doctor has mentioned about a portacath, which i thought was a brilliant idea, and something i'm willing too go through with. I just wanted too hear off anyone who already has a portacath.. does it hurt? what can you and cant you do? how long have yours lasted? i know someone who's had 5 in 4 years.. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0"> quite off putting!, but i'm still very willing too have one.
Thank You for taking the time too read this, and thank you so much anyone that replies! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">x
 
V

viokitty

New member
I'm 19 years old and I have a portacath. I have always had small veins and am hospitalized frequently enough to where getting an IV or PICC Line every time i was admitted was becoming a hassle. When i was probably 12 or 13 years old I got a portacath and it changed everything. It made admissions so much easier for me. After a couple years i outgrew my port and had to have it replaced, but that was only because i had gotten it at such a young age and didn't start growing until after it was in. Now that I'm older it hasn't been a problem. Having a portacath doesn't hurt much. In fact, it is nearly painless comparred to getting an IV or PICC line every admission. Getting it placed causes a bit of pain for a couple of days of course, but after the initial placing of the port, it is pain free. I am making this sound great, but i do want to also tell you about the downside of having a portacath. One thing i don't love about it is that it causes you to have a bump under your skin that can be quite noticeable at times. It is nothing compared to having a G-Tube, but it is still a bit bothersome. Especially since I'm a girl and looks are very important to a 19 year old girl. It used to be something i was very self conscious about, but I have grown to deal with it because having the port has been so helpful. Another inconvenience is flushing it often enough. It isn't too bad to have to flush it every 6 weeks, but it is very easy to forget. I have gone months without flushing it before, and although i don't recommend doing this...i didn't have any problems. In my opinion, the benefits of having a portacath out-way the inconveniences. I think it is a great thing to get if IVs and PICC lines are a problem.
 
A

agapegirl36

New member
I agree with viokitty. I have had mine for about 2 years now. I am 17 and at the time of my placement I was very, very hesitant to get the port. I just want to live a "normal" life, as I think most people want to. But I realized that this was something that would only make things easier. I hated getting PICC lines and I had a lot of trouble with them because I have small veins. Now that I have the port, it is a lot easier to access. You barely feel anything when the put the needle in. Of course, nothing is perfect. When accessed, the plastic sticks up a lot and, although it is easier to hide than one on your arm, it is still noticeable. I get mine flushed once a month, but it isn't really painful. It's mostly annoying having the nurse have to come to my house for 30 min. My port is on my upper chest so when I wear strapless things you can see the scar. It is only about an inch long and not very ugly. You can't really see the bump under my skin unless you really look. The scar is more noticeable than the port itself. It hurts a lot after the placement surgery because they have to apply it to the muscle wall on your chest. For the first couple of days, it would hurt when I coughed or moved, but the pain went away after like 2-3 days. I don't feel it at all now. I haven't had to change mine yet, but I think they last about 4-5 years. I'm not really sure on that part as I haven't had to experience it yet.
Good luck. :)
 
M

MischievousMira

New member
I had mine put in in 03, and it hasn't gotten infected once. But mine was the only one put in in my entire year that's still good. The scars are barely visible, not like my g-tube (put in at the same time) and you can't even notice the bump under my skin unless i tell people. It's soo worth it, however, in my area there are only a few people who can actually access me properly, because mine was put in before i matured, and my growth aparently loosened it, so mine floats around under my skin.
It still hurts a little but I think that's just mine, I hear that most stop hurting after a month or so, where mine's still extremely sensitive. They're supposed to be flushed every month, but I can actually tell when mine needs to be flushed, it feels tight. I usually only get mine flushed every three months.
Sorry for the disjointed babble. I'm not focusing properly today. ^-^
 
P

princess1staton

New member
15 almost 16 here and had two ports scene I got my first one when I was 7. Hearing about how some people don't need to flush it every months makes me wish I could do that, but seeing as my first one blew because it got clogged I make sure I do it every month. I'm lucky to have my grandmother who is a nurse and can do it for me. Being as I am a girl, the bump -mine being a very noticeable seeing as I am way too skinny- bothers me some, but seeing as I have a G-tube as well I got use to it. I'm not going to lie, it hurts a lot when I do it every month, but I'm happy it doesn't hurt for some of use. A port is a great help when I go to the hospital. IV's don't work with my veins and the one time they did get an IV in me, it hurt very very much.

Just breath. It really does do wonders. As for what I can and can't do. Nothing really. I still do the same things, I just got to be more aware and protective of that area my ports in. Make sure nothing slams into it. Remember it's a direct link to your heart, so you don't want that damaged or infected. Hope I helped some and message me if your ever need to talk. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 
M

magicandmeg

New member
A port is the best thing I have ever had to do with cf my veins are so messed up cause of cannulas and picc lines but I've had this port for 4 yrs and I'm still on my first one the only bad thing about it is having to get it flushed every clinic but its really quick. Hope that helps
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top