IV time, again! First time with the port

M

MCGrad2006

Guest
On the plus side, I can do it all from home and hopefully miss little to no work. On the down side...well...I don't know how I feel about the port. I can barely look at the port when the nurse comes to do monthly flushes. How am I going to do a whole two weeks accessed?! I am happy that it has been six months...in between my last two hospitalizations it was only 5 months. I was hoping to go 8-10 months, but I guess I will have to take 6 months for now. I am thankful for the port and happy I will not have to go in house, at least for right now. Please say a prayer that this works for me, I will be on Ceftaz, Tobra and Vanc (the usual cocktails)...and I am also starting Cayston on Monday. Since my doctors visit 3 weeks ago (had low PFT's) I was on Zyvox for two weeks and Levaquin. Since I started the levaquin, I have been coughing more, so I know its time for something better. Wish me luck! <img title="Cool" src="include/wysiwyg/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" />

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
M

MCGrad2006

Guest
On the plus side, I can do it all from home and hopefully miss little to no work. On the down side...well...I don't know how I feel about the port. I can barely look at the port when the nurse comes to do monthly flushes. How am I going to do a whole two weeks accessed?! I am happy that it has been six months...in between my last two hospitalizations it was only 5 months. I was hoping to go 8-10 months, but I guess I will have to take 6 months for now. I am thankful for the port and happy I will not have to go in house, at least for right now. Please say a prayer that this works for me, I will be on Ceftaz, Tobra and Vanc (the usual cocktails)...and I am also starting Cayston on Monday. Since my doctors visit 3 weeks ago (had low PFT's) I was on Zyvox for two weeks and Levaquin. Since I started the levaquin, I have been coughing more, so I know its time for something better. Wish me luck! <img title="Cool" src="include/wysiwyg/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" />

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
B

beleache

New member
Hey Caitlin,
Sorry you are on IV's again <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I hope the meds have you feeling better very soon! I know the port takes some getting used to & I hope like me you will end up loving it!
{{{{{hugs}}}}} to you. Feel better <3 joni
 
B

beleache

New member
Hey Caitlin,
Sorry you are on IV's again <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I hope the meds have you feeling better very soon! I know the port takes some getting used to & I hope like me you will end up loving it!
{{{{{hugs}}}}} to you. Feel better <3 joni
 
J

JustDucky

New member
It does take some getting used to, but you will adjust.. You will find that it will be much easier to deal with than a PICC. I hope that the IV"s do their job and you feel better soon! If you have any specific issues, give a shout and someone from the elite port club can help you out. Hang in there, thinking of you

Jenn 40 w/CF
 
J

JustDucky

New member
It does take some getting used to, but you will adjust.. You will find that it will be much easier to deal with than a PICC. I hope that the IV"s do their job and you feel better soon! If you have any specific issues, give a shout and someone from the elite port club can help you out. Hang in there, thinking of you

Jenn 40 w/CF
 
K

katethekid

Guest
It's a different feeling, but you will get used to it. Definitely better than picc lines or the other options. You will get more comfortable with it each time it's accessed. Hope you start feeling better soon <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
K

katethekid

Guest
It's a different feeling, but you will get used to it. Definitely better than picc lines or the other options. You will get more comfortable with it each time it's accessed. Hope you start feeling better soon <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
M

MCGrad2006

Guest
Thanks guys! I did think of one question...how the heck do you shower?? I showered this morning, but I feel like I taped up my whole chest. And it didn't do a good job. Anything specific you use? Are there special covers like there are for PICCs?

I do love it so far. I was able to start up right away, not have to wait a few days for a bed/PICC placement in house. And I can still work.
 
M

MCGrad2006

Guest
Thanks guys! I did think of one question...how the heck do you shower?? I showered this morning, but I feel like I taped up my whole chest. And it didn't do a good job. Anything specific you use? Are there special covers like there are for PICCs?

I do love it so far. I was able to start up right away, not have to wait a few days for a bed/PICC placement in house. And I can still work.
 
T

Tisha

New member
I am also on home treatment now, with my port!
I use 3M Tegaderm and similar: that usually lasts 2-3 days (I coordinate to wash my hair the day I'm planning on changing the sticker, on the other days I just take a short shower). When it starts peeling off, I just remove the plastic sticker sheet (note: do cover the needle with a gauze or similar, if the dressing sticks to the needle mechanism it's really annoying to get it off), clean up with clorhexidine/iodine, put a clean gauze on and a new Tegaderm. It's easier if you have an extra pair of hands, because in front of the mirror, and on the upper chest, it's tricky to do it yourself (but I manage).
Hope that makes sense, otherwise ask me for clarification!

Cheers for the inventor of ports, life is so much easier with one!
 
T

Tisha

New member
I am also on home treatment now, with my port!
I use 3M Tegaderm and similar: that usually lasts 2-3 days (I coordinate to wash my hair the day I'm planning on changing the sticker, on the other days I just take a short shower). When it starts peeling off, I just remove the plastic sticker sheet (note: do cover the needle with a gauze or similar, if the dressing sticks to the needle mechanism it's really annoying to get it off), clean up with clorhexidine/iodine, put a clean gauze on and a new Tegaderm. It's easier if you have an extra pair of hands, because in front of the mirror, and on the upper chest, it's tricky to do it yourself (but I manage).
Hope that makes sense, otherwise ask me for clarification!

Cheers for the inventor of ports, life is so much easier with one!
 
B

beleache

New member
Yeah,
The shower thing is a little tricky.. I just use a baggie , sometimes i stuff the line into the baggie & zip it shut then flip it up over the port needle , then tape it. Most times it isnt great & I think once my dressing had to be changed , but that was only once out of many times.
Maybe someone else will have a better way to do it.. Glad you are likiin' your port ..
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> joni
 
B

beleache

New member
Yeah,
The shower thing is a little tricky.. I just use a baggie , sometimes i stuff the line into the baggie & zip it shut then flip it up over the port needle , then tape it. Most times it isnt great & I think once my dressing had to be changed , but that was only once out of many times.
Maybe someone else will have a better way to do it.. Glad you are likiin' your port ..
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> joni
 
C

CrisDopher

New member
Overall, I think you'll find the port a great deal easier to manage in the long term and quite a lot easier when starting and stopping IVs!

Showering is a chore no matter how you're accessed. I'm assuming your port is in your upper chest area, like mine. You can get what are aqua-guards from your home healthcare agency (delivered with your IV supplies). These aren't perfect, but they're a start, as they're big enough to cover an accessed port (coil up the 8" of tubing) and have sticky edges to adhere to your skin. That, too, is an acquired skill, but you pick it up soon enough.

However, they are flat and the human body is....not. This leaves gaps and wrinkles in the aquaguard when applied. Pinch those shut. You want the best full seal you can get. THEN on top of that, use duct tape. This not only helps secure the aquaguard better to the skin, but also resists coming off as you move around better than the aqauguard's own sticky. Basically, I use the aquaguard's sticky only long enough to go over the edges with duct tape.

Do not be frugal with the duct tape. This is your primary water seal at the edges. Even so, you will need to move carefully in the shower - avoid using the arm on that side. Your skin is, after all, oily - and even the best tape adhesives will easily come unstuck.

I now have a system where I use 5 eight inch pieces of duct tape and end up going over the square of the aquaguard in an almost perfect pentagram. Next time I'm accessed, I'll try to take pictures and post them on this forum.
 
C

CrisDopher

New member
Overall, I think you'll find the port a great deal easier to manage in the long term and quite a lot easier when starting and stopping IVs!

Showering is a chore no matter how you're accessed. I'm assuming your port is in your upper chest area, like mine. You can get what are aqua-guards from your home healthcare agency (delivered with your IV supplies). These aren't perfect, but they're a start, as they're big enough to cover an accessed port (coil up the 8" of tubing) and have sticky edges to adhere to your skin. That, too, is an acquired skill, but you pick it up soon enough.

However, they are flat and the human body is....not. This leaves gaps and wrinkles in the aquaguard when applied. Pinch those shut. You want the best full seal you can get. THEN on top of that, use duct tape. This not only helps secure the aquaguard better to the skin, but also resists coming off as you move around better than the aqauguard's own sticky. Basically, I use the aquaguard's sticky only long enough to go over the edges with duct tape.

Do not be frugal with the duct tape. This is your primary water seal at the edges. Even so, you will need to move carefully in the shower - avoid using the arm on that side. Your skin is, after all, oily - and even the best tape adhesives will easily come unstuck.

I now have a system where I use 5 eight inch pieces of duct tape and end up going over the square of the aquaguard in an almost perfect pentagram. Next time I'm accessed, I'll try to take pictures and post them on this forum.
 
J

JustDucky

New member
As far as showering, I use saran wrap and a generous amount of tape on all corners, but I also purchased a hand held shower which helped tremendously! That way I can direct the stream anywhere I want and away from the dressing.
This system has worked well for the years I have had the port....but you will find out what works best for you!
Good luck!
Jenn 40 w/CF
 
J

JustDucky

New member
As far as showering, I use saran wrap and a generous amount of tape on all corners, but I also purchased a hand held shower which helped tremendously! That way I can direct the stream anywhere I want and away from the dressing.
This system has worked well for the years I have had the port....but you will find out what works best for you!
Good luck!
Jenn 40 w/CF
 
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