PICC vs Port

[jodijp]

Hi everyone! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

I'm pretty new to the forum and haven't officially introduced myself but I plan to start my blog soon. This is my first thread start, yeah! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Ok, so I still have a PICC inserted every time I need IVs. I didn't even start needing them until 1998 and probably have had a dozen+ PICCs. My Doc has now mentioned that maybe it's time for a port.

I'm conflicted - I feel like if I get a port, I have crossed an imaginary line that cements me further into my CF. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in any kind of denial and I know the time would come sooner or later. It's just so permanent and a ' no turning back now' event for me. Not sure what I want to do. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

For those who have a port, please tell me the pros & cons, other than having the PICC inserted and pulled out every time. Is your port in your arm or chest - one better than the other? How hard is it to flush & maintain? Anyone ever regret getting a port?

Help - any insight is very much appreciated! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Thanks.

 

[jodijp]

Hi everyone! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

I'm pretty new to the forum and haven't officially introduced myself but I plan to start my blog soon. This is my first thread start, yeah! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Ok, so I still have a PICC inserted every time I need IVs. I didn't even start needing them until 1998 and probably have had a dozen+ PICCs. My Doc has now mentioned that maybe it's time for a port.

I'm conflicted - I feel like if I get a port, I have crossed an imaginary line that cements me further into my CF. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in any kind of denial and I know the time would come sooner or later. It's just so permanent and a ' no turning back now' event for me. Not sure what I want to do. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

For those who have a port, please tell me the pros & cons, other than having the PICC inserted and pulled out every time. Is your port in your arm or chest - one better than the other? How hard is it to flush & maintain? Anyone ever regret getting a port?

Help - any insight is very much appreciated! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Thanks.

 

[jodijp]

Hi everyone! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

I'm pretty new to the forum and haven't officially introduced myself but I plan to start my blog soon. This is my first thread start, yeah! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Ok, so I still have a PICC inserted every time I need IVs. I didn't even start needing them until 1998 and probably have had a dozen+ PICCs. My Doc has now mentioned that maybe it's time for a port.

I'm conflicted - I feel like if I get a port, I have crossed an imaginary line that cements me further into my CF. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in any kind of denial and I know the time would come sooner or later. It's just so permanent and a ' no turning back now' event for me. Not sure what I want to do. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

For those who have a port, please tell me the pros & cons, other than having the PICC inserted and pulled out every time. Is your port in your arm or chest - one better than the other? How hard is it to flush & maintain? Anyone ever regret getting a port?

Help - any insight is very much appreciated! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Thanks.

 

[jodijp]

Hi everyone! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

I'm pretty new to the forum and haven't officially introduced myself but I plan to start my blog soon. This is my first thread start, yeah! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Ok, so I still have a PICC inserted every time I need IVs. I didn't even start needing them until 1998 and probably have had a dozen+ PICCs. My Doc has now mentioned that maybe it's time for a port.

I'm conflicted - I feel like if I get a port, I have crossed an imaginary line that cements me further into my CF. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in any kind of denial and I know the time would come sooner or later. It's just so permanent and a ' no turning back now' event for me. Not sure what I want to do. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

For those who have a port, please tell me the pros & cons, other than having the PICC inserted and pulled out every time. Is your port in your arm or chest - one better than the other? How hard is it to flush & maintain? Anyone ever regret getting a port?

Help - any insight is very much appreciated! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Thanks.

 

[jodijp]

Hi everyone! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

I'm pretty new to the forum and haven't officially introduced myself but I plan to start my blog soon. This is my first thread start, yeah! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Ok, so I still have a PICC inserted every time I need IVs. I didn't even start needing them until 1998 and probably have had a dozen+ PICCs. My Doc has now mentioned that maybe it's time for a port.

I'm conflicted - I feel like if I get a port, I have crossed an imaginary line that cements me further into my CF. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in any kind of denial and I know the time would come sooner or later. It's just so permanent and a ' no turning back now' event for me. Not sure what I want to do. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

For those who have a port, please tell me the pros & cons, other than having the PICC inserted and pulled out every time. Is your port in your arm or chest - one better than the other? How hard is it to flush & maintain? Anyone ever regret getting a port?

Help - any insight is very much appreciated! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Thanks.

 

[blondelawyer]

My husband got a port a couple of years ago and LOVES it! He says that is SO much better than a picc. His is in his chest. If he isn't doing IVs he just has to flush it once a month. He does it by himself. He doesn't like accessing it--but he didn't like having a picc placed either. He likes having the port so much more.

One of the big reasons that he prefers the port is that he doesn't even have to step foot inside a hospital to get started on IVs. He just calls the doc and home health delivers the meds and he is ready to go.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[blondelawyer]

My husband got a port a couple of years ago and LOVES it! He says that is SO much better than a picc. His is in his chest. If he isn't doing IVs he just has to flush it once a month. He does it by himself. He doesn't like accessing it--but he didn't like having a picc placed either. He likes having the port so much more.

One of the big reasons that he prefers the port is that he doesn't even have to step foot inside a hospital to get started on IVs. He just calls the doc and home health delivers the meds and he is ready to go.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[blondelawyer]

My husband got a port a couple of years ago and LOVES it! He says that is SO much better than a picc. His is in his chest. If he isn't doing IVs he just has to flush it once a month. He does it by himself. He doesn't like accessing it--but he didn't like having a picc placed either. He likes having the port so much more.

One of the big reasons that he prefers the port is that he doesn't even have to step foot inside a hospital to get started on IVs. He just calls the doc and home health delivers the meds and he is ready to go.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[blondelawyer]

My husband got a port a couple of years ago and LOVES it! He says that is SO much better than a picc. His is in his chest. If he isn't doing IVs he just has to flush it once a month. He does it by himself. He doesn't like accessing it--but he didn't like having a picc placed either. He likes having the port so much more.

One of the big reasons that he prefers the port is that he doesn't even have to step foot inside a hospital to get started on IVs. He just calls the doc and home health delivers the meds and he is ready to go.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[blondelawyer]

My husband got a port a couple of years ago and LOVES it! He says that is SO much better than a picc. His is in his chest. If he isn't doing IVs he just has to flush it once a month. He does it by himself. He doesn't like accessing it--but he didn't like having a picc placed either. He likes having the port so much more.

One of the big reasons that he prefers the port is that he doesn't even have to step foot inside a hospital to get started on IVs. He just calls the doc and home health delivers the meds and he is ready to go.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Rokiss12]

ive been thinking about asking about a port too, and i was wondering, how traumatizing was the surgery to get it in?/what was the recovery time? how risky is it?

 

[Rokiss12]

ive been thinking about asking about a port too, and i was wondering, how traumatizing was the surgery to get it in?/what was the recovery time? how risky is it?

 

[Rokiss12]

ive been thinking about asking about a port too, and i was wondering, how traumatizing was the surgery to get it in?/what was the recovery time? how risky is it?

 

[Rokiss12]

ive been thinking about asking about a port too, and i was wondering, how traumatizing was the surgery to get it in?/what was the recovery time? how risky is it?

 

[Rokiss12]

ive been thinking about asking about a port too, and i was wondering, how traumatizing was the surgery to get it in?/what was the recovery time? how risky is it?

 

[rotandroll]

Jodi, I understand your concerns and don't think it's weird at all. Luckily if you do decide to get a port you can always have it removed if you hate it. Really, though, I doubt you will hate it. I've had ports for the last twelve years and they are absolutely amazing. They help homecare move along easier, they are much easier to access than putting in a PICC. What's cool too is that a lot of surgeons understand the cosmetic wants of a patient and they will likely give you a small one. You have a variety of locations to choose from. It will become your best friend... and in no way is getting one fessing up to getting worse. It's just something you can do to facilitate and simplify your care.

The surgery is simple and the recovery time isn't bad. There's definitely tenderness and soreness around the site (I've had ports in both my chest and my arm) but it's not really bad at all. When I had a new port put in in January I was awake throughout the surgery.

I would encourage you to get one (both of you). If you still have good veins for IVs and PICCs maybe you should choose to put off getting a port. That was not an option I had (I'm a hard stick) and when I got my first port at age 12 I remember freaking out and hating it (the bump, the scar) after the dressing came off. Today, and for as long as I've them I love my port and can't imagine life without one.

 

[rotandroll]

Jodi, I understand your concerns and don't think it's weird at all. Luckily if you do decide to get a port you can always have it removed if you hate it. Really, though, I doubt you will hate it. I've had ports for the last twelve years and they are absolutely amazing. They help homecare move along easier, they are much easier to access than putting in a PICC. What's cool too is that a lot of surgeons understand the cosmetic wants of a patient and they will likely give you a small one. You have a variety of locations to choose from. It will become your best friend... and in no way is getting one fessing up to getting worse. It's just something you can do to facilitate and simplify your care.

The surgery is simple and the recovery time isn't bad. There's definitely tenderness and soreness around the site (I've had ports in both my chest and my arm) but it's not really bad at all. When I had a new port put in in January I was awake throughout the surgery.

I would encourage you to get one (both of you). If you still have good veins for IVs and PICCs maybe you should choose to put off getting a port. That was not an option I had (I'm a hard stick) and when I got my first port at age 12 I remember freaking out and hating it (the bump, the scar) after the dressing came off. Today, and for as long as I've them I love my port and can't imagine life without one.

 

[rotandroll]

Jodi, I understand your concerns and don't think it's weird at all. Luckily if you do decide to get a port you can always have it removed if you hate it. Really, though, I doubt you will hate it. I've had ports for the last twelve years and they are absolutely amazing. They help homecare move along easier, they are much easier to access than putting in a PICC. What's cool too is that a lot of surgeons understand the cosmetic wants of a patient and they will likely give you a small one. You have a variety of locations to choose from. It will become your best friend... and in no way is getting one fessing up to getting worse. It's just something you can do to facilitate and simplify your care.

The surgery is simple and the recovery time isn't bad. There's definitely tenderness and soreness around the site (I've had ports in both my chest and my arm) but it's not really bad at all. When I had a new port put in in January I was awake throughout the surgery.

I would encourage you to get one (both of you). If you still have good veins for IVs and PICCs maybe you should choose to put off getting a port. That was not an option I had (I'm a hard stick) and when I got my first port at age 12 I remember freaking out and hating it (the bump, the scar) after the dressing came off. Today, and for as long as I've them I love my port and can't imagine life without one.

 

[rotandroll]

Jodi, I understand your concerns and don't think it's weird at all. Luckily if you do decide to get a port you can always have it removed if you hate it. Really, though, I doubt you will hate it. I've had ports for the last twelve years and they are absolutely amazing. They help homecare move along easier, they are much easier to access than putting in a PICC. What's cool too is that a lot of surgeons understand the cosmetic wants of a patient and they will likely give you a small one. You have a variety of locations to choose from. It will become your best friend... and in no way is getting one fessing up to getting worse. It's just something you can do to facilitate and simplify your care.

The surgery is simple and the recovery time isn't bad. There's definitely tenderness and soreness around the site (I've had ports in both my chest and my arm) but it's not really bad at all. When I had a new port put in in January I was awake throughout the surgery.

I would encourage you to get one (both of you). If you still have good veins for IVs and PICCs maybe you should choose to put off getting a port. That was not an option I had (I'm a hard stick) and when I got my first port at age 12 I remember freaking out and hating it (the bump, the scar) after the dressing came off. Today, and for as long as I've them I love my port and can't imagine life without one.

 

[rotandroll]

Jodi, I understand your concerns and don't think it's weird at all. Luckily if you do decide to get a port you can always have it removed if you hate it. Really, though, I doubt you will hate it. I've had ports for the last twelve years and they are absolutely amazing. They help homecare move along easier, they are much easier to access than putting in a PICC. What's cool too is that a lot of surgeons understand the cosmetic wants of a patient and they will likely give you a small one. You have a variety of locations to choose from. It will become your best friend... and in no way is getting one fessing up to getting worse. It's just something you can do to facilitate and simplify your care.

The surgery is simple and the recovery time isn't bad. There's definitely tenderness and soreness around the site (I've had ports in both my chest and my arm) but it's not really bad at all. When I had a new port put in in January I was awake throughout the surgery.

I would encourage you to get one (both of you). If you still have good veins for IVs and PICCs maybe you should choose to put off getting a port. That was not an option I had (I'm a hard stick) and when I got my first port at age 12 I remember freaking out and hating it (the bump, the scar) after the dressing came off. Today, and for as long as I've them I love my port and can't imagine life without one.