Port Questions

[letsrockcfem]

Ports are sweet!! I currently have one on the inside of my upper left arm...I have it accessed once a month and usually have to go in for IV's 1-2 times a year.

After dozens of piccs my veins were like "No More!!!" so we opted for the port and it was the best thing since. The first year or two I honestly thought about and looked at my port everyday..sounds crazy but it is a foriegn object under my skin in my arm..I am very used to it now though and get the occasional "is that a tattoo" or "kill scar" but that cool, I get to tell these people about me and CF!

I did have trouble with my first port thought..it coiled up inside of my chest and despite best efforts from angio (femural vein puncture) we just had to put a whole new port in. The coiling wasn't painful or anything but was seen on my chest x-ray and if left coiled up it could have fused to my vein and caused problems if it ever needed to come out. So we caught it very quick.

good luck and rock cf,
Em

 

[letsrockcfem]

Ports are sweet!! I currently have one on the inside of my upper left arm...I have it accessed once a month and usually have to go in for IV's 1-2 times a year.

After dozens of piccs my veins were like "No More!!!" so we opted for the port and it was the best thing since. The first year or two I honestly thought about and looked at my port everyday..sounds crazy but it is a foriegn object under my skin in my arm..I am very used to it now though and get the occasional "is that a tattoo" or "kill scar" but that cool, I get to tell these people about me and CF!

I did have trouble with my first port thought..it coiled up inside of my chest and despite best efforts from angio (femural vein puncture) we just had to put a whole new port in. The coiling wasn't painful or anything but was seen on my chest x-ray and if left coiled up it could have fused to my vein and caused problems if it ever needed to come out. So we caught it very quick.

good luck and rock cf,
Em

 

[Emily65Roses]

Okay, I have a port. I got it when I was 18 (I'm 23 now), and it still works fine. It was placed under my left boob (on top of my ribs). Here's where it is:
<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/Emily65Roses/PortFrontView10-10-05.jpg">

It was uncomfortable for a while after it got placed. The healing really sucked. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I was only on IVs about once or twice a year when I got mine. But I had problems with PICCs. I got phlebitis every single time (inflammation of the vein). The whole arm gets sore, you can actually see a bright red line up the arm exactly where the tube sat, it sucked. Plus, they couldn't leave it. So for every 2 week round of IVs I was on, I had to have at least two separate PICCs. It was SO not worth it. My doc suggested a port, and I said "yes please!"

It was one of the best CF decisions I ever made, even with the unusual placement (at the time, I didn't realize I had a choice of placement, and my surgeon thought being an 18 year old girl, I'd want it hidden, so that's why mine is where it is). It allows for so much more independence. You can learn to do it all yourself. I do almost all my IVs now, completely at home. The whole two weeks. The only time I go in is when it's a new drug and they want to monitor side effects. But my doc will just call my home IV company, set it up, and have them send me stuff. On top of that, they never need to send me a nurse (unless they're drawing blood for something), because I learned how to do my port myself. I learned how about 3 months after it was placed. And maybe 6 months after I started dating my now fiance, I taught him how as well. So we've both done it a bunch of times.

You only have to chance the needle every 7 days, but you can change it as often as you like. If you decide you're dying and you just have to have a nice full shower, you can take it out between doses, hop in, and get all squeaky clean. Then you just re-access when it's time for the next dose. If you're on vacation, and damnit, you want to swim, same idea. Take it out between meds, have a nice long swim, and then re-access it later. You can also change the dressing whenever you like. You don't have to wait for a nurse to come do it. If the thing is just driving you nuts, or you're itchy or dirty, take it off, scratch away, clean it, whatever, and put a new one on. I love love love having the freedom that came with my port that you simply do NOT get with PICCs.

Oh and one little extra note that I love... port needles are TINY. For a PICC, if I remember right, they use a pretty nasty one. But for the port, because it's going into an already very well established IV line, they use a 20 or 22 gauge. (In case that means nothing to you, gauge numbers go up as they get smaller, and regular earrings are an 18... so 1 or 2 sizes thinner than regular earrings). I myself use a 22, and I love it. It's so frickin thin.

I am still only on IVs about once or twice a year, but my port was 100% worth it. It's not for everyone, clearly. And people who have no problem with PICCs and aren't on IVs that often probably love their PICCs. But PICCs just sucked for me, so I was thrilled to get my port. Haha.

If you have any other questions, please ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

Okay, I have a port. I got it when I was 18 (I'm 23 now), and it still works fine. It was placed under my left boob (on top of my ribs). Here's where it is:
<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/Emily65Roses/PortFrontView10-10-05.jpg">

It was uncomfortable for a while after it got placed. The healing really sucked. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I was only on IVs about once or twice a year when I got mine. But I had problems with PICCs. I got phlebitis every single time (inflammation of the vein). The whole arm gets sore, you can actually see a bright red line up the arm exactly where the tube sat, it sucked. Plus, they couldn't leave it. So for every 2 week round of IVs I was on, I had to have at least two separate PICCs. It was SO not worth it. My doc suggested a port, and I said "yes please!"

It was one of the best CF decisions I ever made, even with the unusual placement (at the time, I didn't realize I had a choice of placement, and my surgeon thought being an 18 year old girl, I'd want it hidden, so that's why mine is where it is). It allows for so much more independence. You can learn to do it all yourself. I do almost all my IVs now, completely at home. The whole two weeks. The only time I go in is when it's a new drug and they want to monitor side effects. But my doc will just call my home IV company, set it up, and have them send me stuff. On top of that, they never need to send me a nurse (unless they're drawing blood for something), because I learned how to do my port myself. I learned how about 3 months after it was placed. And maybe 6 months after I started dating my now fiance, I taught him how as well. So we've both done it a bunch of times.

You only have to chance the needle every 7 days, but you can change it as often as you like. If you decide you're dying and you just have to have a nice full shower, you can take it out between doses, hop in, and get all squeaky clean. Then you just re-access when it's time for the next dose. If you're on vacation, and damnit, you want to swim, same idea. Take it out between meds, have a nice long swim, and then re-access it later. You can also change the dressing whenever you like. You don't have to wait for a nurse to come do it. If the thing is just driving you nuts, or you're itchy or dirty, take it off, scratch away, clean it, whatever, and put a new one on. I love love love having the freedom that came with my port that you simply do NOT get with PICCs.

Oh and one little extra note that I love... port needles are TINY. For a PICC, if I remember right, they use a pretty nasty one. But for the port, because it's going into an already very well established IV line, they use a 20 or 22 gauge. (In case that means nothing to you, gauge numbers go up as they get smaller, and regular earrings are an 18... so 1 or 2 sizes thinner than regular earrings). I myself use a 22, and I love it. It's so frickin thin.

I am still only on IVs about once or twice a year, but my port was 100% worth it. It's not for everyone, clearly. And people who have no problem with PICCs and aren't on IVs that often probably love their PICCs. But PICCs just sucked for me, so I was thrilled to get my port. Haha.

If you have any other questions, please ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

Okay, I have a port. I got it when I was 18 (I'm 23 now), and it still works fine. It was placed under my left boob (on top of my ribs). Here's where it is:
<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/Emily65Roses/PortFrontView10-10-05.jpg">

It was uncomfortable for a while after it got placed. The healing really sucked. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I was only on IVs about once or twice a year when I got mine. But I had problems with PICCs. I got phlebitis every single time (inflammation of the vein). The whole arm gets sore, you can actually see a bright red line up the arm exactly where the tube sat, it sucked. Plus, they couldn't leave it. So for every 2 week round of IVs I was on, I had to have at least two separate PICCs. It was SO not worth it. My doc suggested a port, and I said "yes please!"

It was one of the best CF decisions I ever made, even with the unusual placement (at the time, I didn't realize I had a choice of placement, and my surgeon thought being an 18 year old girl, I'd want it hidden, so that's why mine is where it is). It allows for so much more independence. You can learn to do it all yourself. I do almost all my IVs now, completely at home. The whole two weeks. The only time I go in is when it's a new drug and they want to monitor side effects. But my doc will just call my home IV company, set it up, and have them send me stuff. On top of that, they never need to send me a nurse (unless they're drawing blood for something), because I learned how to do my port myself. I learned how about 3 months after it was placed. And maybe 6 months after I started dating my now fiance, I taught him how as well. So we've both done it a bunch of times.

You only have to chance the needle every 7 days, but you can change it as often as you like. If you decide you're dying and you just have to have a nice full shower, you can take it out between doses, hop in, and get all squeaky clean. Then you just re-access when it's time for the next dose. If you're on vacation, and damnit, you want to swim, same idea. Take it out between meds, have a nice long swim, and then re-access it later. You can also change the dressing whenever you like. You don't have to wait for a nurse to come do it. If the thing is just driving you nuts, or you're itchy or dirty, take it off, scratch away, clean it, whatever, and put a new one on. I love love love having the freedom that came with my port that you simply do NOT get with PICCs.

Oh and one little extra note that I love... port needles are TINY. For a PICC, if I remember right, they use a pretty nasty one. But for the port, because it's going into an already very well established IV line, they use a 20 or 22 gauge. (In case that means nothing to you, gauge numbers go up as they get smaller, and regular earrings are an 18... so 1 or 2 sizes thinner than regular earrings). I myself use a 22, and I love it. It's so frickin thin.

I am still only on IVs about once or twice a year, but my port was 100% worth it. It's not for everyone, clearly. And people who have no problem with PICCs and aren't on IVs that often probably love their PICCs. But PICCs just sucked for me, so I was thrilled to get my port. Haha.

If you have any other questions, please ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

Okay, I have a port. I got it when I was 18 (I'm 23 now), and it still works fine. It was placed under my left boob (on top of my ribs). Here's where it is:
<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/Emily65Roses/PortFrontView10-10-05.jpg">

It was uncomfortable for a while after it got placed. The healing really sucked. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I was only on IVs about once or twice a year when I got mine. But I had problems with PICCs. I got phlebitis every single time (inflammation of the vein). The whole arm gets sore, you can actually see a bright red line up the arm exactly where the tube sat, it sucked. Plus, they couldn't leave it. So for every 2 week round of IVs I was on, I had to have at least two separate PICCs. It was SO not worth it. My doc suggested a port, and I said "yes please!"

It was one of the best CF decisions I ever made, even with the unusual placement (at the time, I didn't realize I had a choice of placement, and my surgeon thought being an 18 year old girl, I'd want it hidden, so that's why mine is where it is). It allows for so much more independence. You can learn to do it all yourself. I do almost all my IVs now, completely at home. The whole two weeks. The only time I go in is when it's a new drug and they want to monitor side effects. But my doc will just call my home IV company, set it up, and have them send me stuff. On top of that, they never need to send me a nurse (unless they're drawing blood for something), because I learned how to do my port myself. I learned how about 3 months after it was placed. And maybe 6 months after I started dating my now fiance, I taught him how as well. So we've both done it a bunch of times.

You only have to chance the needle every 7 days, but you can change it as often as you like. If you decide you're dying and you just have to have a nice full shower, you can take it out between doses, hop in, and get all squeaky clean. Then you just re-access when it's time for the next dose. If you're on vacation, and damnit, you want to swim, same idea. Take it out between meds, have a nice long swim, and then re-access it later. You can also change the dressing whenever you like. You don't have to wait for a nurse to come do it. If the thing is just driving you nuts, or you're itchy or dirty, take it off, scratch away, clean it, whatever, and put a new one on. I love love love having the freedom that came with my port that you simply do NOT get with PICCs.

Oh and one little extra note that I love... port needles are TINY. For a PICC, if I remember right, they use a pretty nasty one. But for the port, because it's going into an already very well established IV line, they use a 20 or 22 gauge. (In case that means nothing to you, gauge numbers go up as they get smaller, and regular earrings are an 18... so 1 or 2 sizes thinner than regular earrings). I myself use a 22, and I love it. It's so frickin thin.

I am still only on IVs about once or twice a year, but my port was 100% worth it. It's not for everyone, clearly. And people who have no problem with PICCs and aren't on IVs that often probably love their PICCs. But PICCs just sucked for me, so I was thrilled to get my port. Haha.

If you have any other questions, please ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

Okay, I have a port. I got it when I was 18 (I'm 23 now), and it still works fine. It was placed under my left boob (on top of my ribs). Here's where it is:
<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/Emily65Roses/PortFrontView10-10-05.jpg">

It was uncomfortable for a while after it got placed. The healing really sucked. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I was only on IVs about once or twice a year when I got mine. But I had problems with PICCs. I got phlebitis every single time (inflammation of the vein). The whole arm gets sore, you can actually see a bright red line up the arm exactly where the tube sat, it sucked. Plus, they couldn't leave it. So for every 2 week round of IVs I was on, I had to have at least two separate PICCs. It was SO not worth it. My doc suggested a port, and I said "yes please!"

It was one of the best CF decisions I ever made, even with the unusual placement (at the time, I didn't realize I had a choice of placement, and my surgeon thought being an 18 year old girl, I'd want it hidden, so that's why mine is where it is). It allows for so much more independence. You can learn to do it all yourself. I do almost all my IVs now, completely at home. The whole two weeks. The only time I go in is when it's a new drug and they want to monitor side effects. But my doc will just call my home IV company, set it up, and have them send me stuff. On top of that, they never need to send me a nurse (unless they're drawing blood for something), because I learned how to do my port myself. I learned how about 3 months after it was placed. And maybe 6 months after I started dating my now fiance, I taught him how as well. So we've both done it a bunch of times.

You only have to chance the needle every 7 days, but you can change it as often as you like. If you decide you're dying and you just have to have a nice full shower, you can take it out between doses, hop in, and get all squeaky clean. Then you just re-access when it's time for the next dose. If you're on vacation, and damnit, you want to swim, same idea. Take it out between meds, have a nice long swim, and then re-access it later. You can also change the dressing whenever you like. You don't have to wait for a nurse to come do it. If the thing is just driving you nuts, or you're itchy or dirty, take it off, scratch away, clean it, whatever, and put a new one on. I love love love having the freedom that came with my port that you simply do NOT get with PICCs.

Oh and one little extra note that I love... port needles are TINY. For a PICC, if I remember right, they use a pretty nasty one. But for the port, because it's going into an already very well established IV line, they use a 20 or 22 gauge. (In case that means nothing to you, gauge numbers go up as they get smaller, and regular earrings are an 18... so 1 or 2 sizes thinner than regular earrings). I myself use a 22, and I love it. It's so frickin thin.

I am still only on IVs about once or twice a year, but my port was 100% worth it. It's not for everyone, clearly. And people who have no problem with PICCs and aren't on IVs that often probably love their PICCs. But PICCs just sucked for me, so I was thrilled to get my port. Haha.

If you have any other questions, please ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

Okay, I have a port. I got it when I was 18 (I'm 23 now), and it still works fine. It was placed under my left boob (on top of my ribs). Here's where it is:
<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/Emily65Roses/PortFrontView10-10-05.jpg">

It was uncomfortable for a while after it got placed. The healing really sucked. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I was only on IVs about once or twice a year when I got mine. But I had problems with PICCs. I got phlebitis every single time (inflammation of the vein). The whole arm gets sore, you can actually see a bright red line up the arm exactly where the tube sat, it sucked. Plus, they couldn't leave it. So for every 2 week round of IVs I was on, I had to have at least two separate PICCs. It was SO not worth it. My doc suggested a port, and I said "yes please!"

It was one of the best CF decisions I ever made, even with the unusual placement (at the time, I didn't realize I had a choice of placement, and my surgeon thought being an 18 year old girl, I'd want it hidden, so that's why mine is where it is). It allows for so much more independence. You can learn to do it all yourself. I do almost all my IVs now, completely at home. The whole two weeks. The only time I go in is when it's a new drug and they want to monitor side effects. But my doc will just call my home IV company, set it up, and have them send me stuff. On top of that, they never need to send me a nurse (unless they're drawing blood for something), because I learned how to do my port myself. I learned how about 3 months after it was placed. And maybe 6 months after I started dating my now fiance, I taught him how as well. So we've both done it a bunch of times.

You only have to chance the needle every 7 days, but you can change it as often as you like. If you decide you're dying and you just have to have a nice full shower, you can take it out between doses, hop in, and get all squeaky clean. Then you just re-access when it's time for the next dose. If you're on vacation, and damnit, you want to swim, same idea. Take it out between meds, have a nice long swim, and then re-access it later. You can also change the dressing whenever you like. You don't have to wait for a nurse to come do it. If the thing is just driving you nuts, or you're itchy or dirty, take it off, scratch away, clean it, whatever, and put a new one on. I love love love having the freedom that came with my port that you simply do NOT get with PICCs.

Oh and one little extra note that I love... port needles are TINY. For a PICC, if I remember right, they use a pretty nasty one. But for the port, because it's going into an already very well established IV line, they use a 20 or 22 gauge. (In case that means nothing to you, gauge numbers go up as they get smaller, and regular earrings are an 18... so 1 or 2 sizes thinner than regular earrings). I myself use a 22, and I love it. It's so frickin thin.

I am still only on IVs about once or twice a year, but my port was 100% worth it. It's not for everyone, clearly. And people who have no problem with PICCs and aren't on IVs that often probably love their PICCs. But PICCs just sucked for me, so I was thrilled to get my port. Haha.

If you have any other questions, please ask. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[purplemartin]

My little guy has a port and we absolutely LOVE it! Medically, the port has been the best thing that has happened to us this year!

His CF doc suggested a port placement during his last hospital stay for IV's. He has had IV infusion 4 times now in his 12 months of life. No more trying to find a vein and his monthly flushing is no problem either. We just put numbing cream on an hour before home health comes and poke, flush, heparin, flush and done! No crying or hassle. Love the port!

 

[purplemartin]

My little guy has a port and we absolutely LOVE it! Medically, the port has been the best thing that has happened to us this year!

His CF doc suggested a port placement during his last hospital stay for IV's. He has had IV infusion 4 times now in his 12 months of life. No more trying to find a vein and his monthly flushing is no problem either. We just put numbing cream on an hour before home health comes and poke, flush, heparin, flush and done! No crying or hassle. Love the port!

 

[purplemartin]

My little guy has a port and we absolutely LOVE it! Medically, the port has been the best thing that has happened to us this year!

His CF doc suggested a port placement during his last hospital stay for IV's. He has had IV infusion 4 times now in his 12 months of life. No more trying to find a vein and his monthly flushing is no problem either. We just put numbing cream on an hour before home health comes and poke, flush, heparin, flush and done! No crying or hassle. Love the port!

 

[purplemartin]

My little guy has a port and we absolutely LOVE it! Medically, the port has been the best thing that has happened to us this year!

His CF doc suggested a port placement during his last hospital stay for IV's. He has had IV infusion 4 times now in his 12 months of life. No more trying to find a vein and his monthly flushing is no problem either. We just put numbing cream on an hour before home health comes and poke, flush, heparin, flush and done! No crying or hassle. Love the port!

 

[purplemartin]

My little guy has a port and we absolutely LOVE it! Medically, the port has been the best thing that has happened to us this year!

His CF doc suggested a port placement during his last hospital stay for IV's. He has had IV infusion 4 times now in his 12 months of life. No more trying to find a vein and his monthly flushing is no problem either. We just put numbing cream on an hour before home health comes and poke, flush, heparin, flush and done! No crying or hassle. Love the port!

 

[purplemartin]

My little guy has a port and we absolutely LOVE it! Medically, the port has been the best thing that has happened to us this year!

His CF doc suggested a port placement during his last hospital stay for IV's. He has had IV infusion 4 times now in his 12 months of life. No more trying to find a vein and his monthly flushing is no problem either. We just put numbing cream on an hour before home health comes and poke, flush, heparin, flush and done! No crying or hassle. Love the port!

 

[mom2lillian]

Also just fyi you can request a 'low profile port' my clinic had examples of a regular vs low profile and there is a huge difference.

I have included a picture of mine, it is very superficial so you can see the lump from it but it isnt too bad. Mine is right in the line of bathing suit straps and such so not too noticeable unless I let it be. The only bad part abotu this is when it is accessed finding the right bra can be a challenge.

The white line is the scar from it, the red line is because I just got done with my vest, the irritated red dot is from having accessed the past few days. I just took my access out today after my noon dose so I coudl take a nice long shower as Emily mentioned. Now before my night dose I will access it again.

also mine healed easily and was not aproblem but I got it at a time when I didnt need it. I had the surgery and went on a 5 hour road trip the same day so that was not a big deal for me either. I took pain meds that night and by the next day while I was sore a bit it was fine and I didnt evne need tylenol.

<img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w310/mom2lillian/DSC00587.jpg">

sorry still dont know how to get a small picture LOL

 

[mom2lillian]

Also just fyi you can request a 'low profile port' my clinic had examples of a regular vs low profile and there is a huge difference.

I have included a picture of mine, it is very superficial so you can see the lump from it but it isnt too bad. Mine is right in the line of bathing suit straps and such so not too noticeable unless I let it be. The only bad part abotu this is when it is accessed finding the right bra can be a challenge.

The white line is the scar from it, the red line is because I just got done with my vest, the irritated red dot is from having accessed the past few days. I just took my access out today after my noon dose so I coudl take a nice long shower as Emily mentioned. Now before my night dose I will access it again.

also mine healed easily and was not aproblem but I got it at a time when I didnt need it. I had the surgery and went on a 5 hour road trip the same day so that was not a big deal for me either. I took pain meds that night and by the next day while I was sore a bit it was fine and I didnt evne need tylenol.

<img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w310/mom2lillian/DSC00587.jpg">

sorry still dont know how to get a small picture LOL

 

[mom2lillian]

Also just fyi you can request a 'low profile port' my clinic had examples of a regular vs low profile and there is a huge difference.

I have included a picture of mine, it is very superficial so you can see the lump from it but it isnt too bad. Mine is right in the line of bathing suit straps and such so not too noticeable unless I let it be. The only bad part abotu this is when it is accessed finding the right bra can be a challenge.

The white line is the scar from it, the red line is because I just got done with my vest, the irritated red dot is from having accessed the past few days. I just took my access out today after my noon dose so I coudl take a nice long shower as Emily mentioned. Now before my night dose I will access it again.

also mine healed easily and was not aproblem but I got it at a time when I didnt need it. I had the surgery and went on a 5 hour road trip the same day so that was not a big deal for me either. I took pain meds that night and by the next day while I was sore a bit it was fine and I didnt evne need tylenol.

<img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w310/mom2lillian/DSC00587.jpg">

sorry still dont know how to get a small picture LOL

 

[mom2lillian]

Also just fyi you can request a 'low profile port' my clinic had examples of a regular vs low profile and there is a huge difference.

I have included a picture of mine, it is very superficial so you can see the lump from it but it isnt too bad. Mine is right in the line of bathing suit straps and such so not too noticeable unless I let it be. The only bad part abotu this is when it is accessed finding the right bra can be a challenge.

The white line is the scar from it, the red line is because I just got done with my vest, the irritated red dot is from having accessed the past few days. I just took my access out today after my noon dose so I coudl take a nice long shower as Emily mentioned. Now before my night dose I will access it again.

also mine healed easily and was not aproblem but I got it at a time when I didnt need it. I had the surgery and went on a 5 hour road trip the same day so that was not a big deal for me either. I took pain meds that night and by the next day while I was sore a bit it was fine and I didnt evne need tylenol.

<img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w310/mom2lillian/DSC00587.jpg">

sorry still dont know how to get a small picture LOL

 

[mom2lillian]

Also just fyi you can request a 'low profile port' my clinic had examples of a regular vs low profile and there is a huge difference.

I have included a picture of mine, it is very superficial so you can see the lump from it but it isnt too bad. Mine is right in the line of bathing suit straps and such so not too noticeable unless I let it be. The only bad part abotu this is when it is accessed finding the right bra can be a challenge.

The white line is the scar from it, the red line is because I just got done with my vest, the irritated red dot is from having accessed the past few days. I just took my access out today after my noon dose so I coudl take a nice long shower as Emily mentioned. Now before my night dose I will access it again.

also mine healed easily and was not aproblem but I got it at a time when I didnt need it. I had the surgery and went on a 5 hour road trip the same day so that was not a big deal for me either. I took pain meds that night and by the next day while I was sore a bit it was fine and I didnt evne need tylenol.

<img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w310/mom2lillian/DSC00587.jpg">

sorry still dont know how to get a small picture LOL

 

[mom2lillian]

Also just fyi you can request a 'low profile port' my clinic had examples of a regular vs low profile and there is a huge difference.

I have included a picture of mine, it is very superficial so you can see the lump from it but it isnt too bad. Mine is right in the line of bathing suit straps and such so not too noticeable unless I let it be. The only bad part abotu this is when it is accessed finding the right bra can be a challenge.

The white line is the scar from it, the red line is because I just got done with my vest, the irritated red dot is from having accessed the past few days. I just took my access out today after my noon dose so I coudl take a nice long shower as Emily mentioned. Now before my night dose I will access it again.

also mine healed easily and was not aproblem but I got it at a time when I didnt need it. I had the surgery and went on a 5 hour road trip the same day so that was not a big deal for me either. I took pain meds that night and by the next day while I was sore a bit it was fine and I didnt evne need tylenol.

<img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w310/mom2lillian/DSC00587.jpg">

sorry still dont know how to get a small picture LOL