Port Questions

[Wheezie]

Two words: LOVE IT!

I've had my port for about 7 years now and whenever I think about it I want to kick myself for not getting it sooner. Like a few others have mentioned, my veins were/are not in the best shape and well, here's my sob story - I would have to get a PICC line, obviously. But it had to be placed by Interventional Radiology (IR) since my veins were so hard to find, etc. Getting a PICC was like a mini-surgery every time and, without fail, with every admission it would take from 3 to 6 days before I could even get IN to IR to have the thing placed. While I waited I'd have to go through the regular old, standard IVs, which blew my veins sometimes 3 times a day (at best uncomfortable and at worst, really painful). And the IR docs were complete jerks. I cried every time I went in there - they always had the attitude like they had more important things to do. I'm not exaggerating. Anyway, what finally pushed me over the edge was when I finally had a PICC placed after waiting 5 days and, during the dressing change a few days later, the nurse broke the line!! I ended up having to get an IJ (Intra-Jugular) line placed, which was horrible.

When I got my port, I was only being admitted maybe once every couple of years - I didn't think I was "sick" enough to need a port. However it has made my life so so SO much easier. I'm not saying it's for everybody or even recommending it. But if your experiences are anything like mine, getting a port at least deserves some consideration.

 

[Wheezie]

Two words: LOVE IT!

I've had my port for about 7 years now and whenever I think about it I want to kick myself for not getting it sooner. Like a few others have mentioned, my veins were/are not in the best shape and well, here's my sob story - I would have to get a PICC line, obviously. But it had to be placed by Interventional Radiology (IR) since my veins were so hard to find, etc. Getting a PICC was like a mini-surgery every time and, without fail, with every admission it would take from 3 to 6 days before I could even get IN to IR to have the thing placed. While I waited I'd have to go through the regular old, standard IVs, which blew my veins sometimes 3 times a day (at best uncomfortable and at worst, really painful). And the IR docs were complete jerks. I cried every time I went in there - they always had the attitude like they had more important things to do. I'm not exaggerating. Anyway, what finally pushed me over the edge was when I finally had a PICC placed after waiting 5 days and, during the dressing change a few days later, the nurse broke the line!! I ended up having to get an IJ (Intra-Jugular) line placed, which was horrible.

When I got my port, I was only being admitted maybe once every couple of years - I didn't think I was "sick" enough to need a port. However it has made my life so so SO much easier. I'm not saying it's for everybody or even recommending it. But if your experiences are anything like mine, getting a port at least deserves some consideration.

 

[Wheezie]

Two words: LOVE IT!

I've had my port for about 7 years now and whenever I think about it I want to kick myself for not getting it sooner. Like a few others have mentioned, my veins were/are not in the best shape and well, here's my sob story - I would have to get a PICC line, obviously. But it had to be placed by Interventional Radiology (IR) since my veins were so hard to find, etc. Getting a PICC was like a mini-surgery every time and, without fail, with every admission it would take from 3 to 6 days before I could even get IN to IR to have the thing placed. While I waited I'd have to go through the regular old, standard IVs, which blew my veins sometimes 3 times a day (at best uncomfortable and at worst, really painful). And the IR docs were complete jerks. I cried every time I went in there - they always had the attitude like they had more important things to do. I'm not exaggerating. Anyway, what finally pushed me over the edge was when I finally had a PICC placed after waiting 5 days and, during the dressing change a few days later, the nurse broke the line!! I ended up having to get an IJ (Intra-Jugular) line placed, which was horrible.

When I got my port, I was only being admitted maybe once every couple of years - I didn't think I was "sick" enough to need a port. However it has made my life so so SO much easier. I'm not saying it's for everybody or even recommending it. But if your experiences are anything like mine, getting a port at least deserves some consideration.

 

[Wheezie]

Two words: LOVE IT!

I've had my port for about 7 years now and whenever I think about it I want to kick myself for not getting it sooner. Like a few others have mentioned, my veins were/are not in the best shape and well, here's my sob story - I would have to get a PICC line, obviously. But it had to be placed by Interventional Radiology (IR) since my veins were so hard to find, etc. Getting a PICC was like a mini-surgery every time and, without fail, with every admission it would take from 3 to 6 days before I could even get IN to IR to have the thing placed. While I waited I'd have to go through the regular old, standard IVs, which blew my veins sometimes 3 times a day (at best uncomfortable and at worst, really painful). And the IR docs were complete jerks. I cried every time I went in there - they always had the attitude like they had more important things to do. I'm not exaggerating. Anyway, what finally pushed me over the edge was when I finally had a PICC placed after waiting 5 days and, during the dressing change a few days later, the nurse broke the line!! I ended up having to get an IJ (Intra-Jugular) line placed, which was horrible.

When I got my port, I was only being admitted maybe once every couple of years - I didn't think I was "sick" enough to need a port. However it has made my life so so SO much easier. I'm not saying it's for everybody or even recommending it. But if your experiences are anything like mine, getting a port at least deserves some consideration.

 

[Wheezie]

Two words: LOVE IT!

I've had my port for about 7 years now and whenever I think about it I want to kick myself for not getting it sooner. Like a few others have mentioned, my veins were/are not in the best shape and well, here's my sob story - I would have to get a PICC line, obviously. But it had to be placed by Interventional Radiology (IR) since my veins were so hard to find, etc. Getting a PICC was like a mini-surgery every time and, without fail, with every admission it would take from 3 to 6 days before I could even get IN to IR to have the thing placed. While I waited I'd have to go through the regular old, standard IVs, which blew my veins sometimes 3 times a day (at best uncomfortable and at worst, really painful). And the IR docs were complete jerks. I cried every time I went in there - they always had the attitude like they had more important things to do. I'm not exaggerating. Anyway, what finally pushed me over the edge was when I finally had a PICC placed after waiting 5 days and, during the dressing change a few days later, the nurse broke the line!! I ended up having to get an IJ (Intra-Jugular) line placed, which was horrible.

When I got my port, I was only being admitted maybe once every couple of years - I didn't think I was "sick" enough to need a port. However it has made my life so so SO much easier. I'm not saying it's for everybody or even recommending it. But if your experiences are anything like mine, getting a port at least deserves some consideration.

 

[Wheezie]

Two words: LOVE IT!

I've had my port for about 7 years now and whenever I think about it I want to kick myself for not getting it sooner. Like a few others have mentioned, my veins were/are not in the best shape and well, here's my sob story - I would have to get a PICC line, obviously. But it had to be placed by Interventional Radiology (IR) since my veins were so hard to find, etc. Getting a PICC was like a mini-surgery every time and, without fail, with every admission it would take from 3 to 6 days before I could even get IN to IR to have the thing placed. While I waited I'd have to go through the regular old, standard IVs, which blew my veins sometimes 3 times a day (at best uncomfortable and at worst, really painful). And the IR docs were complete jerks. I cried every time I went in there - they always had the attitude like they had more important things to do. I'm not exaggerating. Anyway, what finally pushed me over the edge was when I finally had a PICC placed after waiting 5 days and, during the dressing change a few days later, the nurse broke the line!! I ended up having to get an IJ (Intra-Jugular) line placed, which was horrible.

When I got my port, I was only being admitted maybe once every couple of years - I didn't think I was "sick" enough to need a port. However it has made my life so so SO much easier. I'm not saying it's for everybody or even recommending it. But if your experiences are anything like mine, getting a port at least deserves some consideration.

 

[vmhoward]

Garran got his port placed in October of last year and we and he are so glad he did. It was a hard decision to make but a good one. He has expressed that he is much happier getting his meds at home than being in the hospital. and not having to get stuck a million times.

He has IV antibiotics every 2 months, mainly because thats when he seems to have exasperations. So we tend to schedule them before the onset.

He was getting PICC lines but his little veins were getting pretty used up and well we were running out of options. He is only 6 years old.

Another good thing about the port is the fact that he doesnt have to be in the hospital as much since we have all the equipment here that they have there. So they just send the antibiotics here and we start him up. I will start accessing his port next time around. For now we have home health come out for the access but I do the rest and take it out when he is finished with the two weeks doses.

hope this answered some Q's.

 

[vmhoward]

Garran got his port placed in October of last year and we and he are so glad he did. It was a hard decision to make but a good one. He has expressed that he is much happier getting his meds at home than being in the hospital. and not having to get stuck a million times.

He has IV antibiotics every 2 months, mainly because thats when he seems to have exasperations. So we tend to schedule them before the onset.

He was getting PICC lines but his little veins were getting pretty used up and well we were running out of options. He is only 6 years old.

Another good thing about the port is the fact that he doesnt have to be in the hospital as much since we have all the equipment here that they have there. So they just send the antibiotics here and we start him up. I will start accessing his port next time around. For now we have home health come out for the access but I do the rest and take it out when he is finished with the two weeks doses.

hope this answered some Q's.

 

[vmhoward]

Garran got his port placed in October of last year and we and he are so glad he did. It was a hard decision to make but a good one. He has expressed that he is much happier getting his meds at home than being in the hospital. and not having to get stuck a million times.

He has IV antibiotics every 2 months, mainly because thats when he seems to have exasperations. So we tend to schedule them before the onset.

He was getting PICC lines but his little veins were getting pretty used up and well we were running out of options. He is only 6 years old.

Another good thing about the port is the fact that he doesnt have to be in the hospital as much since we have all the equipment here that they have there. So they just send the antibiotics here and we start him up. I will start accessing his port next time around. For now we have home health come out for the access but I do the rest and take it out when he is finished with the two weeks doses.

hope this answered some Q's.

 

[vmhoward]

Garran got his port placed in October of last year and we and he are so glad he did. It was a hard decision to make but a good one. He has expressed that he is much happier getting his meds at home than being in the hospital. and not having to get stuck a million times.

He has IV antibiotics every 2 months, mainly because thats when he seems to have exasperations. So we tend to schedule them before the onset.

He was getting PICC lines but his little veins were getting pretty used up and well we were running out of options. He is only 6 years old.

Another good thing about the port is the fact that he doesnt have to be in the hospital as much since we have all the equipment here that they have there. So they just send the antibiotics here and we start him up. I will start accessing his port next time around. For now we have home health come out for the access but I do the rest and take it out when he is finished with the two weeks doses.

hope this answered some Q's.

 

[vmhoward]

Garran got his port placed in October of last year and we and he are so glad he did. It was a hard decision to make but a good one. He has expressed that he is much happier getting his meds at home than being in the hospital. and not having to get stuck a million times.

He has IV antibiotics every 2 months, mainly because thats when he seems to have exasperations. So we tend to schedule them before the onset.

He was getting PICC lines but his little veins were getting pretty used up and well we were running out of options. He is only 6 years old.

Another good thing about the port is the fact that he doesnt have to be in the hospital as much since we have all the equipment here that they have there. So they just send the antibiotics here and we start him up. I will start accessing his port next time around. For now we have home health come out for the access but I do the rest and take it out when he is finished with the two weeks doses.

hope this answered some Q's.

 

[vmhoward]

Garran got his port placed in October of last year and we and he are so glad he did. It was a hard decision to make but a good one. He has expressed that he is much happier getting his meds at home than being in the hospital. and not having to get stuck a million times.

He has IV antibiotics every 2 months, mainly because thats when he seems to have exasperations. So we tend to schedule them before the onset.

He was getting PICC lines but his little veins were getting pretty used up and well we were running out of options. He is only 6 years old.

Another good thing about the port is the fact that he doesnt have to be in the hospital as much since we have all the equipment here that they have there. So they just send the antibiotics here and we start him up. I will start accessing his port next time around. For now we have home health come out for the access but I do the rest and take it out when he is finished with the two weeks doses.

hope this answered some Q's.

 

[Lilith]

Add me to the "have a port" list.

What made you decide to get it? - I was freggin' sick of getting PICC lines. They hurt, and I usually ended up with phlebitis, especially if the med wasn't just the right temperature. It was rediculous. My doc actually mentioned it to me, and I jumped on the idea.

How long have you had it? - Six years.

How many times a year are you on IVs? - Lately its been every month, but during my healthy periods, about every three months. The port still has to be flushed with heparin on a monthly basis to keep the line open, but I got used to that pretty quickly.

I hope you're able to get one for yourself! Its been a lifesaver for me!

 

[Lilith]

Add me to the "have a port" list.

What made you decide to get it? - I was freggin' sick of getting PICC lines. They hurt, and I usually ended up with phlebitis, especially if the med wasn't just the right temperature. It was rediculous. My doc actually mentioned it to me, and I jumped on the idea.

How long have you had it? - Six years.

How many times a year are you on IVs? - Lately its been every month, but during my healthy periods, about every three months. The port still has to be flushed with heparin on a monthly basis to keep the line open, but I got used to that pretty quickly.

I hope you're able to get one for yourself! Its been a lifesaver for me!

 

[Lilith]

Add me to the "have a port" list.

What made you decide to get it? - I was freggin' sick of getting PICC lines. They hurt, and I usually ended up with phlebitis, especially if the med wasn't just the right temperature. It was rediculous. My doc actually mentioned it to me, and I jumped on the idea.

How long have you had it? - Six years.

How many times a year are you on IVs? - Lately its been every month, but during my healthy periods, about every three months. The port still has to be flushed with heparin on a monthly basis to keep the line open, but I got used to that pretty quickly.

I hope you're able to get one for yourself! Its been a lifesaver for me!

 

[Lilith]

Add me to the "have a port" list.

What made you decide to get it? - I was freggin' sick of getting PICC lines. They hurt, and I usually ended up with phlebitis, especially if the med wasn't just the right temperature. It was rediculous. My doc actually mentioned it to me, and I jumped on the idea.

How long have you had it? - Six years.

How many times a year are you on IVs? - Lately its been every month, but during my healthy periods, about every three months. The port still has to be flushed with heparin on a monthly basis to keep the line open, but I got used to that pretty quickly.

I hope you're able to get one for yourself! Its been a lifesaver for me!

 

[Lilith]

Add me to the "have a port" list.

What made you decide to get it? - I was freggin' sick of getting PICC lines. They hurt, and I usually ended up with phlebitis, especially if the med wasn't just the right temperature. It was rediculous. My doc actually mentioned it to me, and I jumped on the idea.

How long have you had it? - Six years.

How many times a year are you on IVs? - Lately its been every month, but during my healthy periods, about every three months. The port still has to be flushed with heparin on a monthly basis to keep the line open, but I got used to that pretty quickly.

I hope you're able to get one for yourself! Its been a lifesaver for me!

 

[Lilith]

Add me to the "have a port" list.

What made you decide to get it? - I was freggin' sick of getting PICC lines. They hurt, and I usually ended up with phlebitis, especially if the med wasn't just the right temperature. It was rediculous. My doc actually mentioned it to me, and I jumped on the idea.

How long have you had it? - Six years.

How many times a year are you on IVs? - Lately its been every month, but during my healthy periods, about every three months. The port still has to be flushed with heparin on a monthly basis to keep the line open, but I got used to that pretty quickly.

I hope you're able to get one for yourself! Its been a lifesaver for me!

 

[blindhearted]

I love my port. My doctors meantioned it to me when I was around 15 because my veins had gotten so bad. I only have one "good" vein left (we call it ol' faithful). I decided it would be a good idea to get one. I had it placed under my left boob, on my ribs. My first one lasted for 7 yrs, I got it replaced and put in the same area (like an inch over) back in 2005. When I got my first one I was on IVs about 2-3 times a year for the first few years of having it. My 2nd one I have only been on IVs once since getting it placed. I dont know how to insert pictures in the message but I attached them below.

 

[blindhearted]

I love my port. My doctors meantioned it to me when I was around 15 because my veins had gotten so bad. I only have one "good" vein left (we call it ol' faithful). I decided it would be a good idea to get one. I had it placed under my left boob, on my ribs. My first one lasted for 7 yrs, I got it replaced and put in the same area (like an inch over) back in 2005. When I got my first one I was on IVs about 2-3 times a year for the first few years of having it. My 2nd one I have only been on IVs once since getting it placed. I dont know how to insert pictures in the message but I attached them below.