Ports and ABX

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

well ive only had my port since september, I got my port in the middle of iv routine so i was accessed from day 1.

I experience no irritation from the abx, sometimes though after the dressing changes (like with piccs)the actual insertion site will be slightly stingy w/ movement from the alcohol. But i dont have any problems with tegerderms really, just makes the skin itchy and dry of course, but no rashes.

As for showering, I tend to bath with a picc or port, i have yet to get the big huge tegerderms for home, but while in the hospital I would cover my port (already dressed and everything) with a gauze pad, then take the huge tegerderms and cover everything, the gauze helps the big tegerderm to not stick to the actual port dressing. That is my favorite way to shower, but otherwise I kinda do plastic wrap sometimse, sometimes just a washrag over the site to make sure it doesnt get wet (for bathing!)

So far I really like my port

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

well ive only had my port since september, I got my port in the middle of iv routine so i was accessed from day 1.

I experience no irritation from the abx, sometimes though after the dressing changes (like with piccs)the actual insertion site will be slightly stingy w/ movement from the alcohol. But i dont have any problems with tegerderms really, just makes the skin itchy and dry of course, but no rashes.

As for showering, I tend to bath with a picc or port, i have yet to get the big huge tegerderms for home, but while in the hospital I would cover my port (already dressed and everything) with a gauze pad, then take the huge tegerderms and cover everything, the gauze helps the big tegerderm to not stick to the actual port dressing. That is my favorite way to shower, but otherwise I kinda do plastic wrap sometimse, sometimes just a washrag over the site to make sure it doesnt get wet (for bathing!)

So far I really like my port

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

well ive only had my port since september, I got my port in the middle of iv routine so i was accessed from day 1.

I experience no irritation from the abx, sometimes though after the dressing changes (like with piccs)the actual insertion site will be slightly stingy w/ movement from the alcohol. But i dont have any problems with tegerderms really, just makes the skin itchy and dry of course, but no rashes.

As for showering, I tend to bath with a picc or port, i have yet to get the big huge tegerderms for home, but while in the hospital I would cover my port (already dressed and everything) with a gauze pad, then take the huge tegerderms and cover everything, the gauze helps the big tegerderm to not stick to the actual port dressing. That is my favorite way to shower, but otherwise I kinda do plastic wrap sometimse, sometimes just a washrag over the site to make sure it doesnt get wet (for bathing!)

So far I really like my port

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

well ive only had my port since september, I got my port in the middle of iv routine so i was accessed from day 1.

I experience no irritation from the abx, sometimes though after the dressing changes (like with piccs)the actual insertion site will be slightly stingy w/ movement from the alcohol. But i dont have any problems with tegerderms really, just makes the skin itchy and dry of course, but no rashes.

As for showering, I tend to bath with a picc or port, i have yet to get the big huge tegerderms for home, but while in the hospital I would cover my port (already dressed and everything) with a gauze pad, then take the huge tegerderms and cover everything, the gauze helps the big tegerderm to not stick to the actual port dressing. That is my favorite way to shower, but otherwise I kinda do plastic wrap sometimse, sometimes just a washrag over the site to make sure it doesnt get wet (for bathing!)

So far I really like my port

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

well ive only had my port since september, I got my port in the middle of iv routine so i was accessed from day 1.
 
 I experience no irritation from the abx, sometimes though after the dressing changes (like with piccs)the actual insertion site will be slightly stingy w/ movement from the alcohol. But i dont have any problems with tegerderms really, just makes the skin itchy and dry of course, but no rashes.
 
 As for showering, I tend to bath with a picc or port, i have yet to get the big huge tegerderms for home, but while in the hospital I would cover my port (already dressed and everything) with a gauze pad, then take the huge tegerderms and cover everything, the gauze helps the big tegerderm to not stick to the actual port dressing. That is my favorite way to shower, but otherwise I kinda do plastic wrap sometimse, sometimes just a washrag over the site to make sure it doesnt get wet (for bathing!)
 
 So far I really like my port

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

oh, they can hurt (i hear) when the nurse (or you) do not get then needle in the port, then when you flush the fluid goes into the tissue around the port and will sting and burn.... never had that happen, but I have an awesome home nurse.

most nurses should check for blood return as soon as they place the needle, b/c typically if none, then it means they missed.

my port acts very finicky with blood draws though, it seems to be mostly positional but in case you wonder (b/c i did) why it might not be returning blood so soon (in my case) it never really stuck. I was really upset thinking after 2-3 weeks my port wouldn draw blood, but sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt.

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

oh, they can hurt (i hear) when the nurse (or you) do not get then needle in the port, then when you flush the fluid goes into the tissue around the port and will sting and burn.... never had that happen, but I have an awesome home nurse.

most nurses should check for blood return as soon as they place the needle, b/c typically if none, then it means they missed.

my port acts very finicky with blood draws though, it seems to be mostly positional but in case you wonder (b/c i did) why it might not be returning blood so soon (in my case) it never really stuck. I was really upset thinking after 2-3 weeks my port wouldn draw blood, but sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt.

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

oh, they can hurt (i hear) when the nurse (or you) do not get then needle in the port, then when you flush the fluid goes into the tissue around the port and will sting and burn.... never had that happen, but I have an awesome home nurse.

most nurses should check for blood return as soon as they place the needle, b/c typically if none, then it means they missed.

my port acts very finicky with blood draws though, it seems to be mostly positional but in case you wonder (b/c i did) why it might not be returning blood so soon (in my case) it never really stuck. I was really upset thinking after 2-3 weeks my port wouldn draw blood, but sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt.

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

oh, they can hurt (i hear) when the nurse (or you) do not get then needle in the port, then when you flush the fluid goes into the tissue around the port and will sting and burn.... never had that happen, but I have an awesome home nurse.

most nurses should check for blood return as soon as they place the needle, b/c typically if none, then it means they missed.

my port acts very finicky with blood draws though, it seems to be mostly positional but in case you wonder (b/c i did) why it might not be returning blood so soon (in my case) it never really stuck. I was really upset thinking after 2-3 weeks my port wouldn draw blood, but sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt.

theLostMiler · Dec 29, 2009

oh, they can hurt (i hear) when the nurse (or you) do not get then needle in the port, then when you flush the fluid goes into the tissue around the port and will sting and burn.... never had that happen, but I have an awesome home nurse.
 
 most nurses should check for blood return as soon as they place the needle, b/c typically if none, then it means they missed.
 
 my port acts very finicky with blood draws though, it seems to be mostly positional but in case you wonder (b/c i did) why it might not be returning blood so soon (in my case) it never really stuck. I was really upset thinking after 2-3 weeks my port wouldn draw blood, but sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt.

Lex · Dec 29, 2009