Mar, I do her flushes myself now. For the first few months, I had a home health nurse come to our house and teach me to do them, and to do the needle changes, etc. Even if you would rather not do it, you should be able to get home health services, check with your Dr and see. Also, not sure if this would help, but another large group with ports is cancer patients. You could ask your Dr/Nurse to check with the closest oncology clinic for the protocol they use for ports.
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Ports and doing IV meds at home
- Thread starter Mar
- Start date
K
Keepercjr
Guest
Mar
My husband was trained to access my port so he is the one who does it. The home health care nurse trained him. I haven't needed IVs in over 6 years now but I did them at home when I did need them.
Even if the nurses are not familiar with CF I'm sure there are people with ports in Hawaii getting cancer treatment and the like. And the nurses must follow the doctors orders when it comes to things like unhooking lines, etc. I would have your doctor write an order that she is to be unhooked between meds. They can even just flush it with saline, unhook the line and then rehook it when it is time for the next dose. My local (non CF) hospital no longer uses heparin flushes.
You will need to speak up for your daughter and politely but firmly tell her doctor that this is not acceptable and she needs to be unhooked between meds. And also tell him that you want to do her IVs at home and that you are more than willing to learn how to do it (including accessing and deaccessing her port). If the doctor says no, ask why and ask for data to back it up.
My husband was trained to access my port so he is the one who does it. The home health care nurse trained him. I haven't needed IVs in over 6 years now but I did them at home when I did need them.
Even if the nurses are not familiar with CF I'm sure there are people with ports in Hawaii getting cancer treatment and the like. And the nurses must follow the doctors orders when it comes to things like unhooking lines, etc. I would have your doctor write an order that she is to be unhooked between meds. They can even just flush it with saline, unhook the line and then rehook it when it is time for the next dose. My local (non CF) hospital no longer uses heparin flushes.
You will need to speak up for your daughter and politely but firmly tell her doctor that this is not acceptable and she needs to be unhooked between meds. And also tell him that you want to do her IVs at home and that you are more than willing to learn how to do it (including accessing and deaccessing her port). If the doctor says no, ask why and ask for data to back it up.
K
Keepercjr
Guest
Mar
My husband was trained to access my port so he is the one who does it. The home health care nurse trained him. I haven't needed IVs in over 6 years now but I did them at home when I did need them.
Even if the nurses are not familiar with CF I'm sure there are people with ports in Hawaii getting cancer treatment and the like. And the nurses must follow the doctors orders when it comes to things like unhooking lines, etc. I would have your doctor write an order that she is to be unhooked between meds. They can even just flush it with saline, unhook the line and then rehook it when it is time for the next dose. My local (non CF) hospital no longer uses heparin flushes.
You will need to speak up for your daughter and politely but firmly tell her doctor that this is not acceptable and she needs to be unhooked between meds. And also tell him that you want to do her IVs at home and that you are more than willing to learn how to do it (including accessing and deaccessing her port). If the doctor says no, ask why and ask for data to back it up.
My husband was trained to access my port so he is the one who does it. The home health care nurse trained him. I haven't needed IVs in over 6 years now but I did them at home when I did need them.
Even if the nurses are not familiar with CF I'm sure there are people with ports in Hawaii getting cancer treatment and the like. And the nurses must follow the doctors orders when it comes to things like unhooking lines, etc. I would have your doctor write an order that she is to be unhooked between meds. They can even just flush it with saline, unhook the line and then rehook it when it is time for the next dose. My local (non CF) hospital no longer uses heparin flushes.
You will need to speak up for your daughter and politely but firmly tell her doctor that this is not acceptable and she needs to be unhooked between meds. And also tell him that you want to do her IVs at home and that you are more than willing to learn how to do it (including accessing and deaccessing her port). If the doctor says no, ask why and ask for data to back it up.
K
Keepercjr
Guest
Mar
<br />
<br />My husband was trained to access my port so he is the one who does it. The home health care nurse trained him. I haven't needed IVs in over 6 years now but I did them at home when I did need them.
<br />
<br />Even if the nurses are not familiar with CF I'm sure there are people with ports in Hawaii getting cancer treatment and the like. And the nurses must follow the doctors orders when it comes to things like unhooking lines, etc. I would have your doctor write an order that she is to be unhooked between meds. They can even just flush it with saline, unhook the line and then rehook it when it is time for the next dose. My local (non CF) hospital no longer uses heparin flushes.
<br />
<br />You will need to speak up for your daughter and politely but firmly tell her doctor that this is not acceptable and she needs to be unhooked between meds. And also tell him that you want to do her IVs at home and that you are more than willing to learn how to do it (including accessing and deaccessing her port). If the doctor says no, ask why and ask for data to back it up.
<br />
<br />My husband was trained to access my port so he is the one who does it. The home health care nurse trained him. I haven't needed IVs in over 6 years now but I did them at home when I did need them.
<br />
<br />Even if the nurses are not familiar with CF I'm sure there are people with ports in Hawaii getting cancer treatment and the like. And the nurses must follow the doctors orders when it comes to things like unhooking lines, etc. I would have your doctor write an order that she is to be unhooked between meds. They can even just flush it with saline, unhook the line and then rehook it when it is time for the next dose. My local (non CF) hospital no longer uses heparin flushes.
<br />
<br />You will need to speak up for your daughter and politely but firmly tell her doctor that this is not acceptable and she needs to be unhooked between meds. And also tell him that you want to do her IVs at home and that you are more than willing to learn how to do it (including accessing and deaccessing her port). If the doctor says no, ask why and ask for data to back it up.
Thank you again everyone for your great input and suggestions. Caroline, it is awesome that you have not needed IV meds for six years. Can I ask you how you stay so healthy? Also, is that a new thing, not using heparin for flushes? Is it better for people getting frequent IV treatment? Wonderful to hear from all of you. Aloha
Thank you again everyone for your great input and suggestions. Caroline, it is awesome that you have not needed IV meds for six years. Can I ask you how you stay so healthy? Also, is that a new thing, not using heparin for flushes? Is it better for people getting frequent IV treatment? Wonderful to hear from all of you. Aloha
Thank you again everyone for your great input and suggestions. Caroline, it is awesome that you have not needed IV meds for six years. Can I ask you how you stay so healthy? Also, is that a new thing, not using heparin for flushes? Is it better for people getting frequent IV treatment? Wonderful to hear from all of you. Aloha
I have a son (non-CF) that has a port. He has to have an IV infusion (10mL) 2x/week; so we use his regularly. The ONLY time we would leave him accessed is if we are using again in the next 24hrs. Otherwise we deaccess.
The concern you heard from the nurse was poorly worded; but valid. To explain I'm going to show you the 2 options to gain IV Access:
1) Peripheral (ie normal IV), meds go into a small vein, all you do is swab with Alcohol and go. It hurts, the vein doesn't hold up as well long-term as they are small and most IV drugs are caustic. However, they are quick and 'easy'.
2) Port, the meds go directly into the heart. Since anything happening at the port goes directly to the heart; you have to use sterile technique. Thus it takes a bit longer to do PROPERLY, and many (NOT ALL) hospital nurses frankly are not that good at it. Introducing an infection into the port can be very serious. However, a port lasts for years; you have less damage as the meds are introduced to a larger volume of blood, there is less pain to access as the skin above the port becomes 'tougher' over time.
That said, if you are comfortable with sterile technique, or trust your nurse, then don't be scared to un-access and restick later. Especially for showers/swimming/etc.
As for clotting, sorry but that is BS. There is always a risk of clotting, but done properly de-accessing doesn't change this risk (though it might actually reduce since you fill the port w/Heparin each time).
The concern you heard from the nurse was poorly worded; but valid. To explain I'm going to show you the 2 options to gain IV Access:
1) Peripheral (ie normal IV), meds go into a small vein, all you do is swab with Alcohol and go. It hurts, the vein doesn't hold up as well long-term as they are small and most IV drugs are caustic. However, they are quick and 'easy'.
2) Port, the meds go directly into the heart. Since anything happening at the port goes directly to the heart; you have to use sterile technique. Thus it takes a bit longer to do PROPERLY, and many (NOT ALL) hospital nurses frankly are not that good at it. Introducing an infection into the port can be very serious. However, a port lasts for years; you have less damage as the meds are introduced to a larger volume of blood, there is less pain to access as the skin above the port becomes 'tougher' over time.
That said, if you are comfortable with sterile technique, or trust your nurse, then don't be scared to un-access and restick later. Especially for showers/swimming/etc.
As for clotting, sorry but that is BS. There is always a risk of clotting, but done properly de-accessing doesn't change this risk (though it might actually reduce since you fill the port w/Heparin each time).
I have a son (non-CF) that has a port. He has to have an IV infusion (10mL) 2x/week; so we use his regularly. The ONLY time we would leave him accessed is if we are using again in the next 24hrs. Otherwise we deaccess.
The concern you heard from the nurse was poorly worded; but valid. To explain I'm going to show you the 2 options to gain IV Access:
1) Peripheral (ie normal IV), meds go into a small vein, all you do is swab with Alcohol and go. It hurts, the vein doesn't hold up as well long-term as they are small and most IV drugs are caustic. However, they are quick and 'easy'.
2) Port, the meds go directly into the heart. Since anything happening at the port goes directly to the heart; you have to use sterile technique. Thus it takes a bit longer to do PROPERLY, and many (NOT ALL) hospital nurses frankly are not that good at it. Introducing an infection into the port can be very serious. However, a port lasts for years; you have less damage as the meds are introduced to a larger volume of blood, there is less pain to access as the skin above the port becomes 'tougher' over time.
That said, if you are comfortable with sterile technique, or trust your nurse, then don't be scared to un-access and restick later. Especially for showers/swimming/etc.
As for clotting, sorry but that is BS. There is always a risk of clotting, but done properly de-accessing doesn't change this risk (though it might actually reduce since you fill the port w/Heparin each time).
The concern you heard from the nurse was poorly worded; but valid. To explain I'm going to show you the 2 options to gain IV Access:
1) Peripheral (ie normal IV), meds go into a small vein, all you do is swab with Alcohol and go. It hurts, the vein doesn't hold up as well long-term as they are small and most IV drugs are caustic. However, they are quick and 'easy'.
2) Port, the meds go directly into the heart. Since anything happening at the port goes directly to the heart; you have to use sterile technique. Thus it takes a bit longer to do PROPERLY, and many (NOT ALL) hospital nurses frankly are not that good at it. Introducing an infection into the port can be very serious. However, a port lasts for years; you have less damage as the meds are introduced to a larger volume of blood, there is less pain to access as the skin above the port becomes 'tougher' over time.
That said, if you are comfortable with sterile technique, or trust your nurse, then don't be scared to un-access and restick later. Especially for showers/swimming/etc.
As for clotting, sorry but that is BS. There is always a risk of clotting, but done properly de-accessing doesn't change this risk (though it might actually reduce since you fill the port w/Heparin each time).
I have a son (non-CF) that has a port. He has to have an IV infusion (10mL) 2x/week; so we use his regularly. The ONLY time we would leave him accessed is if we are using again in the next 24hrs. Otherwise we deaccess.
<br />
<br />The concern you heard from the nurse was poorly worded; but valid. To explain I'm going to show you the 2 options to gain IV Access:
<br />
<br />1) Peripheral (ie normal IV), meds go into a small vein, all you do is swab with Alcohol and go. It hurts, the vein doesn't hold up as well long-term as they are small and most IV drugs are caustic. However, they are quick and 'easy'.
<br />
<br />2) Port, the meds go directly into the heart. Since anything happening at the port goes directly to the heart; you have to use sterile technique. Thus it takes a bit longer to do PROPERLY, and many (NOT ALL) hospital nurses frankly are not that good at it. Introducing an infection into the port can be very serious. However, a port lasts for years; you have less damage as the meds are introduced to a larger volume of blood, there is less pain to access as the skin above the port becomes 'tougher' over time.
<br />
<br />That said, if you are comfortable with sterile technique, or trust your nurse, then don't be scared to un-access and restick later. Especially for showers/swimming/etc.
<br />
<br />As for clotting, sorry but that is BS. There is always a risk of clotting, but done properly de-accessing doesn't change this risk (though it might actually reduce since you fill the port w/Heparin each time).
<br />
<br />The concern you heard from the nurse was poorly worded; but valid. To explain I'm going to show you the 2 options to gain IV Access:
<br />
<br />1) Peripheral (ie normal IV), meds go into a small vein, all you do is swab with Alcohol and go. It hurts, the vein doesn't hold up as well long-term as they are small and most IV drugs are caustic. However, they are quick and 'easy'.
<br />
<br />2) Port, the meds go directly into the heart. Since anything happening at the port goes directly to the heart; you have to use sterile technique. Thus it takes a bit longer to do PROPERLY, and many (NOT ALL) hospital nurses frankly are not that good at it. Introducing an infection into the port can be very serious. However, a port lasts for years; you have less damage as the meds are introduced to a larger volume of blood, there is less pain to access as the skin above the port becomes 'tougher' over time.
<br />
<br />That said, if you are comfortable with sterile technique, or trust your nurse, then don't be scared to un-access and restick later. Especially for showers/swimming/etc.
<br />
<br />As for clotting, sorry but that is BS. There is always a risk of clotting, but done properly de-accessing doesn't change this risk (though it might actually reduce since you fill the port w/Heparin each time).