Ports vs. PICC lines

[JennifersHope]

I got a port placed in January of this year. I am the one who does not love the port.... but I didn't like the PICC either...

The thing I liked about the PICC is once it was done, it was out of my body and I had nothing left to remind me of anything...

THe port is much much easier.. I have used it for a good part of the time since January.. Not having to schedule a time to get the PICC placed is wonderful.

I can access the port myself and start myself right up... so all that is good.

I have the power port placed in my right shoulder... It sticks out, you can see the tubing that goes up to my jugular.. etc.. and I am overweight so it isnt' because I am to thin. I can't sleep on my right shoulder and when I roll over to my belly I can't sleep on it for to long because it hurts my port area.

SO while I agree the Port is so much easier then the PICC line... it isn't a wonderful solution for me.. but it is better then the picc

 

[JennifersHope]

I got a port placed in January of this year. I am the one who does not love the port.... but I didn't like the PICC either...

The thing I liked about the PICC is once it was done, it was out of my body and I had nothing left to remind me of anything...

THe port is much much easier.. I have used it for a good part of the time since January.. Not having to schedule a time to get the PICC placed is wonderful.

I can access the port myself and start myself right up... so all that is good.

I have the power port placed in my right shoulder... It sticks out, you can see the tubing that goes up to my jugular.. etc.. and I am overweight so it isnt' because I am to thin. I can't sleep on my right shoulder and when I roll over to my belly I can't sleep on it for to long because it hurts my port area.

SO while I agree the Port is so much easier then the PICC line... it isn't a wonderful solution for me.. but it is better then the picc

 

[JennifersHope]

I got a port placed in January of this year. I am the one who does not love the port.... but I didn't like the PICC either...

The thing I liked about the PICC is once it was done, it was out of my body and I had nothing left to remind me of anything...

THe port is much much easier.. I have used it for a good part of the time since January.. Not having to schedule a time to get the PICC placed is wonderful.

I can access the port myself and start myself right up... so all that is good.

I have the power port placed in my right shoulder... It sticks out, you can see the tubing that goes up to my jugular.. etc.. and I am overweight so it isnt' because I am to thin. I can't sleep on my right shoulder and when I roll over to my belly I can't sleep on it for to long because it hurts my port area.

SO while I agree the Port is so much easier then the PICC line... it isn't a wonderful solution for me.. but it is better then the picc

 

[JennifersHope]

I got a port placed in January of this year. I am the one who does not love the port.... but I didn't like the PICC either...

The thing I liked about the PICC is once it was done, it was out of my body and I had nothing left to remind me of anything...

THe port is much much easier.. I have used it for a good part of the time since January.. Not having to schedule a time to get the PICC placed is wonderful.

I can access the port myself and start myself right up... so all that is good.

I have the power port placed in my right shoulder... It sticks out, you can see the tubing that goes up to my jugular.. etc.. and I am overweight so it isnt' because I am to thin. I can't sleep on my right shoulder and when I roll over to my belly I can't sleep on it for to long because it hurts my port area.

SO while I agree the Port is so much easier then the PICC line... it isn't a wonderful solution for me.. but it is better then the picc

 

[JennifersHope]

I got a port placed in January of this year. I am the one who does not love the port.... but I didn't like the PICC either...
<br />
<br />The thing I liked about the PICC is once it was done, it was out of my body and I had nothing left to remind me of anything...
<br />
<br />THe port is much much easier.. I have used it for a good part of the time since January.. Not having to schedule a time to get the PICC placed is wonderful.
<br />
<br />I can access the port myself and start myself right up... so all that is good.
<br />
<br />I have the power port placed in my right shoulder... It sticks out, you can see the tubing that goes up to my jugular.. etc.. and I am overweight so it isnt' because I am to thin. I can't sleep on my right shoulder and when I roll over to my belly I can't sleep on it for to long because it hurts my port area.
<br />
<br />SO while I agree the Port is so much easier then the PICC line... it isn't a wonderful solution for me.. but it is better then the picc

 

[Jane]

My older son has had a port for two years. He had trouble with his PICC area getting irritated and needing frequent dressing changes. By the time the docs suggested a port, he was all for it. It is next to his nipple.

He was on IVs for 6 months after that. Since then he hasn't needed any. The visiting nurses come once a month to flush the port, other than than we don't really notice it.

My younger son will still get a PICC next time he needs IVs. He's not ready for a port. Josh likes the port because he can be accessed an still play tennis and go to school withough anyone seeing it. With a PICC, there's always tubes, tape etc hangin out.

Its one of those things thats hard to think about, but once you do it, you're glad you did.

 

[Jane]

My older son has had a port for two years. He had trouble with his PICC area getting irritated and needing frequent dressing changes. By the time the docs suggested a port, he was all for it. It is next to his nipple.

He was on IVs for 6 months after that. Since then he hasn't needed any. The visiting nurses come once a month to flush the port, other than than we don't really notice it.

My younger son will still get a PICC next time he needs IVs. He's not ready for a port. Josh likes the port because he can be accessed an still play tennis and go to school withough anyone seeing it. With a PICC, there's always tubes, tape etc hangin out.

Its one of those things thats hard to think about, but once you do it, you're glad you did.

 

[Jane]

My older son has had a port for two years. He had trouble with his PICC area getting irritated and needing frequent dressing changes. By the time the docs suggested a port, he was all for it. It is next to his nipple.

He was on IVs for 6 months after that. Since then he hasn't needed any. The visiting nurses come once a month to flush the port, other than than we don't really notice it.

My younger son will still get a PICC next time he needs IVs. He's not ready for a port. Josh likes the port because he can be accessed an still play tennis and go to school withough anyone seeing it. With a PICC, there's always tubes, tape etc hangin out.

Its one of those things thats hard to think about, but once you do it, you're glad you did.

 

[Jane]

My older son has had a port for two years. He had trouble with his PICC area getting irritated and needing frequent dressing changes. By the time the docs suggested a port, he was all for it. It is next to his nipple.

He was on IVs for 6 months after that. Since then he hasn't needed any. The visiting nurses come once a month to flush the port, other than than we don't really notice it.

My younger son will still get a PICC next time he needs IVs. He's not ready for a port. Josh likes the port because he can be accessed an still play tennis and go to school withough anyone seeing it. With a PICC, there's always tubes, tape etc hangin out.

Its one of those things thats hard to think about, but once you do it, you're glad you did.

 

[Jane]

My older son has had a port for two years. He had trouble with his PICC area getting irritated and needing frequent dressing changes. By the time the docs suggested a port, he was all for it. It is next to his nipple.
<br />
<br />He was on IVs for 6 months after that. Since then he hasn't needed any. The visiting nurses come once a month to flush the port, other than than we don't really notice it.
<br />
<br />My younger son will still get a PICC next time he needs IVs. He's not ready for a port. Josh likes the port because he can be accessed an still play tennis and go to school withough anyone seeing it. With a PICC, there's always tubes, tape etc hangin out.
<br />
<br />Its one of those things thats hard to think about, but once you do it, you're glad you did.

 

[Sevenstars]

100% agree with Emily. I also access and maintain my own port with great success. I've had 3 due to clotting issues but even though they didn't last long, it was still worth it. 1 day of pain + 1 week of recovery > several PICC lines over the course of a year or two.

At your daughter's age she might be self concious about the scars, or possibly the visibility of the port, if she is very skinny and it sticks out under her skin. There are many sites that can be used: various places in the chest including near the collarbone, shoulder, or on top of the ribcage, the upper arm near where a PICC would be, or the upper thigh midway between hip and knee. A few people I know had "bikini" ports that were in the groin area, kind of the crook of the leg near the hip, and were not visible even when wearing a bathing suit. I can't really recommend getting one there because they don't seem to last as long and it's very invasive when you get it accessed (stripping off pants etc) but I was just tossing that out there.

The pain to get it put in is minimal, not much more than a PICC. The scar it leaves is about 1" long, plus the little dots from needles over the actual port itself. My clinic recommends them when you do 4+ IVs a year, so I'd say she is right on the borderline. You could probably hold off a while, but if the PICCs are getting traumatic, I'd say go with the port. Best of luck to her.

 

[Sevenstars]

100% agree with Emily. I also access and maintain my own port with great success. I've had 3 due to clotting issues but even though they didn't last long, it was still worth it. 1 day of pain + 1 week of recovery > several PICC lines over the course of a year or two.

At your daughter's age she might be self concious about the scars, or possibly the visibility of the port, if she is very skinny and it sticks out under her skin. There are many sites that can be used: various places in the chest including near the collarbone, shoulder, or on top of the ribcage, the upper arm near where a PICC would be, or the upper thigh midway between hip and knee. A few people I know had "bikini" ports that were in the groin area, kind of the crook of the leg near the hip, and were not visible even when wearing a bathing suit. I can't really recommend getting one there because they don't seem to last as long and it's very invasive when you get it accessed (stripping off pants etc) but I was just tossing that out there.

The pain to get it put in is minimal, not much more than a PICC. The scar it leaves is about 1" long, plus the little dots from needles over the actual port itself. My clinic recommends them when you do 4+ IVs a year, so I'd say she is right on the borderline. You could probably hold off a while, but if the PICCs are getting traumatic, I'd say go with the port. Best of luck to her.

 

[Sevenstars]

100% agree with Emily. I also access and maintain my own port with great success. I've had 3 due to clotting issues but even though they didn't last long, it was still worth it. 1 day of pain + 1 week of recovery > several PICC lines over the course of a year or two.

At your daughter's age she might be self concious about the scars, or possibly the visibility of the port, if she is very skinny and it sticks out under her skin. There are many sites that can be used: various places in the chest including near the collarbone, shoulder, or on top of the ribcage, the upper arm near where a PICC would be, or the upper thigh midway between hip and knee. A few people I know had "bikini" ports that were in the groin area, kind of the crook of the leg near the hip, and were not visible even when wearing a bathing suit. I can't really recommend getting one there because they don't seem to last as long and it's very invasive when you get it accessed (stripping off pants etc) but I was just tossing that out there.

The pain to get it put in is minimal, not much more than a PICC. The scar it leaves is about 1" long, plus the little dots from needles over the actual port itself. My clinic recommends them when you do 4+ IVs a year, so I'd say she is right on the borderline. You could probably hold off a while, but if the PICCs are getting traumatic, I'd say go with the port. Best of luck to her.

 

[Sevenstars]

100% agree with Emily. I also access and maintain my own port with great success. I've had 3 due to clotting issues but even though they didn't last long, it was still worth it. 1 day of pain + 1 week of recovery > several PICC lines over the course of a year or two.

At your daughter's age she might be self concious about the scars, or possibly the visibility of the port, if she is very skinny and it sticks out under her skin. There are many sites that can be used: various places in the chest including near the collarbone, shoulder, or on top of the ribcage, the upper arm near where a PICC would be, or the upper thigh midway between hip and knee. A few people I know had "bikini" ports that were in the groin area, kind of the crook of the leg near the hip, and were not visible even when wearing a bathing suit. I can't really recommend getting one there because they don't seem to last as long and it's very invasive when you get it accessed (stripping off pants etc) but I was just tossing that out there.

The pain to get it put in is minimal, not much more than a PICC. The scar it leaves is about 1" long, plus the little dots from needles over the actual port itself. My clinic recommends them when you do 4+ IVs a year, so I'd say she is right on the borderline. You could probably hold off a while, but if the PICCs are getting traumatic, I'd say go with the port. Best of luck to her.

 

[Sevenstars]

100% agree with Emily. I also access and maintain my own port with great success. I've had 3 due to clotting issues but even though they didn't last long, it was still worth it. 1 day of pain + 1 week of recovery > several PICC lines over the course of a year or two.
<br />
<br />At your daughter's age she might be self concious about the scars, or possibly the visibility of the port, if she is very skinny and it sticks out under her skin. There are many sites that can be used: various places in the chest including near the collarbone, shoulder, or on top of the ribcage, the upper arm near where a PICC would be, or the upper thigh midway between hip and knee. A few people I know had "bikini" ports that were in the groin area, kind of the crook of the leg near the hip, and were not visible even when wearing a bathing suit. I can't really recommend getting one there because they don't seem to last as long and it's very invasive when you get it accessed (stripping off pants etc) but I was just tossing that out there.
<br />
<br />The pain to get it put in is minimal, not much more than a PICC. The scar it leaves is about 1" long, plus the little dots from needles over the actual port itself. My clinic recommends them when you do 4+ IVs a year, so I'd say she is right on the borderline. You could probably hold off a while, but if the PICCs are getting traumatic, I'd say go with the port. Best of luck to her.

 

[CountryGirl]

Hey, Im Anna and Im 21. I got my first port when I was 16. They finally could just not put in a PICC anymore. I had to get it in an emergency as I was really sick. I was completely against it at first, esp since after I got it, I ended up staying out of the hospital and didnt need to use it for a year, yet I had to go in and get it flushed once a month.
Well, I learned to love it and its super easy. I got my surgeons to put it in low enough on my chest that it doesnt poke out. Its great. I did end up needing a new one when I was 19 because it ended up leaking. Its an easy surgery and its definitely better than getting an IV or PICC...in fact I think I've become wimpy when they've tried putting IVs in. I had a transplant on July 25th and the docs asked about taking out my port now that I wouldnt be needing IV antibiotics...I told them I wanted to keep it. Its a safety thing, and a comfort thing. Im scared that if I get it taken out something will happen.
I have really learned to LOVE my port. I think its one of the greatest inventions. You should definitely think about getting it.

 

[CountryGirl]

Hey, Im Anna and Im 21. I got my first port when I was 16. They finally could just not put in a PICC anymore. I had to get it in an emergency as I was really sick. I was completely against it at first, esp since after I got it, I ended up staying out of the hospital and didnt need to use it for a year, yet I had to go in and get it flushed once a month.
Well, I learned to love it and its super easy. I got my surgeons to put it in low enough on my chest that it doesnt poke out. Its great. I did end up needing a new one when I was 19 because it ended up leaking. Its an easy surgery and its definitely better than getting an IV or PICC...in fact I think I've become wimpy when they've tried putting IVs in. I had a transplant on July 25th and the docs asked about taking out my port now that I wouldnt be needing IV antibiotics...I told them I wanted to keep it. Its a safety thing, and a comfort thing. Im scared that if I get it taken out something will happen.
I have really learned to LOVE my port. I think its one of the greatest inventions. You should definitely think about getting it.

 

[CountryGirl]

Hey, Im Anna and Im 21. I got my first port when I was 16. They finally could just not put in a PICC anymore. I had to get it in an emergency as I was really sick. I was completely against it at first, esp since after I got it, I ended up staying out of the hospital and didnt need to use it for a year, yet I had to go in and get it flushed once a month.
Well, I learned to love it and its super easy. I got my surgeons to put it in low enough on my chest that it doesnt poke out. Its great. I did end up needing a new one when I was 19 because it ended up leaking. Its an easy surgery and its definitely better than getting an IV or PICC...in fact I think I've become wimpy when they've tried putting IVs in. I had a transplant on July 25th and the docs asked about taking out my port now that I wouldnt be needing IV antibiotics...I told them I wanted to keep it. Its a safety thing, and a comfort thing. Im scared that if I get it taken out something will happen.
I have really learned to LOVE my port. I think its one of the greatest inventions. You should definitely think about getting it.

 

[CountryGirl]

Hey, Im Anna and Im 21. I got my first port when I was 16. They finally could just not put in a PICC anymore. I had to get it in an emergency as I was really sick. I was completely against it at first, esp since after I got it, I ended up staying out of the hospital and didnt need to use it for a year, yet I had to go in and get it flushed once a month.
Well, I learned to love it and its super easy. I got my surgeons to put it in low enough on my chest that it doesnt poke out. Its great. I did end up needing a new one when I was 19 because it ended up leaking. Its an easy surgery and its definitely better than getting an IV or PICC...in fact I think I've become wimpy when they've tried putting IVs in. I had a transplant on July 25th and the docs asked about taking out my port now that I wouldnt be needing IV antibiotics...I told them I wanted to keep it. Its a safety thing, and a comfort thing. Im scared that if I get it taken out something will happen.
I have really learned to LOVE my port. I think its one of the greatest inventions. You should definitely think about getting it.

 

[CountryGirl]

Hey, Im Anna and Im 21. I got my first port when I was 16. They finally could just not put in a PICC anymore. I had to get it in an emergency as I was really sick. I was completely against it at first, esp since after I got it, I ended up staying out of the hospital and didnt need to use it for a year, yet I had to go in and get it flushed once a month.
<br />Well, I learned to love it and its super easy. I got my surgeons to put it in low enough on my chest that it doesnt poke out. Its great. I did end up needing a new one when I was 19 because it ended up leaking. Its an easy surgery and its definitely better than getting an IV or PICC...in fact I think I've become wimpy when they've tried putting IVs in. I had a transplant on July 25th and the docs asked about taking out my port now that I wouldnt be needing IV antibiotics...I told them I wanted to keep it. Its a safety thing, and a comfort thing. Im scared that if I get it taken out something will happen.
<br />I have really learned to LOVE my port. I think its one of the greatest inventions. You should definitely think about getting it.