Hi!
I am going to be straigh forward with you.
I was terrified of getting my port, so much so that I put it off for years, dealing with the terrible pain of having PICCs placed- each PICC taking about 6-8 tries. I finally gave in this past October and I love it! The surgery went fine, my healing time was a little longer than 2 days though. I was in pain for about 5 days- more of a buring sensation that was constant (nothing pain killers didn't help though) It still is a little tender when bumped in the wrong way, mine is in my upper right chest. It is noticeable- I am 5'6" and about 125lbs. I love it though. I just went on IV's 2 days ago and it was pretty much- call the doc, send out the home nurse, and I was ready to go in about 12 hours- pain free thanks to the lidocaine cream they gave me! I will no longer be afraid to call in about antibiotics and I would happily go through the surgery again. I stayed awake for the surgery with only local anesthetics. I am a control freak and HATE the thought of being put under. Not bad at all, about a 45 min procedure. My scar is about 2.5 inches long, not bad, and mederma is clearing it up. I do have a problem with it itching lately, but I think it is from the scar healing.
Good luck in your decision making, but I think it is the right one when you are going through such an ordeal to get a PICC placed.
Let us know how it goes for you!