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would like to see port picture
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
ccflewallen
New member
a port? If i knew what a port was I still couldn't help you out because I dont have any way of posting pics. However, I am sure that someone will comply with your request. There is a wealth of knowledge here. Good luck!
ccflewallen
ccflewallen
Emily65Roses
New member
I suppose I could, but I'd either have to take some pics and get them developed now... or maybe I can hunt down my sister with her digital camera. I'll ask her about it tomorrow. But for the next week or so, you'll have to settle for a hooked up, taped down pic, because I'm currently using it for IVs. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
So, is this an old port, Kylie? I've never seen one before, but somehow I figured it would have an IV hookup hanging out of your skin or something like that?? That looks like an old scar that has healed.
Excuse the ignorance here!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">
Excuse the ignorance here!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">
im guessing you are new to ports? i dont know of any good websites to explain exactly how they work but im sure someone here knows of some. what you see in my picture is an unaccessed port. they are completely covered by skin and to access it they just put a tiny needle into the bump and viola, instant iv access. they dont have needles in them all the time. ask as many questions as you want about them. alot of people on here have them so im sure they have lots to say <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
I googled portacath to find a site to show you, but there were so many good ones you should look at them yourself. You can see pictures of unaccessed ports in people, accessed ports, even diagrams of how ports work. Google is amazing <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">.
Here's the link to my google image search:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://tinyurl.com/apxc7">http://tinyurl.com/apxc7</a>
Here's the link to my google image search:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://tinyurl.com/apxc7">http://tinyurl.com/apxc7</a>
cfgirl2008
New member
Anonymous- are you supposed to be getting a port?
The doctor told me the next time I have to go in the hospital I would have to get a port. I'm still looking for information about it. I really don't want it but the doctor says I have to cause my "veins are shot". I don't like needles and to put a needle like right there near my chest or somewhere else I'm like NO WAY.
Tiffany 15 w/cf
The doctor told me the next time I have to go in the hospital I would have to get a port. I'm still looking for information about it. I really don't want it but the doctor says I have to cause my "veins are shot". I don't like needles and to put a needle like right there near my chest or somewhere else I'm like NO WAY.
Tiffany 15 w/cf
Tiffany,
I'm on my second port and they are soooo great!! I fought getting one too, but after I got it, I couldn't believe I hadn't gotten one sooner. No more IV's every day or every other day, no more veins blowing, just one little stick and you are good to go for 2 weeks, 3 weeks or a month. When the port is accessed they have to change the needle once a week. When it's not accessed, you have to get it flushed with heparin once a month. Some people do it themselves and others go to the local hospital to get it done. I don't think the needle accessing the port is that painful. Usually the nurses get it on the first try - it's alot less painful than getting an IV put in (I think). My port is above my breast - kinda where you would put your hand when you say the Pledge of Allegiance. You can't even see mine from the front or side. It's really well hidden. If you have other questions - ask away!! Good luck!
Martha CF, 30
I'm on my second port and they are soooo great!! I fought getting one too, but after I got it, I couldn't believe I hadn't gotten one sooner. No more IV's every day or every other day, no more veins blowing, just one little stick and you are good to go for 2 weeks, 3 weeks or a month. When the port is accessed they have to change the needle once a week. When it's not accessed, you have to get it flushed with heparin once a month. Some people do it themselves and others go to the local hospital to get it done. I don't think the needle accessing the port is that painful. Usually the nurses get it on the first try - it's alot less painful than getting an IV put in (I think). My port is above my breast - kinda where you would put your hand when you say the Pledge of Allegiance. You can't even see mine from the front or side. It's really well hidden. If you have other questions - ask away!! Good luck!
Martha CF, 30
Hi, My daughter got her port when she was 15. She was completely against it until she had no other choice. Her veins were so scared up they couldn't even get a picc line in. She needed to be on IV antibiotics and so she had one placed. Her CF nurse was so great in explaining it all to her (even though it had been explained before). I will admit she was unhappy about the whole situation to begin with and I posted questions here too. She was not at a children's hospital. They ended up not placing the port where she had requested and she was an unhappy person. We requested that it be moved but the person that placed it flat out said "no, it's not like she's going to have it forever." We quickly reminded him of who he was speaking with and in front of. That she was a patient with CF and yes she probably was going to have it forever. We left very displeased but she was persistant. A couple of months later at a routine appt. with her pediatrician, during the regular, now mom leave the room so I can talk to her alone time, she told her doctor she wanted a second opinion at the children's hospital. He did not object and referred her for a second opinion. The second guy at the children's hospital was great! He asked why, what were her concerns (the same as any 16 year old girl, I want to wear a bikini and go to prom without having to HAVE to find a dress that will cover this up). He asked her expectations, which were not extreme, and he agreed that it could be moved. She had only asked for it to go from one side of the scar to the other about an inch or two. She was a completely different person after that.
You can see a slight bump where the port is. She has hers on the right side just above the breast. Before it was moved she could actually touch it with her chin. She has a small scar that she applied scar reducing medication to. We can see because we know it's there. Friends and family that don't know exactly where it is don't even notice it. She wears regualr bikini, strapless dresses, tanks and spaghetti straps. You can feel the port when you touch it. She doesn't flush it herself although she probably could. She goes into clinic and her most wondeful nurse, Barb, does it for her. She is needle tolerant, she doesn't need Emla. Some people I hear do though. To the people in our clinic it doesn't matter if you need it, what ever will make you comfortable. It was a rough time getting the port. There is so much for teenage girls to go through but then to have something put into their chest or side, it's difficult. Anna is now 18, in her first year of college and after getting her port moved, a happy person. She agrees that it is so much easier than a regular IV or Picc. And just a bit of added info. , she didn't like the picc line at first either she didn't have one until she was 14.
You should ask at your clinic if they have one to show you. They let Anna take it home just before so that she could see where she wanted to have it placed. On her chest above her breast or just below her breast and some of them can even be placed on the arm. She didn't like that idea, the arm. Anna has never complained that she could feel it when she stretches. We did note that she should have it on the right side vs the left side because of the seat belt once she started driving. But now it is lower (since they moved it) that the seat belt isn't much of a concern.
I hope I haven't gone on with more info than you wanted. I just wanted to let you know how our daughter dealt with her port. I think you will be happy with it. With winter coming you will have plenty of time for it to heal and your scar to get to normal color before summer arrives.
Liza
(mom of 2 teen girls w/CF)
You can see a slight bump where the port is. She has hers on the right side just above the breast. Before it was moved she could actually touch it with her chin. She has a small scar that she applied scar reducing medication to. We can see because we know it's there. Friends and family that don't know exactly where it is don't even notice it. She wears regualr bikini, strapless dresses, tanks and spaghetti straps. You can feel the port when you touch it. She doesn't flush it herself although she probably could. She goes into clinic and her most wondeful nurse, Barb, does it for her. She is needle tolerant, she doesn't need Emla. Some people I hear do though. To the people in our clinic it doesn't matter if you need it, what ever will make you comfortable. It was a rough time getting the port. There is so much for teenage girls to go through but then to have something put into their chest or side, it's difficult. Anna is now 18, in her first year of college and after getting her port moved, a happy person. She agrees that it is so much easier than a regular IV or Picc. And just a bit of added info. , she didn't like the picc line at first either she didn't have one until she was 14.
You should ask at your clinic if they have one to show you. They let Anna take it home just before so that she could see where she wanted to have it placed. On her chest above her breast or just below her breast and some of them can even be placed on the arm. She didn't like that idea, the arm. Anna has never complained that she could feel it when she stretches. We did note that she should have it on the right side vs the left side because of the seat belt once she started driving. But now it is lower (since they moved it) that the seat belt isn't much of a concern.
I hope I haven't gone on with more info than you wanted. I just wanted to let you know how our daughter dealt with her port. I think you will be happy with it. With winter coming you will have plenty of time for it to heal and your scar to get to normal color before summer arrives.
Liza
(mom of 2 teen girls w/CF)
No, you can't feel it in your chest. It feels like nothing is there, unless you have a needle and dressing on it - then you can feel the dressing on your skin!! I have never felt anything when I stretch. Really you don't even realize it's there. However, after I got my first port, it itched alot, but my second one has never itched.
Martha CF, 30
Martha CF, 30