No Blood Draw through Port!!!

rspayne

Has this happenened to anyone else? My port seems to be fine for infusion, but they are unable to get blood from it? I spoke with my clinical coordinator and she assures me that this does happen with some people.

Just to be on the safe side, I have to have a dye test to check the patency of the port. I am bummed that I still need to be stuck for blood draws, but just hope that the port is ok, as I don't have the best of veins.

Help!!! Has this ever happened to anyone else? Rose

I know it is working because my first session did go in!!!

debic

Rose
Sorry you are having trouble with your port. I too have had problems with my port. when I go for tretment it works, but they can not get a blood draw from it. I went and had the test which showed the port working perfect and they got a blood draw. the people doing the test said maybe i should lay down with my feet up when they are trying to draw blood. My chemo nurses didn't want to do that so I get chemo through my port, blood draws in my arm, but that is only every three times because they do a finger prick 2 weeks a big draw the third. Good luck
Debi

jacqniel

My port for my first dance with bc would not allow blood draws. I could get infusions just fine.

watersprite

My port quit working for draws two or three times in a row, then the dye test. The next time we had to work hard using a syring instead of the vacuum vials with my hands in the air and standing up, but it worked. It has been fine since then. A good thing since I'm allergic to needles! They make me faint. I've been told marching in place helps with blood draws too.

mcharl

My port had no blood draw after a couple of treatments. I had a nurse who had me sit up and lean over reach for the floor and like magic it worked.
The port worked fine otherwise but no draw, it was pulling against the side of my vein, but this seemed to work and no probs with the rest of tx.
Good luck and hugs,
MC

figsgirls

Mine didn't draw blood for my first treatment. The nurse said it might still have some swelling. She did the draw from my arm, but hopefully it will work for my next tx on Monday.

rspayne

Had a dye test to determine the patency of the port....the VERDICT...Port is ok for infusions but the tip of the catheter is against the wall of the vein so that getting a blood return is just not possible. They even tried infusing some TPA, thinking that there may be a small clot, but no go.

I'm just thankful that the chemo can be administered via this port, because they would have to insert a new one because my veins couldn't handle all the junk they are infusing!!!

countryfrenchrose

I just got my port removed because of no blood being able to draw. Thank goodness I received my first 12 infusions. Now I am in need of 3 morf AC infusions. Not sure what they will do? A pic line?

The port a cath removal was terrible the get me awake no sedation just local lido with epi

It cultured positive for a staph epidermis which is normal skin flora but they did find cottage cheese inside the port

Spookiesmom

My port has been in for over 3 years. Once in a great while nurse can't get blood. They determined I'm dehydrated. I really try to remember to drink lots, hate going to lab for regular sticks.

KayaRose

I had trouble during chemo one time. The nurse could not get my regular pre-chemo blood drawn. She administered a drug through the port. Not sure of the actual drug name but she called it port "draino." I had to wait 30 minutes and then she tried the blood draw again. It worked. It was the only time it happened to me but she said it was not uncommon. Before this drug was available, she said patients would have to go to the hospital to have a procedure to clean the port. The draino drug was a huge improvement. I've had my port in for over a year with no problems. I have it flushed every 2 months

Jmcfar

My port is becoming more tempormental all the time. My 90 minute treatment resulted in 6 hrs at the hospital this week. Hoping next week goes better

Moderators

Jmcfar, we welcome you to BCO, and are very sorry to hear what you went through. Terrible. Do they have a plan for your port if it happens again?

debiann

My blood draws were done at a lab the day before the infusion. The techs there were either not trained or not allowed to use the port for blood draws, so I had to continue with the arm sticks. Accessing my port was not that easy anyway so arm sticks were easier.