Question about your mediport

Genia

Did any of you have a lot of pain with yours???  I had mine put in yesterday....and it wasn't bad at all yesterday.......until all the numbness wore off.  Last night when I laid down.......it was really hurting very bad and I had to sleep on my back.  I finally took a pain pill......and it helped.  Today.....it hurts so much I can barely touch it.  I'm checking for swelling and redness.......and so far it isn't that much.

I was just wondering if this is normal.....to have this much pain!

Thanks......Genia 

kerry_lamb

Hey Genia,

Yep..they feel weird and painful to start with. I was visualising the plastic tail thing sticking into where it shouldn't, or coming loose etc. But it settled down and now I hardly know it's there. You will be very grateful for it when chemo begins. (And so will the chemo nurses!) 

Genia

Thanks Kerry......I ended up calling the surgeon yesterday afternoon.  He told me to stop by his office today and he would take a look at it.  I don't think the pain is as bad as it was.

Elliemae32

Mine bothered me more than the lumpectomy or mastectomy.  I have had my port for over a month now and sometimes I still wake up with throbbing pain when I sleep on that side.  It is like it gets pinched or something.  It has gotten better, and I LOVE having it for chemo. 

dhettish

I had some pain with mine and I could always feel it, especially if I was doing stuff like mopping, digging, etc. Sometimes at night it would be uncomfortable to lie on my stomach. It got better over time and although I always felt it, it was just a minor inconvenience.

Like elliemae, I loved it for chemo and blood draws. I have very scarred and rolling veins from having cancer 22 years ago. Back then, my onc would not let them draw blood from my hickman catheter I had blood tests EVERY DAY!. So having my blood drawn through my port was a god send. I had mine removed on 6/10 when they put my expanders in. Can't really say I miss it.

If you do have to ever have blood drawn from a vein, drink lots of water prior to the test. It plumps up your veins and makes the draws easier. It must be water though, no soda or juice or coffee.

Debbie 

Genia

Nice to hear I'm not alone in this.  I guess I thought it was gonna be a piece of cake......and it's FAR from that.

I went to see the surgeon today to let him take a look at it.......he said it looks fine.  He also said "You bet you're gonna be sore......it's attached to the muscle in you chest and breast tissue......HA........no wonder it hurts like the dickens!!!!

Had my brain scan today too......I'm gettin tired of hospitals.......and it's just started......lol 

kerry_lamb

Hey Genia!

You MUST retain your sense of humour! Sometimes that is not easy..I'm having one of those angry-at-the-world days. I'm over tests and bloody hospitals. But if I hold up both hands, with one finger up on each hand (and I prefer to use the 'rude' finger), that's how many 'treatments' I have to go. Then the chrysalis will become the (slightly shabby) butterfly and I can concentrate on my next 1/2 century!

Hang in there, and be unashamedly self-centered! Take care of yourself. 

God-is-good

i have a port and used it today for the first time for a blood draw and my first chemo treatment. I was having so much anxiety about it but it was a piece of cake. If you use the numbing cream it will only feel like a finger prick when they access it. All that worry for nothing. I also have no veins and love how easy this was today. Mine was sore for about a week i guess until it started to heal, its been several weeks now i barely notice it most of the time. Hah, in the beginning having this port creeped me out so bad i couldnt even look at it or touch it but It does get better .

Genia

Well I had to laugh at the little guy who did my MRI yesterday. 

I've only had my port since Tues.   So when he found out I had one.......he said......."well we can just put your contrast straight into your port!!!"  LOL.....I just looked at him without missing a beat and said.........NOPE.....not happening today.......lol.  Then after he found out I had only had it for 2 days......he laughed and said he wouldn't want anyone messin around with one if he had only had it for that length of time!!!

It seems they all love it when you have a port and they don't have to find veins.....lol 

lilith

:=) good for you for saying NO WAY touching the port so soon after it has been put in!!

Yes, it hurts for a bit. Mine was more painful than the whole mastectomy...for a couple of weeks, but decreasingly less sore. When 2 days later a stupid nurse (sorry, he WAS dumb, plus had big and hurtful fingers) tried TWICE to stick a needle in it to give me a flebo with sugar water and paracetamol, he got me in tears and eventually I got the doctor to give me 2 pills instead.

On the bright side... now, one year later, I don't see it, don't feel it, can't tell it is there.... a great thing.

Genia

Oh wow lilith.....I can't imagine being stuck there even now!!!  I'm not sure when they are gonna start my chemo....but I would think this would need to heal a few more days anyway......!   

And here I just thought I was bein a big WIMP....lol.   

my3girls

Genia...looks like you have received some good advice.

My port was removed last November...and I could not wait to get it out!! It was the one thing about my whole journey..8 rounds of chemo, lumpectomy, mastectomy and reconstruction..that I really really hated!

There is a cream you can put on your port area right before your chemo that gives it a little numbing so you dont' feel them sticking you.  It really does go in quickly though.

One piece of advice...don't sleep on your side that your port is in.  I was told not too. I found that if I did, I had some pain..and also some numbness.

Good luck to you on this journey.

Genia

Oh....no one told me not to sleep on my side!  Makes sense tho....last night was the first night I've been able to sleep on either side.  I had been sleeping on my back......even then I had pain like a pullling sensation!   He put my port down at the top of my clevage kinda laying on my left breast.  I'm not sure why he put it there.......but every turn or movement causes it to move and hurt!

I will have to remember to tell my onco to give me an rx for that cream....

Thanks for the reminder.......hugsssss 

jerseymaria

i never had a problem with mine and it's been in over 2 years.  since i was having my first chemo the day after port surg. the surgeon put the access line in during surgery.  the next treatment 3 weeks later it was completely healed. can't see mine...can feel it if you touch the area.  i can sleep on both sides.  i do use the lidocaine cream (or emla cream) prior to treatment and it really does numb the area so you don't feel a thing.  my only complaint is that it is used only for infusions.  any blood sticks, ivs or contrast for tests, they always stick me or start an iv. of course now with pill tx it won't be used but i'll still have to have it flushed every 6 weeks but i doubt any doc will want it out now.  who knows if i'll be going back to iv chemo at some point. but as i said it doesn't bother me at all.  good luck

Genia

jerseymaria....where is yours located?

HeatherL

Hello all;  I am scheduled for my bone scan, MRI, and cardiac scan(Muga) all the first week in September. Just waiting for the port insertion, it's so good to hear advice, opinions as to what to expect and what is normal beforehand.

Genia How did you find your bone scan and MRI?

jerseymaria

genia, mine is on the right side about 2-3 inc below my collar bone. i think it is deeper than some i've seen and the surg. stitches it in place so it doesn't shift.  the rare times i wear a bra the strap is not on it so basically i don't know it's there unless i feel around for it.

Genia

Heather....the bone scan and MRI were not bad at all.   You will do fine with those.....the CT scan was a little yucky because I had to drink two bottles of stuff and it almost made me sick.  And it's not a bad idea to find out where they are gonna put your port.  I didn't even think to ask before mine......and I don't like where it is!!!  Good luck with everything Heather!!!

Maria....that's where I thought mine would be.  I think he put it lower so it couldn't be seen.....but it is a pain in the BEHIND where it is......I have big breasts and they bounce and shift.......and the port bounces and shifts right along with them.  If I lay on my back......my breasts fall over to the sides....putting a strain on this port.  If I lay on either side.....it feels like it is being squashed......causes more pain!  I'm just hopeless.......lolol

Genia

Another thing I have discovered that really helps with the pain is an ice pack.  I put it on for 10 mins and then take it off.......just be careful to not leave it on too long.......but it has been a lifesaver for me......along with my pain pills...lol

Springtime

I can't stand this port! It feels like it is constantly tugging or moving, I can't wait to get it out, but I have 6 more cycles to go. I've been told that for some people, the port is not an issue at all. For others, they just cant wait to get it out. I must be in the later group! But, I was totally bruised in every area before this port, so I know why I have it. I have a very prominent collar bone, and I wonder if that is causing it to just creep me out. I just hate "feeling" it swish or move or whatever it does! Blech!

Genia

LOL...Springtime I'm with ya girlfriend.  I hate this thing too.  I have moaned and groaned about mine so much.  Mine isn't at my collerbone!  It's almost between my breast.....kinda layin on my left breast.  DRIVES ME NUTS......every movement of my breasts makes it hurt....like it's pullin and tugging.  God I'm such a WHINER.....lol

TXBadboob

Hey, everyone!  I had my port put in on Aug 4.  I had quite a bit of pain for about a week.  It was swollen, red, very bruised looking.  I also felt tugging.  Mine is located about an inch below my collarbone, directly in line with my nipple.  It is right where my bra strap needs to go, so I'm looking for some bras that kinda go to the outside of it, cuz it bothers it after a while.  I'm pretty thin, so it sticks out a lot.  I call it my little Alien.  I swear it gets caught underneath on the scar tissue from the incision every once in a while.  A gross you out pain.  I also have the lidocaine, and my chemo guy is very strict on me to use a lot of it before I come in for chemo.  I just had my third one yesterday.  I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who had problems with the port.  Thanks

Genia

No TX you are not alone.  It is a pain in the BEHIND!!!  But a small exchange for not having our veins messed up. 

Mine was infected....so I'm on antibiotics for 7 days.  Then they will start my chemo once I've finished them.

hugsss....and hang in there!

Genia 

NatsFan

I had my port put in and had chemo the next day - it was fine.  The med onc asked the surgeon to "pack it off" - meaning that I went home with the needle and tube already in the port - it was packed off in lots of surgical guaze and tape, so that morning all the med onc had to do was unpack it and the needle was already in there so they didn't have to do a stick. When they were done they just removed the needle as usual.   It really wasn't that bad.

I always felt it more right after a tx - I think with everything going through it during a tx, it just would be a bit sore.  But after a few days it'd be fine. 

I've had it in for over 6 months now. Chemo was done in June, but I'm going for reconstruction in October, and the PS suggested that I leave it in as a back up in case my veins crap out during the reconstruction process.  My med onc wants me to leave it in for a year - I said no way, but am willing to leave it in for 6 mos or so for the PS to use.

It doesn't bother me much anymore except my seat belt cuts right where it is, so I just keep my belt under my arm.  I have also gotten back to doing weight training, and do notice it a bit after I've increased my weights or reps, but again, it's not bad.

Hang in there everyone - as much as I'd rather not have had a port, I loved it during chemo - one stick and everything was done.  No poking with a needle when veins would roll or collapse - I went through that one too many times before I got my port. 

bcstrawn

Genia,

My Grandmother had a lot of pain with hers to begin with, but she got to a point to where she was glad it was still there versus having to get stuck all the time.

All the Best! 

Genia

I'm sure I will be glad too.....it's not hurting as much since I'm on the antibiotics.  Pretty sure the infection was what was making it hurt.

Thanks for all you input......hugssssssss

Springtime

Mine feels like a psychotic snake swirling around in there looking for the nerve to hit! I get a pinched or hit nerve when I reach for a toothbrush, it's aweful. Any movement, it's getting worse. I am starting to think I'd rather go back to haveing bruised arms. At least I could live my life without swearing under my breath each time I get an electrical ZAP from this thing!

I asked, and they said we could remove it after the first 4 ACs. I think have 4 Taxols, and they may consider removing it for that. I will see over the next 2 weeks how this goes. But I am not hopeful. The psychotic snake has located the nerve and will not leave it alone! My skin in that area is now numb even! UGH!

Anybody feel this? Nerve hitting thing?