Anyone have a tilted port?

Swissmiss

Anyone have a tilted port?

Swissmiss

I found out yesterday, the hard way, that my port is tilted  Upon starting round 2 of chemotherapy yesterday, the nurse seemed so nervous and uneasy, and the next thing I knew she had stuck the one inch needle into my chest...not my port.  Painful doesn't begin to describe it.  The nurse was new to the department, so the nurse she was shadowing jumped in and got the needle pulled out, numbed the area again, and proceeded to search for my port access.  It took her a while, she never did find the three points, but found one, and was able to access it with the needle.  It was a low point of the day, for sure.  Anyone else here have a port that has tilted?  I don't think my port started out this way, as the nurse last week just popped the needle in with no comment or issues.  I slept on the port side one night, and the next day it felt "weird," so I'm thinking I got it all twisted up while sleeping.  How is this possible?  I'm now worried it will continue to float around and each chemo infusion will be a sort of Russian roulette of sorts trying to find the port access.  

lilyrose53

Swissmiss,  Oh my!  That sounds scary.  I am worried about my port, too.  Even though my dr checked it out this week.  I have been sleeping in my lazyboy chair nightly.  I usually sleep on my side that the port is on, and have worried about this exact issue.  I know I can't roll over in my chair.    I think I would ask to have it checked out .  I hope all goes well for you!

Hugs,  lilyrose

208sandy

Swissmiss - think you should call the surgeon's office (or whoever installed the port) and ask to be seen - I had my port for three years and I could actually feel the three raised spots with my finger - you should be able to as well - also at your chemo appointment next time make sure you ask for a nurse that is experienced with port access - it is highly unusual for anyone to allow a "nurse newbie" to access a port - it should not have happened to you and I am so sorry it did.  Hugs, S.

LovieLovie

Swissmiss- I understand that this adds additional unwanted anxiety.  Mine has been tilted for years.  One of the reasons I never had it corrected is because I didn't want to deal with a new incision healing as mine is generally comfortable.  My port is also very deep.  I just take a proactive approach with the nurses and remind them at the beginning that it is deep and tilted.  They use a 1 1/2" needle on me which doesn't hurt anymore than a 1" or a 3/4" and they seem to be more accurate with it.  I'm going to say that from experience that the stick isn't what is hurting so much as the saline that is going into your tissue when they miss.  Nurses also tend to try to be gentle when feeling for the edges and raised parts so I just let them know that they need to be a little more aggressive.  I guess you just need to decide if you want it corrected. 

Swissmiss

Well, it's good to know that I'm not the only one with this unfortunate problem.  Lovielovie...mine is also very deep.  I can barely see it as a bump on my skin, and the nurse did confirm that it was deep, and used a 1" needle.  Like you, I would rather not have it corrected.  My incision from the original port insertion (two weeks ago) is still healing, and I have a rash from the adhesive from the bandages, and the whole area is still bruised.  I dread another incision and another surgery, so I wonder if calling the surgeon's office would do me any good.  Perhaps I'll just have her look at it, if that would do any good.  I've read that there are nurses or doctors who have been known to actually turn the port, not unlike they turn a breech baby.  I just wonder if this is something I did when I slept on that side one night, or if this just happens when the port is placed so deep.  

Faith316

My port has been tilted for a long time.  (I have had it since June 2008.)  I think mine happened during one of my chemo infusions.  The nurse was one I had not had before and she was a little rough.  After that day is when I noticed it felt different.  It has not caused any problems, though.  I am a stomach sleeper and don't worry about laying on my port.  I think it is actually pretty common for them to get a little tilted at times.  The nurse at my oncologist's office who accesses it and flushes it at each appointment says she sees it often.  No big deal.