Reaction to port flush???

KCBreeze

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced an issue after having their port flushed?? I had my 6 week flush yesterday; by evening I had mild body aches and a low grade temp of 100.6. I felt like it was getting worse, so I took two Tylenol and after that it went to 101.8 (my normal temp usually runs a little low, so I can really tell when it is up). I messaged my clinic last night and my MO's nurse called today to check on me. I asked her if this could be a reaction or sensitivity because this is actually the second time this has happened to me after a flush. I thought it was a fluke before, so I never told them about the first time. She was concerned, but I told her my temp was back to normal.. like last time I was better by the next day. She has never heard of anyone having a reaction though. She thought maybe it was a bug or I had some other infection ( sinus etc) but it seems like too much of a coincidence to me. I haven't had chemo since Oct. so she felt better about that. Told me to go to the ER tonight if it happened again, but I am fine now. My Dad passed away from a port infection so I am very cautious about it, but I really feel like what I had was a reaction. It was like how I felt after getting an IV iron infusion. This has never happened during labs, just after going in for a flush so I don't know if you are given something different for that.

Sara536

I am so sorry that you lost your dad - probably before his time - and I think you have every reason to be cautious. I think you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Intervenous catheters can be a source of infection. I've never had a chemo port but I did go home with a blood infection after a surgery. (I believe it was IV related because it was "flushed" 3 times with saline solution because the skin around the IV port, which was not even covered with a bandaid, was nasty looking. The flushing consisted of injecting the saline through the port into my vein. The day after I returned home, I noticed cellulitis starting at my ankles and going up both legs and a crackling sound in my lungs. The doctor had me come in immediately probably because she was afraid the infection was acquired during her surgery. She didn't think it could be from the catheter. So she gave me a heavy duty antibiotic and drew black lines around the edges of the redness of the cellulitis so that we could see if it was advancing or retreating from the antibiotic. But - I'm suspicious... is salt water a good antibiotic? And why would you force possibly infected gunk back into a vein? The "port" wasn't even connected to an IV anymore. It was just left there "in case". Next time I go to a hospital I'm leaving as soon as possible - immediately if anyone tries a flush like that again. So what do I know? I know I will insist on a real doctor looking at a nasty port situation and I don't like the idea that you are being told to be the judge of whether or not your fever and infection (whatever the source) warrants a trip to the doctor. Fevers come amd go depending on the time of day. These things move fast - don't mess around!