Port-a Cath pain?

I have to admit...when I first found this forum, it was before my port a cath insertion and reading all the posts about the difficulties with the port scared the crap out of me!  However, I had my port insertion of Friday May 15th and I am doing well.  My partial mastectomy was on April 13th and I would recommend having the port put in during that surgery if possible. I am not sure why my surgeon didn't give me that option.  At any rate, I have some bruising and some muscle stiffness.  Other than that, there is no pain or discomfort. I am very relieved that I can't feel it at all... just a mild awareness of something in me, but it is not intolerable. I see it as my port to good health.  the chemo will heal me of this shit called cancer, the radiation will insure eradication of all cancer cells and then I can move on with my life. To live, to love, to laugh. Be well fellow breast cancer survivors. I am thinking of you. hugs, Lori

I had my cath inserted today and yes it bloody hurts. In fact it hurts worse than my breast surgery site but I also realize this is temporary, the picc line never stayed in so no options left...

I'm trying to suck it up but it ain't easy!! 

I had mine installed yesterday.  I have a high threshhold for pain & I just got of the phone bawling to my mom about the pain.  I have a hump under the dressing & bruising spreading out.  Hurts much worse than lumpectomy in May.  Is icing or heat pads better?  

I also had the port a cath surgery on June 30th and the port is fine but the pain in the neck, front and back when I stand up (the weight of my chest going down) is hard to take. I feel a little better doing the deep breathing, has anyone had this? how long does it last. I do not think I can make it the year for chemo with this pain in the neck also. Do I need to call the doc and is there anything that can be done?

Had port installed today. No complications, but am seeing some blood on gauze, about the size of a nickel. Anyone else have bleeding show up. Pain is intense. Mine is on left side and goes to vein in heart rather than neck. Can't feel anything under gauze, so must be pretty deep. Surgery was easy, as I was totally out...Had chest xray immediately after in recovery to check pleura in lung, and all was well. After mast on rt side and port on left, I will be sleeping in the recliner tonight. The pain has caught me by surprise and I can see bruising already. BUT, it took 4 tries to get my IV in, so I KNOW a port was the way to go. Good luck ladies,

Joni

Wanda...My mast was on the rt and port on left. I think because I also had axil. node dissection on rt side. I think if the port is on the rt, they put the catheter into a vein in the neck and if it's on the rt, they go with vein in heart. But I may be wrong about that.

Best wishes for a successful surgery. I feel much better today, but still some pain & stiffness. No further bleeding on gauze. I guess I'll see you on the July chemo thread??

Hugs to all,

Joni

Had my 9 day check up on the port and mastectomy scar and was told to remove the steri strips in the shower. Did this and the next day had a swelling around the port area. now it very sore, I am calling my dr. in the am. not sure if it is infected I go for chemo in a week.

 Anyone else? 

I had my port put in on Friday (7/10/09) and it still hurts, too.  They didn't give me any directions or meds for pain so I've been using my hubbies 800 mg Ibuprofen.  It's about the only thing that works.  I haven't had my breast surgery yet (doing neoadjuvant chemo prior to surgery), and they put my port on the left (my tumor is in the right breast).  They inserted mine into the chest vein rather than the neck vein (they said it stair steps a lot to get to neck vein and tends to come out of the vein easier).  Since the tumor is sensitive to pressure, and the left side is sensitive due to the port surgery, I can't hardly find a comfortable way to sleep!  I have to dope myself up at night to sleep at all.  Major bruising also... Here's a pic taken yesterday when I was finally able to remove the bandages:

 Amy_T

http://aymzbc.blogspot.com/ 

An update today (port installation plus 4 days):

Saw the plastic surgeon yesterday for the follow-up visit on the skin graft and rt side breast reduction.  Will see the breast surgeon on Wed for the port install follow-up.  The port was by far the most sore of all of the procedures, but 4 days later, even the mild soreness is now gone from my shoulder.  I was on Percocet and Vicodene for about 24 hrs post surgery, Advil for another 12 and for the last 24 hrs, no pain meds needed at all.  Slept like a baby for the last three days and walked a mile yesterday and 2 miles this morning with no pain or fatigue.  Have full range of motion in both arms and shoulders and am pretty much back to my normal routine, with the exception of lifting things heavier than 5 lbs, which greatly upsets my 30 lb Maine Coon buddy!

I was a little afraid of the port install after seeing the problems that so many of you have had with it, but it was truly very tolerable and will prove to be a blessing in the long run when my chemo starts.  No more digging around for a "good" vein for me, just plug the little sucker in and let's roll!  Honestly...a couple days of soreness was very doable.  I might be one of the luckier ones with so little pain, but I've had more painful dental appointments than this latest round of surgery.

Have faith, ladies...it's not bad and you've already proven that you're a tough bunch just by making the decision to fight this monster with everything you have.

Rock on, BC sistahs!

My wife had a port installed, in her right upper chest area 5 days ago, her arm neck and shoulder are so painful, that she can't even move, had to take her to the emergency room over the weekend. They injected a diferent pain killer (Ketoroloc) which can only be used for 5days  and wrote  prescription and the pain is just about bearable now.

Wonder if there is a possibility, the port might be pressing on a nerve.

She feels like a nerve is pinched, she will see the surgeon tomorrow.

I had my port put in June of 2008.  I was miserable for the first two weeks after that at night.  I could NOT sleep.  But, after the two weeks, I was fine.  I used my port for infusions from June 2008 through July 2009.  I had a recurrence recently and they switched me to oral chemo.  I will be having a mastectomy after about 3 more months of chemo and even though at this time I am not using my port, I told my surgeon that I want it left in.  If my current chemo regimen doesn't work, the next treatment will be back to a type of chemo that is infused instead of oral.  And, I do NOT want to go through port implantation surgery again.  For now, while it is not being used, I just have to get it flushed once a month.  No big deal. 

I got a double lumen port a cath just 7 days ago but it still hurts like it was the day of the surgery. It also cramps up into a ball when I use my left arm. That's the side it is on; and, I am hoping that the swelling, tenderness, and soreness will go away over time.

 How about you? How are you doing? How is your port a cath site? I hope this msg finds you and yours healthy and happy.

 Darla

I had a port put in last Monday (Oct 26th) to begin chemo the same day, and from the time it was put in, I cannot breathe well and my heart beats REALLY fast if I try to lie on either side or lay flat on my back.  Has anyone else ever experienced this?? 

I finally called my surgeon about it on Friday morning, told him what was happening, and he told me to call the oncologist (which surprised me because I figured since HE had put it in, he would have some answers for me).

Since my oncologist was out of town, I got the "relief' oncologist who was an absolute a**!!!  He strongly insinuated that I was just being "over anxious" and causing it myself.  Then he told me "shortness of breath" is one of the side effects of Neulasta (the shot I get the day after chemo).  I tried to explain to him that this is not what I'm saying...I am NOT "short of breath" just sitting there...it only happens when I lay on my side or back. 

Anyway, he at least sent me for a chest X-ray and my lungs were clear which was good to know.  But I still don't have an answer as to what is causing this.

Anyone??

Sunshine

I had purple power port put in under local anthesia and went straight down for my first Chemo

No issues at all. 

My last chemo was 1/14 had lumpectomy on 1/28 and am on #28 of 33 rads.

My port irratates me...does not really "hurt" just pokes out and the tube runs up into my neck and

I don't like the looks of it ....makes me feel like frankenstein....he he he...but it is just more irrating than

painful.  I am scheduled to have it removed 5/14.....I'm done with it!

Everyone's posts about aching, side effects and other bumps in the road are comforting. I think the healthcare community sometimes underestimates the disturbing and concerning soreness and pain that goes with some of the underrated parts of the long breast cancer treatment ordeal. Either that or I wasn't really listening when they said, "this WILL hurt." The biopsy and the port-a-cath insertion hurt much more than the mastectomy but I'd assumed that the major surgery would be hell. I may also be losing some of my resolve for this ever lengthening process; there's something to be said for pacing your enthusiasm to just get on with it. Being eager to get it over with doesn't speed up the process. Anyhow, many thanks to everyone who made their port-a-cath insertion experience findable with a simple Google search. The chest aches and flu-ey feelings aren't setting off alarm bells anymore. Two Tylenol, rest, and another Google search in the morning.