Best Way To Have Port Removed

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Jackbirdie
Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
edited May 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
Best Way To Have Port Removed
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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited May 2015

    I will be finishing chemo soon, and the last months haven't been easy.

    My bmx site still hurts. I was a lousy patient with a high tolerance to pain meds and a low tolerance for pain.

    It hurt like H when they put the port in.

    Chemo has not been easy. (And it isn't for anyone I know)

    I am looking ahead to getting the port removed and have heard everything from having it out in the office with no local, even, to having to done in a similar surgery to the install, in a day surgery suite with IV sedation. (Twilight)

    My surgeon told me it wouldn't hurt when the drains came out. It did. But I have read others who it didn't bother them at all to have them out.

    Could I get some input from people who have had theirs out and what their experiences and recommendations are given that I am a total wuss, a pincushion of my former self?

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  • PTMully
    PTMully Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2015

    jack birdie- yep, chemo sucks, but you made it through! Like you, I could not wait to get my port out. As far as I am concerned, I never should have agreed to have it put in! They had to punch my port twice on several occasions just to get access, and this was at Dana Farber! It was used a total of six times, it interferes with MRI's, can't be used for contrast die or pain meds during surgery, really was not a good choice.No one would own who would take out the port, surgeon wouldn't do it during lumpectomy, finally one of the nurses made a call and got me scheduled. Removal was easier than install, but I never fell into twilight sleep-- was awake for the whole thing. Took about Ten minutes. Still have big bruise over the scar and mine was removed over eight weeks ago.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited May 2015

    yikes

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited May 2015

    Jackiebirdie- My breast surgeon is the one who installed my port and he was the one who removed it. My port was place the same time as I had my UMX surgery. At one of my post UMX surgery check ups, he told me to call him when it was time to remove the port and that he would remove it via day surgery. When it was time for "deportation", I contacted him and scheduled the removal. I was put under with light sedation and woke up in a day surgery recovery room a few hours later. I went in early in the morning and was home before noon. I'm glad that I was out when that port was installed and was out when it is removed.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited May 2015

    Melrose, thank you. A woman after my own heart

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited May 2015

    Jackiebird, I'm a wuss too. My BS put the port in during surgery and my PS is taking it out during stage 2 recon. I'll be sound asleep, just the way I like it.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited May 2015

    Thank you MammaRay, for sharing that very helpful information.

    I am very sorry you are going through so much and at such a young age. The unfairness of it takes my breath away.

    I wish you the very best and am sending a gentle hug.

    Katy

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited May 2015

    MammaRay- I have two chemos left. The last one is June18th. If the last two have been any indication, I won't be celebrating that day. Since number 4, I spent the first couple of days with bone crushing pain and swollen glands. That turned into pneumonia. I'm on antibiotics, but still very sick. They don't want you to lay in bed when you have pneumonia, so I've been trying to force myself up and doing a few things.

    So I guess the port might come out in July. I made an appt. to consult with my surgeon's PA. I like him.

    How old is your son? Are you in a part of Ohio where Spring has arrived? I hope so.

    Many hugs

    Katy

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