Port pictures?

[Jane]

Hi everyone,

Josh's doctor wants him to get a port now. His most recent line (mid-line) is in an unstable location and the antibiotics are burning. Josh is coming around to the idea, but it would help to see pictures of it.

The pictures of Amys port weren't still on the old posts. Does anyone else have any they can share?

Also, how long is the recovery time? We have a vacation planned the week after the surgery- nothing crazy- just a beach house. His surgery is already scheduled for July 7th. There was a cancellation so we didn't get a consult appointment- everything will be done at once.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Emily65Roses]

Recovery time for me was longer than a week... the tissue really doesn't like the foreign object. So I don't know what to tell you there. But here are my pictures:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://shw.fotopages.com/7690556/Front-View.html
">http://shw.fotopages.com/7690556/Front-View.html
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://shw.fotopages.com/7690557/Side-View.html">http://shw.fotopages.com/7690557/Side-View.html</a>

 

[Jem]

I just wanted to say thank you Emily for sharing your port pictures
with us.  I have never seen one and I appreciate the education
because the day may come when I need one too!  <img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">

 

[HairGirl]

Wow Emily, I didn't know you could put a port there! Mine is under my collar bone a couple inches down, I don't think it sticks out that much but then again I have more skin there too!

Jane, I love my port!!!!! My brother got one when he was......I don't know 13 maybe? His was more in the middle of his chest and it did stick out, of course he was skinny too. He said it hurt him so he would walk around hunch back, but I think he was playin' it up.

Basically, decide the best place to put it, and for me recovery was only a couple days! The day after was painful but then it cleared up we used it just two days after it was put in. But again, I love my port!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> no more picc's!!!!!

 

[CowTown]

Hi jane,

I just got one placed on Monday and still recovering. The port is recovering well they say, and might take about 2 weeks before I finally feel like it's not there. For me, the first day was painful but they gave me pain meds, and each day has been getting much better. I still just feel like I'm favoring that side of my neck and shoulder since I'm so aware of it being there. I would imagine after 1 week of Josh having it would be plenty of time for him to comfortable going on vacation. I wouldn't go in the ocean or play much in the sand for sake of not getting sand in the bandage area, but definitely if I were him I would be fine with enjoying being at the beach!! Plus, if he's going to taking meds with it right away he wouldn't be able to go swimming anyway b/c of needing to keep it dry and clean.

In the future once the needle is out and the bandages to keep it clean are off, then you are not suppose to be limited to anything.

One thing I encountered when we were discussing where to put it, I mentioned to them that when I get better I want to rock climb again. They said then for that reason putting it in the arm would not be a good idea, so they put it under my collar bone. So maybe think about what Josh is interested in sport wise and that might help decide where to put it too.

Good luck!!

Kelly

 

[HairGirl]

Kelly, they can put a port in the arm????? where would they do that? weird. or interesting, I don't know.

 

[CowTown]

HI Hairgirl, yes they can put a port basically the same spot where they put arm picc lines. It can be on the inside of your upper arm, and the cathedar goes from there up around your armpit and into your main artery along your chest. I didn't like the sound of it being in my arm either b/c people on here mentioned that can get bumped by stuff being there.

 

[Emily65Roses]

Plus from what I understand, the arm ports are smaller and therefore harder to access.

 

[fr3ak]

just wanted to say my current port is in my arm! and has been for
the last 7 years<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
its up in the biceps muscle on the inside, and is barely visible
.....<br>
<br>
I will post a pic of it after the weekend if ya interested in
seeing the arm posts.<br>
<br>

 

[anonymous]

fr3ak I would be totally intersted in seeing a pic or an arm port...cool....<br> have you like it there?

littledebbie not logged in.....

 

[blindhearted]

My port is located in the same place as Emily's....maybe a little higher....right in my bra line. Mine is pretty invisible. I can see if I can get someone to take pictures, if you are interested. I also have my old port (only the part where you put the needle in) if you want to see what that looks like outside the body. Just let me know.

ps- I may need someone's help on posting pictures up here if you want to see them. I've never tried it before.

 

[anonymous]

How do they put meds into the port?

John

 

[Emily65Roses]

The top if made of this hard gel stuff, so that pointy things can get in, and liquid can't get out. Basically, you put a really thin (size 20 or 22) needle into the top gel-part of the port and it stays there. You send the meds through the needle, like any other IV, and that's how it works. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Hope that makes sense, if not, say so, and I'll try to be more specific.

 

[HairGirl]

Wow, I didn't know all these different places for ports!!! Of course I have a double port because the IV meds I take can't go in the same line, so mine is a little bigger than most but not much, when I'm accessed I have two needles in. But it really isn't that noticable. I like it.

Pictures would be great of all these different ports.

 

[Rokiss12]

does accessing your port hurt? i know its supposed to cut down on the trouble of getting an IV/etc., but does it hurt? from Emilys picture, it kinda seems like it would b/c your still going through skin? i don't think i need one right now... but if/when i start going into the hospital once-twice a year, would it be worth getting?

 

[HairGirl]

Accessing my port doesn't hurt, it's a 'small poke' as all the nurses like to say and lie to you when they put in iv's, but seriously it doesn't hurt like iv's do, or I guess like a regular needle poke does. When you first get it it will hurt some but over time you build up scar tissue.

So it's just a little poke! much better than iv's every couple days or the big poke for the picc line.

 

[CowTown]

Kate I just got mine and haven't had it long enough to change the needle and see if it hurts. I'm hoping it won't hurt too much.

Emily, I wanted to say thank you for sharing so many of your experiences with your ports. You've been a really big help! Thanks. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

Kate, Accessing a port really doesn't hurt, as long as it's done properly. The needle they use is SUPER THIN. You know earrings? Regular ones? Those are an 18, and port needles are generally a 20 or 22 (keeping in mind that needles get <b>thinner</b> as the numbers go up, so 20 and 22 are thinner than 18). My port only has about 1/4 of flesh on top of it, so the needle goes through that much, and the rest of it is in hardware. I don't feel it, I don't care. I got my port before I was even going on IVs twice a year, because I couldn't deal with PICCs. But twice a year IVs is definitely worth it in my opinion. Way less painful, way more independence, etc etc.

Kelly, no problem. Allie told me more than once that I should work for the port people because I do a great job at selling them. lol

 

[blindhearted]

Kate, if you are a "chicken" like myself and dont like the idea of feeling a "small poke" when you get accessed, then you can get your doctor to write a prescription for Emla cream. I love it, swear by it, use it every single month. You basically put this cream on your port (as a glop not rubbed in), where you are going to insert the needle (or cover the whole port like myself, just to get all bases covered) and cover it with Tegaderm for about 1 - 2 hours before you flush your port. They wipe it off and then prepare the area for accessing. It numbs the skin so you feel nothing when they access you. I will no let anyone access my port without putting on emla cream first...home or at the hospital.

 

[Rokiss12]

kelly- hope everything goes good with your first time...haha! i hope your feeling mucho better soon! as i type, my newfie is barking his BRAINS out at a CROW... so smart, yet so dumb

em- thank you! i think i will eventually get a port, as i get older, im starting to go in more often.... not just for tune ups, but for sugery more. im in the hospital on average about every 14 months? so maybe when im in about every year i'll get one! my friends dad has one for sickle celll... he swears by it, and every time i talk to her, she always says i NEED to get one

hair girl- thanks for the tips! haha i think its hilarious the things the nurses will say to just get what they need and leave oh how funny

danyell- i liveeee by emla... its like my savior. haha, i always get it for everything, but didnt think you could use it for ports (guess not!). the only problem is though, when i get IVs in my hand for surgery/etc. my veins get really dehydrated and shrink from it, so im only alowwed to have it on for like a half hour. oh well, its still definitly helps!

and Jane- thanks for starting this topic... its helped me a lot! and hopefully you too! update us on the boys health? and what ends up happening with the port! hope nurse-zilla is being a little less evil these days!