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Ports post tx

F

fr3ak

Guest
Ok here's the deal

My port was put in pre tx and this year it is going to be a grand 8 years old.

My dr has been at me for the past 5 years to get it taken out giving me the whole spill on it being a potential infection risk.... which I do get (protocals here in regards to ports is get em out while you are getting your lungs unless you have crappy veins)

I do however have no veins which is why I had my port in the first place, not one (slightly exaggerating but pretty accurate) PICC lines are a no go and they can't even get them in under ultra sound....So if I do get sick I have the problem of trying to get venous access...

The dilemma I am having is-

Do I leave it in or take it out? I know the choice is completely mine

Being in for 8 years means that getting it out is going to be difficult (a friend recently had his out and they botched the whole thing because of it getting stuck and breaking the tube, his cuts (yes more then one) is phenomenal and what was suppose to be a simple procedure seen him hospitalised for over 8 weeks!

Yes I have used it in the past 5 years but in the last years it has basically only been used for my bone infusion stuff... which apparently I will trying a year off to see what happens....

Do I tempt fate and get it taken out only to have it bite me in the @ss?

Or do I leave it there and only remove it if it gets infected or blocked?

What are the protocols where you are at in regards to ports after tx?

Does your centre take them out while you are having the tx?

Do they recommend you have them out ASAP

Part of me wants to get it out because of the time factor it has been in and every year it remains there the harder it will be to get it taken out, part of me wants a break from having it flushed every month (I do 2 months) when it isn't getting used.

But the other part of me screams leave it be, if you need it it's there ready to go as apposed to a whole bunch of crap in trying to get a line in....

Dunno, whatcha think?
 
F

fr3ak

Guest
Ok here's the deal

My port was put in pre tx and this year it is going to be a grand 8 years old.

My dr has been at me for the past 5 years to get it taken out giving me the whole spill on it being a potential infection risk.... which I do get (protocals here in regards to ports is get em out while you are getting your lungs unless you have crappy veins)

I do however have no veins which is why I had my port in the first place, not one (slightly exaggerating but pretty accurate) PICC lines are a no go and they can't even get them in under ultra sound....So if I do get sick I have the problem of trying to get venous access...

The dilemma I am having is-

Do I leave it in or take it out? I know the choice is completely mine

Being in for 8 years means that getting it out is going to be difficult (a friend recently had his out and they botched the whole thing because of it getting stuck and breaking the tube, his cuts (yes more then one) is phenomenal and what was suppose to be a simple procedure seen him hospitalised for over 8 weeks!

Yes I have used it in the past 5 years but in the last years it has basically only been used for my bone infusion stuff... which apparently I will trying a year off to see what happens....

Do I tempt fate and get it taken out only to have it bite me in the @ss?

Or do I leave it there and only remove it if it gets infected or blocked?

What are the protocols where you are at in regards to ports after tx?

Does your centre take them out while you are having the tx?

Do they recommend you have them out ASAP

Part of me wants to get it out because of the time factor it has been in and every year it remains there the harder it will be to get it taken out, part of me wants a break from having it flushed every month (I do 2 months) when it isn't getting used.

But the other part of me screams leave it be, if you need it it's there ready to go as apposed to a whole bunch of crap in trying to get a line in....

Dunno, whatcha think?
 
F

fr3ak

Guest
Ok here's the deal

My port was put in pre tx and this year it is going to be a grand 8 years old.

My dr has been at me for the past 5 years to get it taken out giving me the whole spill on it being a potential infection risk.... which I do get (protocals here in regards to ports is get em out while you are getting your lungs unless you have crappy veins)

I do however have no veins which is why I had my port in the first place, not one (slightly exaggerating but pretty accurate) PICC lines are a no go and they can't even get them in under ultra sound....So if I do get sick I have the problem of trying to get venous access...

The dilemma I am having is-

Do I leave it in or take it out? I know the choice is completely mine

Being in for 8 years means that getting it out is going to be difficult (a friend recently had his out and they botched the whole thing because of it getting stuck and breaking the tube, his cuts (yes more then one) is phenomenal and what was suppose to be a simple procedure seen him hospitalised for over 8 weeks!

Yes I have used it in the past 5 years but in the last years it has basically only been used for my bone infusion stuff... which apparently I will trying a year off to see what happens....

Do I tempt fate and get it taken out only to have it bite me in the @ss?

Or do I leave it there and only remove it if it gets infected or blocked?

What are the protocols where you are at in regards to ports after tx?

Does your centre take them out while you are having the tx?

Do they recommend you have them out ASAP

Part of me wants to get it out because of the time factor it has been in and every year it remains there the harder it will be to get it taken out, part of me wants a break from having it flushed every month (I do 2 months) when it isn't getting used.

But the other part of me screams leave it be, if you need it it's there ready to go as apposed to a whole bunch of crap in trying to get a line in....

Dunno, whatcha think?
 
F

fr3ak

Guest
Ok here's the deal

My port was put in pre tx and this year it is going to be a grand 8 years old.

My dr has been at me for the past 5 years to get it taken out giving me the whole spill on it being a potential infection risk.... which I do get (protocals here in regards to ports is get em out while you are getting your lungs unless you have crappy veins)

I do however have no veins which is why I had my port in the first place, not one (slightly exaggerating but pretty accurate) PICC lines are a no go and they can't even get them in under ultra sound....So if I do get sick I have the problem of trying to get venous access...

The dilemma I am having is-

Do I leave it in or take it out? I know the choice is completely mine

Being in for 8 years means that getting it out is going to be difficult (a friend recently had his out and they botched the whole thing because of it getting stuck and breaking the tube, his cuts (yes more then one) is phenomenal and what was suppose to be a simple procedure seen him hospitalised for over 8 weeks!

Yes I have used it in the past 5 years but in the last years it has basically only been used for my bone infusion stuff... which apparently I will trying a year off to see what happens....

Do I tempt fate and get it taken out only to have it bite me in the @ss?

Or do I leave it there and only remove it if it gets infected or blocked?

What are the protocols where you are at in regards to ports after tx?

Does your centre take them out while you are having the tx?

Do they recommend you have them out ASAP

Part of me wants to get it out because of the time factor it has been in and every year it remains there the harder it will be to get it taken out, part of me wants a break from having it flushed every month (I do 2 months) when it isn't getting used.

But the other part of me screams leave it be, if you need it it's there ready to go as apposed to a whole bunch of crap in trying to get a line in....

Dunno, whatcha think?
 
F

fr3ak

Guest
Ok here's the deal

My port was put in pre tx and this year it is going to be a grand 8 years old.

My dr has been at me for the past 5 years to get it taken out giving me the whole spill on it being a potential infection risk.... which I do get (protocals here in regards to ports is get em out while you are getting your lungs unless you have crappy veins)

I do however have no veins which is why I had my port in the first place, not one (slightly exaggerating but pretty accurate) PICC lines are a no go and they can't even get them in under ultra sound....So if I do get sick I have the problem of trying to get venous access...

The dilemma I am having is-

Do I leave it in or take it out? I know the choice is completely mine

Being in for 8 years means that getting it out is going to be difficult (a friend recently had his out and they botched the whole thing because of it getting stuck and breaking the tube, his cuts (yes more then one) is phenomenal and what was suppose to be a simple procedure seen him hospitalised for over 8 weeks!

Yes I have used it in the past 5 years but in the last years it has basically only been used for my bone infusion stuff... which apparently I will trying a year off to see what happens....

Do I tempt fate and get it taken out only to have it bite me in the @ss?

Or do I leave it there and only remove it if it gets infected or blocked?

What are the protocols where you are at in regards to ports after tx?

Does your centre take them out while you are having the tx?

Do they recommend you have them out ASAP

Part of me wants to get it out because of the time factor it has been in and every year it remains there the harder it will be to get it taken out, part of me wants a break from having it flushed every month (I do 2 months) when it isn't getting used.

But the other part of me screams leave it be, if you need it it's there ready to go as apposed to a whole bunch of crap in trying to get a line in....

Dunno, whatcha think?
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I had my port placed in January - about 5 months before my transplant. Had I known at the time of getting it placed that I would have been transplanted 5 months later I probably would have chosen against it.

That being said I still have it and am planning on keeping it for a good while. My transplant docs do not have a problem with me having it and have actually told me that they want me to keep it as long as possible. Like you said in the event that I need it. I told Kurt (my fiance) that I am planning on keeping it so long as it is functional because as long as I have it I will not need it. Just like you mentioned I don't want to get it removed to have it come back and bite me in the ass.

I am only 6 months post now and I haven't needed it for much other than my bronchs and routine stuff that they have to do for my check ups. I get it flushed monthly as well. If I were 5 years post I am sure I may have a different opinion had I not been using it really at all.

I think personally that so long as you take care of it properly and are sterile in your technique with flushing it that the risk of infection isn't as great, but I may be mistaken.

Good Luck in making the decision.

Linds
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I had my port placed in January - about 5 months before my transplant. Had I known at the time of getting it placed that I would have been transplanted 5 months later I probably would have chosen against it.

That being said I still have it and am planning on keeping it for a good while. My transplant docs do not have a problem with me having it and have actually told me that they want me to keep it as long as possible. Like you said in the event that I need it. I told Kurt (my fiance) that I am planning on keeping it so long as it is functional because as long as I have it I will not need it. Just like you mentioned I don't want to get it removed to have it come back and bite me in the ass.

I am only 6 months post now and I haven't needed it for much other than my bronchs and routine stuff that they have to do for my check ups. I get it flushed monthly as well. If I were 5 years post I am sure I may have a different opinion had I not been using it really at all.

I think personally that so long as you take care of it properly and are sterile in your technique with flushing it that the risk of infection isn't as great, but I may be mistaken.

Good Luck in making the decision.

Linds
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I had my port placed in January - about 5 months before my transplant. Had I known at the time of getting it placed that I would have been transplanted 5 months later I probably would have chosen against it.

That being said I still have it and am planning on keeping it for a good while. My transplant docs do not have a problem with me having it and have actually told me that they want me to keep it as long as possible. Like you said in the event that I need it. I told Kurt (my fiance) that I am planning on keeping it so long as it is functional because as long as I have it I will not need it. Just like you mentioned I don't want to get it removed to have it come back and bite me in the ass.

I am only 6 months post now and I haven't needed it for much other than my bronchs and routine stuff that they have to do for my check ups. I get it flushed monthly as well. If I were 5 years post I am sure I may have a different opinion had I not been using it really at all.

I think personally that so long as you take care of it properly and are sterile in your technique with flushing it that the risk of infection isn't as great, but I may be mistaken.

Good Luck in making the decision.

Linds
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I had my port placed in January - about 5 months before my transplant. Had I known at the time of getting it placed that I would have been transplanted 5 months later I probably would have chosen against it.

That being said I still have it and am planning on keeping it for a good while. My transplant docs do not have a problem with me having it and have actually told me that they want me to keep it as long as possible. Like you said in the event that I need it. I told Kurt (my fiance) that I am planning on keeping it so long as it is functional because as long as I have it I will not need it. Just like you mentioned I don't want to get it removed to have it come back and bite me in the ass.

I am only 6 months post now and I haven't needed it for much other than my bronchs and routine stuff that they have to do for my check ups. I get it flushed monthly as well. If I were 5 years post I am sure I may have a different opinion had I not been using it really at all.

I think personally that so long as you take care of it properly and are sterile in your technique with flushing it that the risk of infection isn't as great, but I may be mistaken.

Good Luck in making the decision.

Linds
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I had my port placed in January - about 5 months before my transplant. Had I known at the time of getting it placed that I would have been transplanted 5 months later I probably would have chosen against it.

That being said I still have it and am planning on keeping it for a good while. My transplant docs do not have a problem with me having it and have actually told me that they want me to keep it as long as possible. Like you said in the event that I need it. I told Kurt (my fiance) that I am planning on keeping it so long as it is functional because as long as I have it I will not need it. Just like you mentioned I don't want to get it removed to have it come back and bite me in the ass.

I am only 6 months post now and I haven't needed it for much other than my bronchs and routine stuff that they have to do for my check ups. I get it flushed monthly as well. If I were 5 years post I am sure I may have a different opinion had I not been using it really at all.

I think personally that so long as you take care of it properly and are sterile in your technique with flushing it that the risk of infection isn't as great, but I may be mistaken.

Good Luck in making the decision.

Linds
 
I

IG

Guest
My veins were shot before transplant which is why I had a port placed in the first place. When that failed we tried to go back to veins but that was a no go and got another port. Since transplant my veins are a lot whole lot better... probably due to the fact that I'm poked less and my body is generally healthier. Have they tried to place a picc post tx? If it's the same as pre-transplant and you're still using the port semi-frequently (maybe once every month or two) and haven't had any problems I don't see why it should be removed.. there's always the risk of infection yea but that's going to be true no matter what piccs, iv's, etc. except the port is meant to be used long term in the first place. *shrug I guess go with what you feel is right for your body.
 
I

IG

Guest
My veins were shot before transplant which is why I had a port placed in the first place. When that failed we tried to go back to veins but that was a no go and got another port. Since transplant my veins are a lot whole lot better... probably due to the fact that I'm poked less and my body is generally healthier. Have they tried to place a picc post tx? If it's the same as pre-transplant and you're still using the port semi-frequently (maybe once every month or two) and haven't had any problems I don't see why it should be removed.. there's always the risk of infection yea but that's going to be true no matter what piccs, iv's, etc. except the port is meant to be used long term in the first place. *shrug I guess go with what you feel is right for your body.
 
I

IG

Guest
My veins were shot before transplant which is why I had a port placed in the first place. When that failed we tried to go back to veins but that was a no go and got another port. Since transplant my veins are a lot whole lot better... probably due to the fact that I'm poked less and my body is generally healthier. Have they tried to place a picc post tx? If it's the same as pre-transplant and you're still using the port semi-frequently (maybe once every month or two) and haven't had any problems I don't see why it should be removed.. there's always the risk of infection yea but that's going to be true no matter what piccs, iv's, etc. except the port is meant to be used long term in the first place. *shrug I guess go with what you feel is right for your body.
 
I

IG

Guest
My veins were shot before transplant which is why I had a port placed in the first place. When that failed we tried to go back to veins but that was a no go and got another port. Since transplant my veins are a lot whole lot better... probably due to the fact that I'm poked less and my body is generally healthier. Have they tried to place a picc post tx? If it's the same as pre-transplant and you're still using the port semi-frequently (maybe once every month or two) and haven't had any problems I don't see why it should be removed.. there's always the risk of infection yea but that's going to be true no matter what piccs, iv's, etc. except the port is meant to be used long term in the first place. *shrug I guess go with what you feel is right for your body.
 
I

IG

Guest
My veins were shot before transplant which is why I had a port placed in the first place. When that failed we tried to go back to veins but that was a no go and got another port. Since transplant my veins are a lot whole lot better... probably due to the fact that I'm poked less and my body is generally healthier. Have they tried to place a picc post tx? If it's the same as pre-transplant and you're still using the port semi-frequently (maybe once every month or two) and haven't had any problems I don't see why it should be removed.. there's always the risk of infection yea but that's going to be true no matter what piccs, iv's, etc. except the port is meant to be used long term in the first place. *shrug I guess go with what you feel is right for your body.
 
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