Sweat In Port Dressing?

mom2lillian · Jun 13, 2007

Lou Lou-here is my thing on the port. I also get phlebitis fairly easy and after a few piccs my arm would just ache after a couple days. SOmetimes I woudl have trouble getting the meds to flow because the vein woudl clamp down and I woudl have to disconnect, force saline through (if I could) then start the IV again. The last PICC I stopped IV meds 2 days early because it was just shot and hurting and nothign would run. They still didnt want me to get a PORT, then thye sent out my culture and it came back showing I had suddenly gone completely resistant to levaquin, cipro and about 3 different IV meds including TOBI (btw the lab was a different lab that we no longer use, short story they screwed up!).

Soooo, I forced the issue and listened to them tell me No and insisted anyway. They said they woudl prefer for me to get 2-3 PICCS placed each time--no way! ANyway they said you only have so many sites you can use blah blah which is a valid point, your lung functions is so good you only need IV"s 1-2x a year, BUT I got it anyway and couldnt be happier. Once I set my mind to something might as well just give in <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">!

I am trying to preserve this site as long as possible. Basically they can only do 2 sites on each side of chest (probably). If I can keep each site good for 5 years (hopefully more) than that gets me 20 years so if I am still around then I will just be thankful and wont be worried about having to have an arm port whcih is an alternative.

mom2lillian · Jun 13, 2007

Lou Lou-here is my thing on the port. I also get phlebitis fairly easy and after a few piccs my arm would just ache after a couple days. SOmetimes I woudl have trouble getting the meds to flow because the vein woudl clamp down and I woudl have to disconnect, force saline through (if I could) then start the IV again. The last PICC I stopped IV meds 2 days early because it was just shot and hurting and nothign would run. They still didnt want me to get a PORT, then thye sent out my culture and it came back showing I had suddenly gone completely resistant to levaquin, cipro and about 3 different IV meds including TOBI (btw the lab was a different lab that we no longer use, short story they screwed up!).

Soooo, I forced the issue and listened to them tell me No and insisted anyway. They said they woudl prefer for me to get 2-3 PICCS placed each time--no way! ANyway they said you only have so many sites you can use blah blah which is a valid point, your lung functions is so good you only need IV"s 1-2x a year, BUT I got it anyway and couldnt be happier. Once I set my mind to something might as well just give in <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">!

I am trying to preserve this site as long as possible. Basically they can only do 2 sites on each side of chest (probably). If I can keep each site good for 5 years (hopefully more) than that gets me 20 years so if I am still around then I will just be thankful and wont be worried about having to have an arm port whcih is an alternative.

DarbSkull · Jun 13, 2007

I do IVs every 3 months and have to change my dressing any time I work up a good sweat, which ends up being every couple of days. I use the antibiotic disc thingies around the needle.

Here's a question about needle changes: everyone says change the needle every week (including my pharmacy) but my doc says it is the accessing that causes infection and he recommends using the same needle all 3 weeks. Usually I split the difference and use one needle for 2 weeks and another needle for the last week. So who is right?

DarbSkull · Jun 13, 2007

I do IVs every 3 months and have to change my dressing any time I work up a good sweat, which ends up being every couple of days. I use the antibiotic disc thingies around the needle.

Here's a question about needle changes: everyone says change the needle every week (including my pharmacy) but my doc says it is the accessing that causes infection and he recommends using the same needle all 3 weeks. Usually I split the difference and use one needle for 2 weeks and another needle for the last week. So who is right?

DarbSkull · Jun 13, 2007

I do IVs every 3 months and have to change my dressing any time I work up a good sweat, which ends up being every couple of days. I use the antibiotic disc thingies around the needle.

Here's a question about needle changes: everyone says change the needle every week (including my pharmacy) but my doc says it is the accessing that causes infection and he recommends using the same needle all 3 weeks. Usually I split the difference and use one needle for 2 weeks and another needle for the last week. So who is right?

DarbSkull · Jun 13, 2007

I do IVs every 3 months and have to change my dressing any time I work up a good sweat, which ends up being every couple of days. I use the antibiotic disc thingies around the needle.

Here's a question about needle changes: everyone says change the needle every week (including my pharmacy) but my doc says it is the accessing that causes infection and he recommends using the same needle all 3 weeks. Usually I split the difference and use one needle for 2 weeks and another needle for the last week. So who is right?

DarbSkull · Jun 13, 2007

I do IVs every 3 months and have to change my dressing any time I work up a good sweat, which ends up being every couple of days. I use the antibiotic disc thingies around the needle.

Here's a question about needle changes: everyone says change the needle every week (including my pharmacy) but my doc says it is the accessing that causes infection and he recommends using the same needle all 3 weeks. Usually I split the difference and use one needle for 2 weeks and another needle for the last week. So who is right?

DarbSkull · Jun 13, 2007

I do IVs every 3 months and have to change my dressing any time I work up a good sweat, which ends up being every couple of days. I use the antibiotic disc thingies around the needle.

Here's a question about needle changes: everyone says change the needle every week (including my pharmacy) but my doc says it is the accessing that causes infection and he recommends using the same needle all 3 weeks. Usually I split the difference and use one needle for 2 weeks and another needle for the last week. So who is right?

Uli · Jun 13, 2007