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When is a Port suggested?

I

iwantmypup

New member
I really knew nothing about ports until I came to this forum and even then I still don't know that much about them.

What exactly are they and when do doctors tend to suggest them?
 
I

iwantmypup

New member
I really knew nothing about ports until I came to this forum and even then I still don't know that much about them.

What exactly are they and when do doctors tend to suggest them?
 
I

iwantmypup

New member
I really knew nothing about ports until I came to this forum and even then I still don't know that much about them.

What exactly are they and when do doctors tend to suggest them?
 
I

iwantmypup

New member
I really knew nothing about ports until I came to this forum and even then I still don't know that much about them.

What exactly are they and when do doctors tend to suggest them?
 
I

iwantmypup

New member
I really knew nothing about ports until I came to this forum and even then I still don't know that much about them.
<br />
<br />What exactly are they and when do doctors tend to suggest them?
 
J

jbrandonAW

New member
Its a little metal circle with a rubber stopper in the middle that when punctured with a needle can deliever IV meds to the same place a PICC would.

I got mine in 2005. I had been having issues with getting PICC. I went from being able to get a picc in 15 minutes, to having to spend 4-6 hours in florscopy and getting muticple xrays for them to get them in.

The surgery was fairly easy and they hid my port pretty well (when Im at a good weight). I hated it a first b/c it was hard to access. But now I love it b/c its soo easy and I don't have anything to restrict movement in my arms.
 
J

jbrandonAW

New member
Its a little metal circle with a rubber stopper in the middle that when punctured with a needle can deliever IV meds to the same place a PICC would.

I got mine in 2005. I had been having issues with getting PICC. I went from being able to get a picc in 15 minutes, to having to spend 4-6 hours in florscopy and getting muticple xrays for them to get them in.

The surgery was fairly easy and they hid my port pretty well (when Im at a good weight). I hated it a first b/c it was hard to access. But now I love it b/c its soo easy and I don't have anything to restrict movement in my arms.
 
J

jbrandonAW

New member
Its a little metal circle with a rubber stopper in the middle that when punctured with a needle can deliever IV meds to the same place a PICC would.

I got mine in 2005. I had been having issues with getting PICC. I went from being able to get a picc in 15 minutes, to having to spend 4-6 hours in florscopy and getting muticple xrays for them to get them in.

The surgery was fairly easy and they hid my port pretty well (when Im at a good weight). I hated it a first b/c it was hard to access. But now I love it b/c its soo easy and I don't have anything to restrict movement in my arms.
 
J

jbrandonAW

New member
Its a little metal circle with a rubber stopper in the middle that when punctured with a needle can deliever IV meds to the same place a PICC would.

I got mine in 2005. I had been having issues with getting PICC. I went from being able to get a picc in 15 minutes, to having to spend 4-6 hours in florscopy and getting muticple xrays for them to get them in.

The surgery was fairly easy and they hid my port pretty well (when Im at a good weight). I hated it a first b/c it was hard to access. But now I love it b/c its soo easy and I don't have anything to restrict movement in my arms.
 
J

jbrandonAW

New member
Its a little metal circle with a rubber stopper in the middle that when punctured with a needle can deliever IV meds to the same place a PICC would.
<br />
<br />I got mine in 2005. I had been having issues with getting PICC. I went from being able to get a picc in 15 minutes, to having to spend 4-6 hours in florscopy and getting muticple xrays for them to get them in.
<br />
<br />The surgery was fairly easy and they hid my port pretty well (when Im at a good weight). I hated it a first b/c it was hard to access. But now I love it b/c its soo easy and I don't have anything to restrict movement in my arms.
 
M

marisalynn

New member
A port is a device that is placed underneath the skin (most that I have seen are in the chest in the collarbone area). It feels kind of like a drum under the skin. The way to access it if you are needing to flush it or give medications through it is a needle is placed through the skin into the middle of the "drum". I don't have one, so I can say from personal experience, but I have been told that it isn't very painful, and some people really prefer it to PICC lines. It does require a surgery to put it in, but it can stay in for years as long as it is viable and, as I understand, only needs to be flushed once a month when it is not being used for medications. As far as when to start it, my doctor has said that when I start needing IV meds more often, like 2-3 times per year, I might get one. But as you probably know, every case is different, as is every doctor.
I hope this has answered some of your questions.
Marisa RN, 21 w/CF
 
M

marisalynn

New member
A port is a device that is placed underneath the skin (most that I have seen are in the chest in the collarbone area). It feels kind of like a drum under the skin. The way to access it if you are needing to flush it or give medications through it is a needle is placed through the skin into the middle of the "drum". I don't have one, so I can say from personal experience, but I have been told that it isn't very painful, and some people really prefer it to PICC lines. It does require a surgery to put it in, but it can stay in for years as long as it is viable and, as I understand, only needs to be flushed once a month when it is not being used for medications. As far as when to start it, my doctor has said that when I start needing IV meds more often, like 2-3 times per year, I might get one. But as you probably know, every case is different, as is every doctor.
I hope this has answered some of your questions.
Marisa RN, 21 w/CF
 
M

marisalynn

New member
A port is a device that is placed underneath the skin (most that I have seen are in the chest in the collarbone area). It feels kind of like a drum under the skin. The way to access it if you are needing to flush it or give medications through it is a needle is placed through the skin into the middle of the "drum". I don't have one, so I can say from personal experience, but I have been told that it isn't very painful, and some people really prefer it to PICC lines. It does require a surgery to put it in, but it can stay in for years as long as it is viable and, as I understand, only needs to be flushed once a month when it is not being used for medications. As far as when to start it, my doctor has said that when I start needing IV meds more often, like 2-3 times per year, I might get one. But as you probably know, every case is different, as is every doctor.
I hope this has answered some of your questions.
Marisa RN, 21 w/CF
 
M

marisalynn

New member
A port is a device that is placed underneath the skin (most that I have seen are in the chest in the collarbone area). It feels kind of like a drum under the skin. The way to access it if you are needing to flush it or give medications through it is a needle is placed through the skin into the middle of the "drum". I don't have one, so I can say from personal experience, but I have been told that it isn't very painful, and some people really prefer it to PICC lines. It does require a surgery to put it in, but it can stay in for years as long as it is viable and, as I understand, only needs to be flushed once a month when it is not being used for medications. As far as when to start it, my doctor has said that when I start needing IV meds more often, like 2-3 times per year, I might get one. But as you probably know, every case is different, as is every doctor.
I hope this has answered some of your questions.
Marisa RN, 21 w/CF
 
M

marisalynn

New member
A port is a device that is placed underneath the skin (most that I have seen are in the chest in the collarbone area). It feels kind of like a drum under the skin. The way to access it if you are needing to flush it or give medications through it is a needle is placed through the skin into the middle of the "drum". I don't have one, so I can say from personal experience, but I have been told that it isn't very painful, and some people really prefer it to PICC lines. It does require a surgery to put it in, but it can stay in for years as long as it is viable and, as I understand, only needs to be flushed once a month when it is not being used for medications. As far as when to start it, my doctor has said that when I start needing IV meds more often, like 2-3 times per year, I might get one. But as you probably know, every case is different, as is every doctor.
<br />I hope this has answered some of your questions.
<br />Marisa RN, 21 w/CF
 
T

tleigh

New member
Ali,
Jessica and Marissa are right on. I had my first port placed five years ago, then removed and a second one placed in May. It sits below my collarbone on the right side of my chest. Personally, my decision to get a port came when I was doing IV's at home for a month/2-3 times per year ( I also had a 6 mos. round of iv's for mycobacteria). My veins were having a real hard time with PICC lines and struggled to get through the month long IV's w/out blowing out.

I am a firm believer in compliance and convenience and for me the port was that. My husband has learned how to access it-so we are good to go on the monthly flushes (don't have to have home health visits each month).

It has been a valuable tool in maintaining my health.
 
T

tleigh

New member
Ali,
Jessica and Marissa are right on. I had my first port placed five years ago, then removed and a second one placed in May. It sits below my collarbone on the right side of my chest. Personally, my decision to get a port came when I was doing IV's at home for a month/2-3 times per year ( I also had a 6 mos. round of iv's for mycobacteria). My veins were having a real hard time with PICC lines and struggled to get through the month long IV's w/out blowing out.

I am a firm believer in compliance and convenience and for me the port was that. My husband has learned how to access it-so we are good to go on the monthly flushes (don't have to have home health visits each month).

It has been a valuable tool in maintaining my health.
 
T

tleigh

New member
Ali,
Jessica and Marissa are right on. I had my first port placed five years ago, then removed and a second one placed in May. It sits below my collarbone on the right side of my chest. Personally, my decision to get a port came when I was doing IV's at home for a month/2-3 times per year ( I also had a 6 mos. round of iv's for mycobacteria). My veins were having a real hard time with PICC lines and struggled to get through the month long IV's w/out blowing out.

I am a firm believer in compliance and convenience and for me the port was that. My husband has learned how to access it-so we are good to go on the monthly flushes (don't have to have home health visits each month).

It has been a valuable tool in maintaining my health.
 
T

tleigh

New member
Ali,
Jessica and Marissa are right on. I had my first port placed five years ago, then removed and a second one placed in May. It sits below my collarbone on the right side of my chest. Personally, my decision to get a port came when I was doing IV's at home for a month/2-3 times per year ( I also had a 6 mos. round of iv's for mycobacteria). My veins were having a real hard time with PICC lines and struggled to get through the month long IV's w/out blowing out.

I am a firm believer in compliance and convenience and for me the port was that. My husband has learned how to access it-so we are good to go on the monthly flushes (don't have to have home health visits each month).

It has been a valuable tool in maintaining my health.
 
T

tleigh

New member
Ali,
Jessica and Marissa are right on. I had my first port placed five years ago, then removed and a second one placed in May. It sits below my collarbone on the right side of my chest. Personally, my decision to get a port came when I was doing IV's at home for a month/2-3 times per year ( I also had a 6 mos. round of iv's for mycobacteria). My veins were having a real hard time with PICC lines and struggled to get through the month long IV's w/out blowing out.

I am a firm believer in compliance and convenience and for me the port was that. My husband has learned how to access it-so we are good to go on the monthly flushes (don't have to have home health visits each month).

It has been a valuable tool in maintaining my health.
 
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