Who's got a port?

[MissD]

I was only diagnosed in 2011 and then given a 4 week stay in hospital, three weeks in the ICU. Right from the start, my veins couldn't handle a cannula for more than 20 hours or so. They would just fail, and I would have to get a new one. Given a cannula is usually good for three days or so, and Im sure we have all spent some time in an ICU somewhere and we all know that you cant go more than a couple of hours before they wanna take more blood or pump something else into you, I got a whole lot of cannulas.

A general blood test ususally takes two or three sticks before they are in.

Ive been on infliximab for a year now, *yay its great, Im loving it*. So every eight weeks I front up at the hospital and we play the "who can find a viable vein game". Ive been steadily increasing my fails at that game. The last time I went in for treatment I had two nurses fail, two doctors also fail, one anaesthetist fail hard, and then one more gun anaesthetist almost fail but ended up succeeding with some ultra sound guidance.

This is getting ridiculous. Obviously. Im taking up a lot of the hospitals time, and Im sure there are way sicker people than me who could be using those doctors and anaesthetists in a more productive way than me, the chick with veins like a junkie. Seriously. Next time I go in, Ive been told my treatment is likely to go in through my feet. I know that's not such a big deal really. But my mental state thinks it is. And since my veins are so useless anyway, Im figuring Ive probably only got one or two shots through the feet before they also decide they aren't playing the game.

So, looks like I gotta get a port.

Anyone give me some personal experience on ports? All the stuff you cant read about it until it actually happens to you and you wish had known before it happened??? Its pretty much inevitable for me, so your horror stories wont scare me.

 

[DJW]

I had a Hickman catheter back in highschool. I never had any issues with mine.

 

[Tuff]

I had a picc line. It is inserted in the upper arm, and pushed up the vein until it goes near the heart. First attempt was a fail, the second one they got in.
I got to the point in the hospital, that when I saw a lab tech, tears started falling, because I felt like a pin cushion. One time a nurse had four fails before getting another nurse, afterwards I found out they are only allowed two fails.
I feel for you, I know how awful it is. I had no problems with the picc at all, and it was such a relief. They took the cover off once a week, and cleaned it out in a sterile field.

 

[Jennifer]

I had a central IV/port in 5th grade for about a year. It had to be flushed daily but now days people don't have to have them flushed as often which is nice. Biggest problem I had with it when I first got it was it was itchy. I scratched the area so hard one night I pulled it most of the way out in my sleep so I had to have it put back in again. Maybe get your nails done if you find it to be itchy as well. It was mainly the sticky clear plastic film that kept it in place that was itchy. Might have been more of an allergic reaction in my case. That's the main thing I remember. The tube can also fill with blood which is normal especially with increased activity so I was told to not overdo it. This was over a decade ago though so I'm sure things have improved a lot since.

Good luck with the port!

 

[littlemissh]

I have a portacath. Had it for a year for the same reasons. My veins used to be good but were ruined by various admissions. After a couple of episodes where 10-15 attempts were needed to cannulate me they put it in.
It's been brilliant and I can access it myself.