The Colon Club

For those of you with Power Ports, do you wear the rubber bracelet all the time? I was told I HAD to wear it and I have, although I'm not sure why short of an EMT needing to see it if I was unconscious or something. Every time I have an onc visit they attach an annoying bracelet to my wrist, and as I was finally getting around to cutting it off tonight, I cut through the Power Port bracelet, too. DH kind of freaked and said I would have to get a new one "right away". Maybe he thinks the power comes from the bracelet, like I'm a superhero or something

Anyway, anyone out there actually wear theirs all the time?

Thanks.

Bev

Nope, don' wear it but I do keep the card that came with the power port kit in my purse. None of the drs ever said anything about wearing the bracelet or even keeping the card in my purse.

Nope, I've never worn it either. Don't even have a clue where it may be or if I even kept it. I do keep the card in my purse though. Sometimes before a scan, a nurse will ask to see the card. Heck, most people won't even access our ports, so I'll be darned if I'm going to walk around with a cheap purple plastic bracelet. Now, if it was gold or platinum and had some sparkly jewel on it - that might be a different story.

John never wore his, not was there ever a moment when he regretted not wearing it. He kept the card in his wallet, but never needed that, either. The one part of the whole port kit that we never dreamed he would need was the informational pamphlet that came with it-- that would have gone a long ways towards mitigating the nightmare we went through when he went in for his first RFA after having it installed and the surgicenter nurse insisted , among other idiocies, that "you can't put CT dye through that thing." (!!) Later, we realized that the root of the problem was that the anesthesiologists and surgicenter nurses were completely unfamiliar with ports and especially Powerports. I was due to our experience and my protests to the VP at our HMO that a program was instituted to train all the nurses and doctors in that department about ports.

Looking back, if I knew then what I know now, I would have made it a point to carry that port informational booklet with me (along with John's Living Will) every time we went to the hospital. I would hope that doing that is no longer necessary, that doctors and nurses are all familiar with ports by now-- but it still might not be a bad idea, based on our hospital experiences with Murphy's Law.

Love the idea that the purple rubber bracelet is like Sampson's hair...

Ashlee H. wrote:Nope, I've never worn it either. Don't even have a clue where it may be or if I even kept it. I do keep the card in my purse though. Sometimes before a scan, a nurse will ask to see the card. Heck, most people won't even access our ports, so I'll be darned if I'm going to walk around with a cheap purple plastic bracelet. Now, if it was gold or platinum and had some sparkly jewel on it - that might be a different story.

You're so funny

Never even got a purple bracelet(thank God) but do carry my card in my bag. I do sometimes worry if they would even notice the port if I wind up in E.R.
pollo65

Never received a bracelet.

I did carry the card in my wallet - that was important in the event of any issues at the airport with screening, and also for information for any medical provider about the specifics of the port.

I carried the chemo port card in my wallet/purse.

Funny too --- no issues during airport screening -- in fact the airport security people had no idea what a chemo port was or looked like on a security scanner!! Don't tell the "terriorists" this as they seem to like the shoes and underwear

And for sure no one but the chemo nurses wanted to access the port EVER! Didn't bother me as the regular nurses and docs were very good at getting a vein.

Chrissy

I'm less than 3 days from port implant (Thurs a.m.), so I'll let you know what I get told. I wonder if the purple bracelet is only from Bard, the official PowerPort, which is purple.

I never even got a bracelet... Is my port purple? I am pretty sure it is from Bard I'll have to check it out when I get home.

I did have the card in my wallet, but lost my wallet. I didn't even think to replace it until I saw this thread. When I got my port I was given a bag with the hardware to access my port. We have that in an easily accessible location in case paramedics need it. After two years with the port I realize, if they don't have the hardware there is a goodchance they are not trained in accessing it. So I really don't know what good that might be.

I have never had problems with it in airport security. When I went to my Brother's Navy ship commisioning they had really tight security. My port set off the alarm, so then they did the wand and it went off right over the port. I just said quietly that I had a port and she waived me though.

Bev,
Like others, I keep the card in my wallet but never have worn the bracelet.

Bev you know that there is no silly questions! Mine came with a bracelet and a card. I was told that I needed to keep the card in my wallet in case of emergencies. I'm not sure why because nobody will access it except at the oncs office. I have the bracelet somwhere and purple is my favorite color, maybe I should go find it.

Bev G wrote:... Maybe he thinks the power comes from the bracelet, like I'm a superhero or something

You say it like there is some doubt!!!!

Of COURSE it gives you super powers...but instead of changing in and out of it in a phone booth, you have to change in and out of it in a bathroom stall. THAT"S how you access it's superpowers!

As for other's powers to access it, nope. It's bling if you like purple I suppose and OP pointed out lol. I do carry the card however and know where the information packets are. MAYBE I'll actually remember to keep the booklet on hand when I'm in a situation where it might be helpful... but then again, one would hope by now most places I'll go to are educated.

Silly Question...pfft! How could I possibly pass up on clicking that link? I think you were chanelling your super powers.



(hee hee... can you tell I got a giggle from your superhero cmment? )

I never wore the bracelet. I used to have the powerport mini card on my key ring, but that finally wore out and fell off. I used to carry the card in my wallet but I'm not even sure where that is now. I never had to use any of it anyway. If I am anywhere besides my oncs office all I do is tell "whoever" (nurse, tech, etc...) that I have a port and they get someone in there to access it. Maybe I'll see if I can find my card.

Angie

Bev G wrote:For those of you with Power Ports, do you wear the rubber bracelet all the time? I was told I HAD to wear it and I have, although I'm not sure why short of an EMT needing to see it if I was unconscious or something.

Hi, Bev,

I don't wear mine ever. However, I'm required to show the card every time I get a CT scan. The techs want to know for sure what kind of device I have.

Someone mentioned the purple bracelet color. I have very fair skin and the port (which is also purple, as you know) shows through slightly on my skin. A purplish lump on my chest seems as good an identifier as a card, but I still take the card with me to blood draws and CT scans.

Julie