Do you ever forget your port is there?

[vickster]

I had my port put in a week ago. I can feel that it's there; it feels like someone is lightly pushing on my chest with their thumb. Do you ever forget it's not there? Does that feeling ever go away?

I tried doing yoga today to try and release some of this tension. When I move my head to the left where I put my ear towards my left shoulder, I have a sharp pain that goes down my right shoulder, from my clavicle to right above where my stitches are. Is this normal?

Also, when I take a deep breath, I have an achiness in my throat. I've had both of these sensations since surgery last week. Is it all just part of the healing process? Will it go away?

[disco nap]

Mine took about 2 weeks - and maybe even up to 3 weeks - to completely heal - now I never know it's there unless I accidentally touch it. You have no idea how many times I've been feeling for lumps (breast self exam) and felt my port and said "Awwww DAMN, now I have breast cancer too!" and then realized it's just my port. Dah!

The pains normally go away - give it another week or so and if you're still feeling pains, talk to the surgeon. I do yoga also and it never affects my port - give it time.

[azahar]

It's been almost two years and I don't notice it at all anymore. Can't remember when that happened, but after a week - like you - I was still pretty uncomfortable, though I think some of that was psychological. It'll get better.

[Canadianmom]

I've had my port for approx six weeks and hate it. I am not very heavy and have very little tissue/fat on my chest so you can see every little bump on the port through my skin. I worry that it will wear right through. Well meaning friends who hug me a bit to tight ...ouch. Maybe if I gain 20 lbs it will be more comfortable.

[aellis]

I have had my port for a year now and hardly ever remember that it is there. If i remember correctly it took about 2 weeks for the soreness to entirely go away. Once that was gone I have had no problems from it. It has worked everytime I have had a txment or bloodwork done.

[Canadianmom]

Definitely love it on infusion days!

[disco nap]

Maybe if I gain 20 lbs it will be more comfortable.

Hey, maybe this is why my port is so comfy - I did gain 20 pounds on chemo! Well, truthfully, the original placement was buried pretty deep into my breast tissue - the surgeon did that on purpose to hide it better - which may explain why i barely notice it. That, and the extra 20 pounds of course!

[LeeT]

i have had my port since September and love it. I don't even think about it on most days. Hang in there I experienced the same pain for the first few weeks and my throat hurt like hell!And the pain in the clavicle was the same for me...I thought that I had a blood clot cause I was in so much pain- they checked it out and was all normal.
Just be patient it will be well worth it once you are more comfortable with it- much better than a picc.

[jmarie]

Maybe if I gain 20 lbs it will be more comfortable.

Hey, maybe this is why my port is so comfy - I did gain 20 pounds on chemo! Well, truthfully, the original placement was buried pretty deep into my breast tissue - the surgeon did that on purpose to hide it better - which may explain why i barely notice it. That, and the extra 20 pounds of course!

Mine bothered me a lot until I gained weight. It stuck out like an inch from my chest and you could see it through any shirt I wore. If I laid on my left side my collarbone would ache for hours. Now that I gained weight I don't hardly notice it unless little girl kicks or headbutts it

[azahar]

Have to say that the position of my port (pretty much smack dab between "the girls") was a bit of a stupid place for it. The surgeon said it was so I could still wear low cut tops. Duh. Anyhow, for ages I thought lying on my side and squashing the port between my boobs would somehow damage or dislodge it ... never happened.

I also have to say how surprised I was by how much it HURT the first week after it was installed. And I did get the collarbone pain for awhile, but haven't had it in ages.

In any case, I don't care about the slight discomforts I've experienced - not having to get chemo IN THE HAND VEIN - makes it all worthwhile, even the monthly hospital visits to get the port flushed out.

[SkiFletch]

yeah, I remember feeling my port constantly after it was installed vickster. I don't remember exaclty when it happened, but probably around halfway through chemo I finally forgot about it. Now, a full year after it's installation, I don't notice it at all. Don't even see it in the mirror . It takes time, but it does happen

[nicola smith]

I stopped noticing it almost right away, except when showering. It's a bit of a bump (like a very short flesh-coloured Hell-boy' horn).

...unlike the PICC which I never stopped noticing!

[tmm903]

I don't pay any mind to my port. The only time I even really think about it is when I look in the mirror. As for it being less noticable is you gain weight--highly unlikely. I am on the heavier side and have plenty of tissue in that area and you can still see the little bumps and the shape of the port. I'm to the point now--closing in on a year of it being in place---that I don't think about it and even wear shirts that leave it exposed. I find that it adds character and often opens up question and answer time when I'm out---which I don't mind at all. Talking about having colon cancer makes it all better at times.

[thostie]

mine is right under my collar bone and is very noticeable. its impossible for me to forget its there because i can see it so clearly. i catch people staring at it all the time, i wish it was placed lower

[AJS]

I've had my port for over 2 years now and don't even think about it being there. Mine is just below my collar bone on the right side and I have just a slight "bump". I've always wore tank tops and lower cut tops during warm weather and no one has ever mentioned it. Actually my scar is more visible. My husband calls it "my little alien".