The Colon Club

On Wednesday I have my consultation with the interventional radiologist ahead of the procedure on Friday morning. For those that have had a portacath put in, what is the procedure like? What questions should I ask at my consultation?

Hey, we're dx buddies. I'm 40, stage 3b dx 3/16. Assuming the port you're describing is the same as I have - they call it a Power Port - the install is at the bottom of your concern list. It was simple and essentially painless. Biggest pain in the ass was keeping it dry for some period of time after surgery. I am frankly amazed they can install something like that under the skin with so little discomfort and inconvenience.

A friend dropped me off for the procedure. I was asleep for part of the procedure (or maybe that was just me) . I was awake for the 2nd half when they were putting the tube in. I could feel it. I was VERY relaxed thanks to meds.

So ask if they put you out for part of the procedure .

I was able to get chemo the next day.

Good luck, it was a simple procedure for me.

Lee

Hello. My husband just had his port placed today. They gave him the "twilight sleep." They even asked if he wanted to be totally asleep for the whole procedure, and he said yes. He even snoozed for a while afterwards. They did an x-ray afterward to make sure the placement was successful. He couldn't eat for 12 hours before, and wasn't even allowed to drink water the morning of. Not sure about questions to ask. We also have a few friends who had ports, and they all were pretty much issue free. Good luck with everything!
jep

I was out completely...that was fine by me!
My main issue is location as I have to pad my bra strap and irs a real nuisance! Ask for location away from where strap will rub!
I did gave a bit of discomfort for a few weeks but then fine ...except for bra strap issue!
All the best for your treatment.
Xxc

I was out completely...that was fine by me!
My main issue is location as I have to pad my bra strap and it's a real nuisance! Ask for location away from where strap will rub!
I did have a bit of discomfort for a few weeks but then fine ...except for bra strap issue!
All the best for your treatment but sorry you are having to join us on this forum, even though it's a great forum!
Xx

Before my DH got his port (it was put in during surgery, see my signature, so he was asleep ) I had read advice to ask for it to be put on the right side to not have the seat belt rub on it. We live in a country where we drive on the right side of the road and hubby is doing most of the driving.
The 1st time I drove home after his chemo treatment, he was sitting beside me on the passenger seat and he said: "Thank you for asking about putting the port on the right side, sitting here I feel the seat belt rubbing the port". (There is always the option to sit in the back seat, behind the driver, if you are the passenger).

Good Luck /L

The only issue I had when my power port was installed was my neck was sore for a couple days, felt like I pulled a muscle. Other than that it was fine.

I do have the issue of the seat belt rubbing on it sometimes but I can usually adjust the seatbelt to prevent it from happening.

My DH was awake for it, they gave him some "happy" drugs but it didn't make him relax so be sure to ask for more if you are not happy! There wasn't real pain but it's stressful being in an OR and looking around at everything (I was in there for a while until they made me leave). You don't want the blood pressure reading shooting up from stress. He could not sleep on that side for a few nights so slept in the recliner. They would not put it on the left because they said that's where a pacemaker would go if ever needed.

Best wishes. You will like your port...we see people in the infusion room where the nurses can't find veins.

M

My surgeon had me tell him where my bra stap fell so he could place it away from there. Take note of where yours is, and if s/he doesn't ask you, make sure to tell them. I'm sure they'll accommodate you. I also had a bit of trouble with seatbelts, but that's easily adjusted and minor. I agree totally with the poster above who said that this is at the very bottom of your list of concerns. I came to be very grateful for my port along the way.

Best of luck to you,
Cj

The biggest question you have to answer is what side you want it on. The rest was a piece of cake. It didn't even hurt afterwards. I'm a side sleeper so it did take a week or two of sleeping on my back before I was comfortable sleeping on my side again but that was about it.

I chose to get it on the right side since I mainly do all the driving. Only bad thing about that is I will have to miss out on hunting season this year but I'm a terrible shot anyways so no big loss lol.

I hate my port placement - it's on my left side. It's too close to my armpit and it causes discomfort every single day. I think the pain was completely avoidable of they had just moved it about an inch closer to center then it would be in my pec muscle and it wouldn't cause lack of range in movement in my left arm and pain in my neck. It hurts wearing a seatbelt or bra. Port placement seems like it should be no big deal but in my experience it gets screwed up often. I can't wait to get rid of it.

My experience with Port insertion, was overall good.
I received full sedation that knocked me out for the install. Surgeon said I snored through most of it .
It took about 30 minutes for me to come out of a visual haze after surgery. Literally saw things all smudged together like a late stage van gogh painting - but with motion.
I did experience pain. First day I took a pain pill. Pain was much lower 2nd day and manageable without meds, but had a strange discomfort in the neck where line goes down into vein.
That took about 4-5 days before it was no longer noticeable. Now, I pretty much don't even realize the port is in. Once in a while after lifting some weights, or doing some other work that
involves heavy lifting or stressing, I'll get a minor glimpse of that same discomfort. So I try not to overdo on the lifting, but I'm back to lifting 50 lb items on regular basis. My port is supposedly
one of the best the nurses have seen as it fills the blood tubes in an instant.

Overall, the port has been one of the easiest parts of the journey - so don't sweat it.

best of wishes.