received port

[tmberwoof]

So i got a power port implanted yesterday. and am a bit sore today, but I think its more from consciously not moving my arm. i took a pain pill hydrocodon and doing pretty good about now. i can see the port line in the vein in my neck, haven't taken the bandage off yet, as the doc said to leave that on for 2 days, then i can remove it and can shower. getting ready to get a ct of my liver again. so they have a base line pictures so they can tell if the chemo is working or not. i will update as much as i can as to what i am going thru

tmberwoof

stage 4 colon cancer living on my liver

[DarknessEmbraced]

I hope your chemo and scans go well!*hugs*

[Lee]

Good luck with your upcoming scans. Hope the chemo works.

My port wept for a few days following my port being put in. Got concerned and had surgeon look at it. Guess all was fine. I found being a passenger in a car with seat belt going across shoulder to be a problem (I'm on the short side, so that could be the real problem), butt that shoulder strap would hit that tubing right on. I had to remove shoulder strap to avoid tubing and neck being irritated.

Good luck,

Lee

[Volfan]

I second the seatbelt issue.
Also make sure your bowels keep moving. The anesthesia with the pain pills will slow your bowels down.
I didn't poop for 5 days and ended up in the er with acute constipation.
Also if you use the lidocaine they give you you won't feel when they stick you. But if you forget it the stick isn't bad at all.
If you use the lidocaine a small piece of syranwrap will work. Don't do like I did the first time. I wrapped all around my chest and shoulder. The nurse knew it was my first time after seeing that.

[tmberwoof]

Thank you for the advice on the shoulder strap. i vaguely remember the ride home from the hospital but i do remember the shoulder strap hitting right on bandages covering the port. strange looking in the mirror and seeing the small bulge/bump in my neck where the tube is at. haven't removed the bandage completely but can see just below the edge of the bandage.
am glad your scare turned out to be no worries. Lee.
I know sometimes the little worries sometimes turn into big problems, and the big worries turn to be little or nothing.


Also thank you for the reminder of the constipation,gonna have to remember to take the softener, which i hate taking anyway.

i also think the reality of cancer in my body is starting to hit home with me, even more so as the days/weeks go by. right now i am denying it my own head even though i talk about it to certain people.

i am also going to take note book with me pretty much everywhere i go and start writing things down. i am starting not to remember certain things like appointments and different thing people tell me. i am not certain how or if that ties into my mindset right now . or if it is a different problem. but probably talk to someone else about this as it seems to be occurring more and more frequently.

Tmberwoof


stage 4 colon cancer living in my liver

[Volfan]

Don't be hard on yourself about forgetting and mixed feelings. The first 6-8 weeks from diagnosis it is just a ton of shit thrown at you. Once you get into a groove with treatment that hectic part seems to improve a lot. At least it did for me.

Here some good news I'll share with you. A lady at chemo the sametime I was getting chemo was so excited. She has colorectal cancer with liver mets and after just 4 treatments she said her tumor marker had dropped over 50%. She started crying as she was telling me about it. She was so happy and it literally made me feel great hearing about it.

[Mercy110]

I second the seatbelt issue.
Also make sure your bowels keep moving. The anesthesia with the pain pills will slow your bowels down.
I didn't poop for 5 days and ended up in the er with acute constipation.
Also if you use the lidocaine they give you you won't feel when they stick you. But if you forget it the stick isn't bad at all.
If you use the lidocaine a small piece of syranwrap will work. Don't do like I did the first time. I wrapped all around my chest and shoulder. The nurse knew it was my first time after seeing that.

Hello. I am Mercy from Hong Kong. My mum has multiple lung mets and the onco suggested her to change chemo (xeloda alone). She is going to use Folfox and Avastin this Sat. This is the first time she changes her chemo and we know that oxa is toxic to nerves. May I ask what side effects you has undergone so far (for Folfox)? I am quite worried about her as she is going to stay in the hospital that we can only visit her in specific timeslot. Not sure if there is anything we can do to make her feel better.
Thanks.

[NHMike]

The last couple of cars that I drove had adjustable mount points on the car frame so you could adjust where the seatbelt hits you on the chest or shoulder. In the old days, there were devices that changed the location of where it hit as well - these were designed for teenagers.

[Volfan]

I second the seatbelt issue.
Also make sure your bowels keep moving. The anesthesia with the pain pills will slow your bowels down.
I didn't poop for 5 days and ended up in the er with acute constipation.
Also if you use the lidocaine they give you you won't feel when they stick you. But if you forget it the stick isn't bad at all.
If you use the lidocaine a small piece of syranwrap will work. Don't do like I did the first time. I wrapped all around my chest and shoulder. The nurse knew it was my first time after seeing that.

Hello. I am Mercy from Hong Kong. My mum has multiple lung mets and the onco suggested her to change chemo (xeloda alone). She is going to use Folfox and Avastin this Sat. This is the first time she changes her chemo and we know that oxa is toxic to nerves. May I ask what side effects you has undergone so far (for Folfox)? I am quite worried about her as she is going to stay in the hospital that we can only visit her in specific timeslot. Not sure if there is anything we can do to make her feel better.
Thanks.

I've been fortunate with my side effects. When avastin was added it actually helped with constipation.
The main issues I've had is fatigue and stomach problems that includes slowed down bowels and stomach cramping.
I don't have real bad neuropathy just some tingling in my feet and I feel like I have calluses on my index fingers and thumbs.
Also for about a week after treatment she will want to avoid cold drinks and food and touching cold stuff.
Best wishes for your mom.

[tmberwoof]

Mercy110

I have not started chemo yet but was advised i am to be started on folfax5. good luck to mum and i will keep her in my prayers as well as everyone here.
there are no markers in my blood. the only way to tell if chemo is working is by pictures. the first set of pics is CT tomorrow. then another appointment on the 12th to discuss the chemo treatment.
i am fairly certain that blood will be drawn to check blood counts.

Tmberwoof


stage4 colon cancer living in my liver

[susie0915]

I hope everything goes well for you. I never had a port so I have no advice for that. My infusions were done through IV. Good Luck

[Mercy110]

Thank you for your replies. I hope my mum is doing well. What we rely want to do is to remove those spots in lungs by surgery but most onco said impossible. And we cannot afford tre
atments outside HK so we are rely hoping Avastin can remove those spots, even it is difficult. Prayers to you all.

[mhf1986]

It sounds strange, but you will like having a port. We see so many people in the infusion room who have problems with veins and they have to call over the "extra experienced nurse" to find a way to make it work. The port is boom, done.

DH had treatment Monday afternoon and I removed needle today. We are fanatical about alcohol swabs when doing so to reduce chance of infection. Bought Bandaids with a little neosporin on them too.

He's tired today but OK except for swollen fingers that are painful. 10 months on this regime and counting...

Best wishes to you!

[Lee]

The last couple of cars that I drove had adjustable mount points on the car frame so you could adjust where the seatbelt hits you on the chest or shoulder. In the old days, there were devices that changed the location of where it hit as well - these were designed for teenagers.

Please understand this was a 1999 Ford Expedition. Yes it could be adjusted some (I believe about 2 points), butt for me not enough. Believe me I tried. Putting that shoulder strap behind me was the best solution.

Good luck,

Lee

[jens22]

I had a Port and decided that everything abut them is jut Weird? I always slept with a pillow under my arm. It took me about 4 weeks to get over the fear of bumping it. I did feel the Tubing in my neck which was also weird. Ask for EMLA cream. I always used it 2 hours before anyone used my port and covered it with Tegaderm when the cream was on . It numbes Nicely......the best part is it may chemo so much easier and saved my life!!