Problems with port

[k0chr]

First off, thank you all for the great information and links that have been posted. I feel much less stressed about starting chemo because of it.

Monday I start FOLFOX, 12 rounds. This past Friday I went for blood tests but the RN wasn't able to get a blood return from my port (it had been installed the previous Friday). After several attempts by 2 RNs including all the various repositionings, they recommended I come in early before my onc appointment to get a clot buster. She said it wasn't abnormal for this to occur and I've read about others having challenges with their ports. Is this likely a sign of more troubles to come with the port or it it common for this to be a one off?

[AmyG]

I've only had one nurse not be able to access mine and that's been in since April. She ended up drawing labs from my hand.

Hopefully it was just a one off for you too!

Good luck with FOLFOX, I have round 6 tomorrow. It's not awful but I can think of more fun things to do with my time!

[jep]

I’m sorry you are having trouble with your port....my husband has consistently had issues having blood drawn from his port....they have tried everything, and even did a “port study” to make sure that he was able to receive through the port....no problems there. Now he just has his blood drawn from his arm because it’s a pain to wait around for the meds that clear the port....he’s fine with it, but i’m Sure it could be an issue for someone who has a hard time giving blood from the arm....hopefully this is just a small glitch and it will work well from here on out!

[CRguy]

She said it wasn't abnormal for this to occur and I've read about others having challenges with their ports.

One thing you may wish to consider is just allowing the infusion nurses to access the port, and everyone else has to use arm veins ????

I had a Bard power port with a Groshong catheter ( good for infusions for scans etc. )
BUTT my cancer center ONLY allowed port access by chemo infusion nurses for FOLFOX.
They said there were less problems that way and other blood sampling and CT / MRI contrast infusions
HAD to use peripheral arm veins with temporary catheters.

I had my port about 3 years with regular flushes ( 4-6-weeks ) at the center and never had any problems with it.

Hope all goes well for you on Monday !
CRguy

[k0chr]

Good luck with FOLFOX, I have round 6 tomorrow. It's not awful but I can think of more fun things to do with my time!

Thank you. Round 1 wasn't too bad, though I did experience a lot of fatigue. One down, eleven to go!

[k0chr]

Now he just has his blood drawn from his arm because it’s a pain to wait around for the meds that clear the port

I think having blood draws in the arm is where I'm at, too. I went for my second blood draw and no return, so we did an arm stick. I'm with you on having to wait 30+ minutes just to get labs drawn.Thankfully my left arm is an easy draw. If that ever changes, weekly blood draws are going to be a problem.

[k0chr]

One thing you may wish to consider is just allowing the infusion nurses to access the port, and everyone else has to use arm veins ????

I had a Bard power port with a Groshong catheter ( good for infusions for scans etc. )
BUTT my cancer center ONLY allowed port access by chemo infusion nurses for FOLFOX.
They said there were less problems that way and other blood sampling and CT / MRI contrast infusions
HAD to use peripheral arm veins with temporary catheters.
CRguy

That's interesting about only allowing access for chemo infusions. The same nurses here do the blood draws via the port and the infusions. They need a blood return before they'll start the FOLFOX. It's looking like the clot buster is going to be a fixture in my life for the foreseeable future. Spending more time there isn't exactly on my bucket list.

Last Friday's blood draw on the port also failed, so we defaulted to the arm. The consensus of the RNs is that this next Friday's draw will also need to be done via the arm.

[AmyG]

God. What a pain in the ass. Or arm. Or port.

How are you feeling? I've got round 7 coming up next Monday. Fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks recently, but I'm feeling so much better. It helps to know there is an end in sight!

[k0chr]

How are you feeling? I've got round 7 coming up next Monday. Fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks recently, but I'm feeling so much better. It helps to know there is an end in sight!

I'm feeling very good, actually. Sorry to hear about the fatigue. It bites, especially when you have kids. Hope it keeps getting better. Is this round 7 of 12 or ...? More than half way would definitely warrant a celebration.

You're 5 rounds ahead of me; my 2nd is Monday as well. I think I get to graduate from the small room with a bed to the regular "lounge" with the big kids. lol

[MetastaticEquilibria]

One thing you may wish to consider is just allowing the infusion nurses to access the port, and everyone else has to use arm veins ????

I had a Bard power port with a Groshong catheter ( good for infusions for scans etc. )
BUTT my cancer center ONLY allowed port access by chemo infusion nurses for FOLFOX.
They said there were less problems that way and other blood sampling and CT / MRI contrast infusions
HAD to use peripheral arm veins with temporary catheters.
CRguy

That's interesting about only allowing access for chemo infusions. The same nurses here do the blood draws via the port and the infusions. They need a blood return before they'll start the FOLFOX. It's looking like the clot buster is going to be a fixture in my life for the foreseeable future. Spending more time there isn't exactly on my bucket list.

Last Friday's blood draw on the port also failed, so we defaulted to the arm. The consensus of the RNs is that this next Friday's draw will also need to be done via the arm.

I wish I could have my port used for blood samples, but I have a type that doesn’t back-flow. I have had it used for IV drips, though, which was much nicer than having my arm entangled in tubes. Made changing clothes a lot easier, too.

Too bad you can’t get draws from it any more. (Or at least this Friday.)

[AmyG]

I'm feeling very good, actually. Sorry to hear about the fatigue. It bites, especially when you have kids. Hope it keeps getting better. Is this round 7 of 12 or ...? More than half way would definitely warrant a celebration.

You're 5 rounds ahead of me; my 2nd is Monday as well. I think I get to graduate from the small room with a bed to the regular "lounge" with the big kids. lol

It will be 7 of 12! And I'll have a bit of a break before and after liver resection. I'm hoping to grow back some eyelashes in that time. Just so they can fall out again.

Why did they put you in a room? I've done all of mine in the chair with everyone else. They are pretty good in which to nap!

[NHMike]

I always had bloodwork taken from my arm instead of the port and that may be an option if the port is problemmatical.

[k0chr]

Why did they put you in a room? I've done all of mine in the chair with everyone else. They are pretty good in which to nap!

It was in case I had a reaction to some of the meds/chemo. It seemed odd since I'd not read about anyone else having the first infusion in bed. It was weirdly uncomfortable being fully dressed reclining in a bed, but whatever.

I'd never considered that I might lose eyelashes. My first thought is that it'd be weird, but my eyelashes (and eyebrows) are blonde so no one other an I will really notice.

[k0chr]

I always had bloodwork taken from my arm instead of the port and that may be an option if the port is problemmatical.

I think that's where I'm headed. So far four (or is it five?) nurses have tried to draw blood to no avail. The last one did get a very short blood return but by the time she had the vial attached it was all over. The staff phlebotomist is a peach so I'm happy to get to see her every week.