Port not working

Hi Webs!

You're hysterical! And a good sport if I might say so. When I knew I was going to have to go for chemo I went for the port to avoid having all the poking and bruised arms. Then the first day I go in and the nurse must have used a darning needle to access the port. I lifted 2 feet off the chair.
It even hurt going out. This was not a good start.

The second nurse gave me a wonderful little tube of LMX4 anesthetic cream. The second time I went I put this stuff on and I tell y ou I felt nothing! It was wonderful. But I guess I also never thought of asking if they could use a smaller size needle. I'll have to remember size 10...for times when I'm low on the cream.

Best,
Gracie

Hi Webs,

I forgot about the crazy exercizes! LOL Yes, we had to do that a few times too! As far as needles and less experienced nurses - that has also happened to me. Not sure if this helps, but they always use a "#10" when accessing my port. God Bless, Holly

Well they got my port to work today! So even though I couldn't get chemo it was a good day. I had to hunch my shoulders, lean forward, turn my head to the right, take a deep breath and hold it, then cough really hard 3 times before it started working.

Webs:woohoo:

I (luckily) have never had problems with my port but it has never been used for blood draws - only infusions. Seems that's one way they manage to avoid problems with ports. I'm so sorry it's a problem for you when you already have so much to deal with!

The times Dick had problems with his Port is when inexperienced nurses put the needle in off center and missed the target. Sometimes they tried to fiddle with the needle and the second time they called in someone who had worked the infusion unit and she had to start over. I hope your Port starts to cooperate. Julie

Hi Charlotte,

My port would be tempramental at times...we had to use what they called "cath flow" - they put it in the port, let it sit for 1/2 hour, then the clot was usually dissolved. Occaisionally we had to do it twice. I learned to do a few tricks to keep it accessing easier....no laughing lol but it always accessed if I went braless:blush: I don't know why but that seemed to make a difference. I also drank a bottle of water just before chemo. Even then I had to "row" alot with my arm and that would help most times. That is what helped with me, Good luck and God Bless, Holly