Port Insertion Tomorrow

I had mine under general anaesthetic, but the after effects may be similar.
You have a 2cm approx wound in your chest.
You should have an X-ray after the procedure to make sure it is in the right place. Very interesting to look at!
I had strange symptoms from the next day and for about two to three weeks later.
I swear I could feel it in the vein going down into my heart. I had strange referred pains behind my opposite ear and jaw, pains in my upper chest and neck, weird feelings in my throat especially when I swallowed. I was quite miserable for a week or so after the operation.
I did ring and check with my specialist about them and they told me if they continued for another week to come in and get checked, but by then the symptoms had reduced.
The area was bruised and sore for about 10-14 days after.

Using the port for the first time was very emotional, I only had in put in a week before chemo started so the area was still quite tender, and it hurt accessing it. Maybe ask if you can take pain tablets beforehand, I think it would have helped.
It helped having my husband there to hold my hand as it was accessed.
It was as much the realisation of the start of chemo and what it meant as the discomfort of accessing the port though.

Once the port settled down it was okay, just rubbed on the seatbelt when I was a passenger (left side port) and was irritated by some bras.

Accessing it became easier, less confronting and quick.
It was a real bonus in Hospital on IV antibiotics as you have your hands free without worrying about catching the tubes on anything.
You still have to use your veins for scans, bloodtests and some other things, but at least it saves your veins for them.

Good luck with your port insertion and chemo following.

I had mine put in on the morning of my first chemo. It was done only with a local as they wouldn't do mine with twilight anaetthetic (which is usually used), due to other preexisting medical concerns with me. The other option for me, was to have the procedure done with the twilight, but that it would have to be done with an anaesthetist giving it and that this would have caused a two week delay. So I said stuff it, just give me the local and get on with it. There was very little pain as such, just having the local in the neck as well as on the chest. After that, it was just a feeling of a lot of pushing and pulling and pressure, but not painful.Afterwards, both sites healed very quickly and have left faint scars of about 1cm on the neck and about 2cm on the chest. The upper chest one looks like a fat two dollar coin is under the scar, and this is the top of the port. It too a while for me to get used to the feel of it, particularly the catheter which runs between the two areas, (under the skin), but now I hardly notice it at all. I had six months of chemo through my port, and am still on the herceptin (three weekly X 17 doses)...one more to go Yippeeee!!! The very best thing for me as I have terrible veins after being on blood thinners for eighteen years prior to the cancer and having to have blood tests sometimes as often as weekly to monitor the warfarin. I also have an autoimmune disease which results in my skin being very thick and hard...was told taking blood from me was like as if I was wearing a raincoat, (to get through the skin). Then finding the scarred vein was another matter. Good luck, you'll be pleased you did. And by the way, to access the port is just a pressing sensation with a very small prick...I get into more of a tizz having a finger prick to test my blood sugar.

I was sedated when mine was inserted @ The Northern Hospital, I remember nothing but having it inserted was one of the best decisions I ever made & my Oncologist agreed it could stay in even when Chemo was over, makes blood tests etc soooooo much easier..

I suffered no pain at all, though I bought a sheepskin seat belt cover as I found the seat belt annoyed it a bit.

I get mine on the 6th Nov, looking forward to it as my veins suck 

I had mine put in under a general. I had very sore neck and shoulder after the surgery as well as really bad headaches which made me regret getting it in the beginning, but all this went away after 2 weeks and now I think it was the best thing I could've done.  It really saved my veins ans helped me get through 12 months of Herceptin. Mine also flipped and I had to have a second surgery, but in  hindsight that was only a minor hiccup and I still think my port is great. Good luck.