Port Insertion Tomorrow

Intriguing invitation Cate64 and since my diagnosis/treatment/recovery I pretty much rule nothing out.  Will talk more when contacting you about City2Sea.
Fiona

@Fiona2 how do you feel about joining our Miss Muddy 2018 team??

Well done You.  Just one step at a time and with the first one now behind you.  Good luck with your chemo and yes,  I totally agree that it is better to be doing something to fight this thing.  Whilst it took a little while to get going,  I found that I managed the chemo much better once I decided to make exercise an integral part of my treatment.  I just started with walks down at the local park and then gentle rides on my bike as I built my tolerance up. Maybe you have other strengths to help get you through?  If so, play to them and use whatever helps you to feel good and lift your mood.  And soak up any support that might be on offer as now is the time to let others carry you as you have a long haul ahead of you. Keep putting that one foot in front of the other, as we all are and best wishes.

It's wonderful how action, even if it's not all that pleasant, makes us feel better! Good luck for Tuesday. 

Hiya all done and dusted!! Was a little sore once the local had worn off last night but a couple of paracetamol sorted that out. Wasn't as bad as i'd thought it would be although when i found the 10 people wandering around me all looking very professional it was a bit nerve wracking.  But all good in the end.
Because I'm having chemo before my surgery they decided to position my port on the left side so it can stay there through all my treatment.  Means that i can drive my car ( writing this while waiting for it to be serviced) and the seatbelt doesn't catch the port. 
Well just chemo to look forward to on tuesday now!! Another step on the path.
Feel much better now that I'm actively going to be doing something to actively fight this thing rather than just to sit passively and let it run riot!!

I had my port inserted under twilight & a local anesthetic, best thing I ever did! My veins are crappy & the blood tests the day before my chemo were way more stressful as they had to use my veins in my arm. 
Having chemo through the port is definitely the best way IMO. 
Best of luck, and try to just relax, it's a pretty simple proceedure. Be sure to insist on some endone or similar for the first couple of days as you will have a very sore neck & chest & be really bruised for a few days. The hospital will give you Emla patches (ask for them of they don't offer) to put on at least an hour before your chemo. so you don't even feel the needle going into the port. 
Best of luck, Cat

@Fiona2 I to have found everything possible with the port in place, I intend on keeping mine in place for as long as I am allowed. I have had it accessed a couple of times without having had the Emla & found it hurts no more being accessed than a normal in the vein blood test does. &&& like you I find the seat-belt can annoy me as it sits right on it so I just bought a sheepskin cover & that works a treat.
Bring on City2Sea!!
Cate

I have a Port in since March and have never had any pain or any issues with it. I was very aware of it being under my skin for the first week or so and that freaked me out a little bit when I thought about it so I stopped thinking about it!! It’s  so convenient for chemo and blood tests I love it! My 4yr old asked me in the shower if it was my nipple growing back and was very relieved when I told him it wasn’t hahaha!! I have had a double mastectomy so it’s a pretty obvious lump on my flat chest!! 

I've had my port in for 15 months now and it was put in under a general the day before I started chemo so I didn't feel a thing.  I do find it a bit tender on the chest, particularly under the seatbelt, so I keep it covered with a Nexcare waterproof dressing most of the time.  And I apply Emlar cream topically which numbs it prior to it being accessed for Herceptin treatments.  The anaesthetist was pretty keen to reassure me that it was possible to lead a normal active life with the port in place.  Cycling, swimming, jogging?  No problem he said.  What about yoga?  Yes yoga is fine he replied.  And inversions?  What are they he asked? You know, like doing a head stand or a shoulder stand.  Hmm....no one has ever asked that one before so I'm not sure?   Well I took six months off the yoga during the chemo as I was way too wonky with the balance but since then I've been back into it and when I front up in about a month's time to have the port removed, i will happily tell him that all these things are possible with the port in place.

Hi all
thanks for your comments, I'm a little nervous but the thought of them trying to access a decent vein throughout my chemotherapy is driving the nerves away.  L xx