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Nadi's avatar
Nadi
Member
10 years ago

Best way to correct a flipped port?

Hi all. Has anyone who has had a port ever had it flip over? We couldn't access my port this week. Xray confirmed it has rolled over. I was told there are two ways to fix this: surgery or external manipulation. I really don't want another surgery even if it is a simple one, but I am concerned about how much a manipulation might hurt. I still need my port until January next year.  Has anyone had their surgeon manipulate it back over, and if so what was that like?

Thnx 

Nadine

6 Replies

  • Nadi's avatar
    Nadi
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Airlie. I have had 6 doses of Herceptin and haven't had any side effects. I have heart scans every 3 months with my next one coming up on May 17th. They monitor the heart really closely so most women don"t have a problem. I had shortness of breath but that was from the docetaxal I was on. Once I stopped that drug the shortness of breath went away and I don't have any problems on the Herceptin.  Good luck with it all.

    Nadine

  • airlie's avatar
    airlie
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Nadi.

    I hope your port problem is resolved quickly.

    Can I ask how you are going on Herceptin? 

    I have finished round 4 of EC and in a fortnight start on Paclitaxel weekly for 12 weeks with  Herceptin being introduced 3 weekly. 

    Am really anxious as the side effects seem very scary with both drugs? -

    ?? thanks Airlie

  • Nadi's avatar
    Nadi
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi. Yep had an X-ray to confirmed it has rolled over. They ended up given me Herceptin through a vein in my wrist. But they will still need to access it next round. They haven't mentioned arm exercises just that the Dr could use his hands to grab it from the outside and try and flip it over. Every time I touch it like that myself it hurts a lot. Hopefully as Michelle suggested they will give me lots of meds before they try it. I'll mention the arm exercises and see what they say.

  • Alsopt's avatar
    Alsopt
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Nadine the tip of mine flipped into another spot so they could never draw from it.  I had an X-ray prior to the next 10 chemos to ensure it was safe to use it was it just was in a different spot that had less blood flow - did they x Ray?  When it was taken out the team found it bizarre how it had moved.  I hope they can do something similar for you I told then no way were they replacing it -  we did lots of arm excercises etc to move it - never worked we just worked with x Rays 

  • Michelle_R's avatar
    Michelle_R
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Nadi, my port didn't flip. but in this day and age I am sure they would give you a whiff of something to block any pain, like when they re-set a shoulder.  I think it's called twilight sedation and you don't remember anything.  Best of luck. xxx Michelle

  • airlie's avatar
    airlie
    Member
    10 years ago

    That sounds awful. And I'm sure it would be painful even though it hasn't happened to me.

    I often feel like mine is growing and will pop out of my skin any minute.

    Hope other ladies can help you.

    Good luck with it.

    X ??  airlie