Ouch! Stitches pinching and poking

Just my two cents worth on ports. As you prob know I got to do chemo twice due to a recurrence. I didn't have a port the first time and have big regrets. It was offered but at the time I just freaked saying I didn't want anything in my body. I manged ok with the chemo, however it absolutely trashed what were once great veins. My veins have not recovered and that first chemo ended in Feb 2010. As a result every blood test I now have is a nightmare. I can't use my surgery arm which incidentally I have lymphdema in, but you shouldn't use it anyway because of the risk. The chemo ( well the type I had) turned my veins into barbed wire. Only the most experienced phlebotomist can get blood from me, and then it is in the back of my hand. I had to have a port second time, and have wished ever since that I had done it first time. Every chemo was a breeze. Needle in, no dramas. My port is under the skin. I do everything with it, shower, swim etc all the time. I had my port put in one day at the Wesley hospital under a twilight anaesthetic. I swore I was awake the whole time, but they assured me I wasn't and my first chemo there the following day. Once the site of the port healed I have not had any dramas. Actually it's a bit of a joke that I still have it. I just didn't want another procedure to get it out and so left it in until my next surgery. My surgeon will remove it next week when I have my other mastectomy and recon. The only slight pain in the butt was having to get it flushed every 6 weeks, but that takes only a couple of minutes. Anyway I know whatever decision you make will be right for you, just wanted to share my very positive port experience. Good luck tomorrow. Paula :)