Porta Cath

Hi Leonie, Thankyou for information it is really interesting to hear how others have handled the situation as everyone is so different. It is nice to hear your honesty and that it is all worthwhile.  I am not sure if I am having a local or a general but definitely hoping it is done under a general as I would rather wake up and it is done, not be aware of what is happening.

Thankyou and best wishes with your journey.

Wendy

Hi Jane

Thankyou for your information it is really comforting to know that you have had such a positive experience with your porta cath. I was feeling a bit aprehensive after talking with the surgeon and having him explain what can go wrong during surgery (as they have to for legal reasons) I said to him am I doing the right thing and he said definately. I am sure it will make chemo a lot easier and quicker not having to find the veins each time.   My very best wishes to you on your journey.

Wendy

I had my portacath installed a week before starting chemo.  It s the best thing i have done so far.  It was inserted while i was under general anesthetic. No way was I only having local. The Oncology nurses love portacaths and not hunting for veins. I have finished my chemo and am now getting herceptin every three weeks for one year. So I will have it for a while yet. You can have it in place for up to 5 years. I hope it all goes well for you.

Cheers

Chrissy D :)

Hi Wendy, As you can gather I call mine Penny.  She is a bit of a b....... but I have learned to live with her.  I had surgery on my left side and she is on my right side.  I had her inserted 2.5 weeks after I finished radiation therapy and the day before I commenced chemo.  I have a blood disorder so my surgeon put me in hospital to have it inserted.  I had a general - bit gorey to have a local.  It is inserted pretty deep into your tissue.  It is nearly eight weeks since I had the insertion and I still have yellow bruising.  I'm a bit of an unusual case though.  At first it was a bit hard to sleep - one side very tender from radiation and the other extremely bruised and sore from portacath insertion.  I learnt to sleep on my back.  I hope I snored to compete with my hubby.!!!  When I have chemo I feel so pleased that I have it when I see some others having struggles with veins.  My veins are shocking and I cringe every time I need to give blood.  One thing my surgeon stressed to me was "Don't let any Tom, Dick or Harry access your portacath"  In other words only the experts - oncology nurses etc.  I had to go into hospital after my first chemo and it was the oncology nurse who was called in to acces the port for the antibiotics drips.  When the oncology nurse accesses it for chemo, it doesn't hurt and it is much easier for them.  Good luck XLeonie