Portocath

My portacath scar upset me more than my bilateral mastectomy....but it has healed nicely despite the crap scar position choice. 

Thank you all so much.  I am still very tender (just 7 days since it was inserted) and first chemo tomorrow.  I am definitely not ready to start swimming yet, but it seems like when I am ready I can work my way gently into it.  It is definitely my preferred exercise, so Yayyy  :)  Right at the moment I am not feeling the love for the surgeon who put the insert point right under my bra strap :s  I know it isn't where the port is, but right now it is very tender - oh, it was a male surgeon who I am sure didn't even think about it hahaha.  No - in all fairness I am happy with the job he did, just grumping about the irritation :D  
Thanks ladies - I am feeling really happy now and looking forward to getting back into the pool.

I find I am not restricted in most activities with my portacath. I think you will be fine swimming. Obviously if you experience discomfort ect check things with your nurses. Enjoy the water too. xx Christie

I swim with mine, but it is in a good position and I can't feel it at all so I'm assuming it's not pulling on anything. I took it easy for the first couple of weeks while I could still feel the stitches.

As Kath said  it may be a good idea not to go swimming on the day your portacath is used for treatment. If you do swim I recommend you don't over do things and do gentle strokes.  Your port is attached to your chest wall by three lots of sutures. There is a very small chance that if you are overly active the sutures could break. If the sutures break, there is a risk that the port can flip over. If it flips  they will try to fix it by manual manipulation but if that fails you will require another surgery. I have broken my sutures twice now.  The first time was 5 months after I had my port inserted. It flipped over and the manual manipulation failed resulting in a second surgery and anaesthetic. Then I broke my sutures again two weeks ago. Now my port is unattached and 'floating' in my chest but it hasn't flipped yet. The issue with my port is that it really isn't in the right place for my body type - it sits a little off-centre to my chest rather than up towards my shoulder like I see with other women.  My large breasts end up pulling on the sutures when I am in certain positions.  The nurses have still been able to use it while it has been floating but if it flips again I think I will have to have it removed as I can't keep having surgeries to fix it. Be reassured though they tell me my situation is very rare. My oncology nurse said that mine was the only flipped port he had seen in 15 yrs. 

Best of luck with it
Nadine

Yes. It will be tender for a while but eventually you will not feel it, tajes about 10 days to be healed up though.  It is completely protected by the skin. I just didn't go in tbe pool day of chemo when it was accessed. I only had real discomfort laying on my side when it got squished. Initially just hugging a pillow sorted. I didn't swim  proper swimming during chemo except breast stroke but did during herceptin..no issues at all.

Long lines you can't as they poke through the skin.

Hope this helps.
Kath x