I have a portacath inserted for chemo. Excellent for that as my hand veins are difficult to access.I have to go for a brain MRI / MRA on Friday, does anyone know if they can use the portacath if I need IV dye or anything?also can the portacath be used for a general anaesthetic when I go for right hand side mastectomy and lymph node clearance?The portacath was put on my left side.Getting a vein for my lumpectomy before the portacath was inserted was a nightmare, ended up getting the canular near my thumb and wrist, which was incredibly painful until it was removed.Really hoping it can be used for everything now.Asking as it can't be used for blood tests at usual blood test pathologists.

The port can be used for most things but, and it's a big but, most nurses aren't trained to use and maintain them. It's a problem. Oncology people access them all the time, but you can have trouble getting anyone else to use them. If the hospital you are going to has an Oncology dept, you might be able to get them to set a line up for you so everyone else can access it knowing someone else in the building knows what's what. It's worth asking the day before

Oh, thank you @Zoffiel I am going to an imaging company for the MRI. Perhaps I should ring and ask first.Drat, I thought it would be more universal.

@Unicornkisses I have to concur with Zoffiel, I'm pretty sure the portacath is not Universal, I know friends who tried to have it used for other things, but they won't touch it. You know its so weird, but I didnt get an option of a portacath I had a total of 12 infusions with dodgey veins have permanent cording in my right arm, looks hideous LOL and scarring all over my arms. From what Ive seen my friends who had Her2 got portacaths maybe due to the longer stint of 12 months Herceptin. x Melinda

When I was in hospital with febrile neutropaenia, they had to take blood cultures from both my portacath, and an arm vein to check for infections as, I was told, if there was a localised infection within the portacath itself, it would confuse the issue. So, one test from port to check for infection within it, and another from arm to check for systemic infection. Technicians doing a scan with contrast, wouldn't touch it either, as "not qualified to do so". I was also admitted to my local hospital, not my treating state hospital, and was kept...wait for it...I kid you not... an extra night and until lunchtime the following day, to have it de-accessed (after being medically discharged), due to not having a qualified nurse to do the job. By this time, I had had the total sh*ts, and told them they had half an hour to find someone, or else I was going to discharge myself, IV attached to portacath, and then go with my husband to my treating hospital. Needless to say, someone pitched up twenty minutes later (from home and off duty). Sighhhhh!!!

Yikes, it is not looking like I will be in luck then.mastectomy surgery in chemo treating hospital so hopefully I will be okay to access that time, they only have to come upstairs.Oh, well, I guess I have to resign myself to catheters on Friday.Already stressed about MRI, I am very claustrophobic and even watching the video to see how it works has me hyperventilating.Have Valium to take before, hoping it works.From one shitty procedure to the next on this bloody ride. Surgeon has suggested breast MRI before right side mastectomy just in case something in left side and we need to consider bilateral.I don't know how I will get through that.Going to the GP today to organise both Mental Health and Allied health management plans.

What procedures can use my portacath?

BoraBora
Member
8 years ago
As QML etc staff are not permitted to access portacaths if I need any blood tests the oncology nurses will do them for me ( I try to time them with portacath flush) I have terrible veins (usually use feet-ouch!) most surgeries/procedures my portacath was utilised- I spent weeks in hospital following infections from chemo on IV and utilisation of portacath was so easy ( room was located next to oncology so never had issues re accesss/qualified staff etc)
Unicornkisses
Member
8 years ago
Hang in there, LMK74. Yes, the first 10 days are foul. I just gave up and accepted it, tried to sleep as much as possible, if I was asleep I wasn't aware of feeling so bad, and it made the days go quicker.
Hoping you find the next dose a bit easier too.
LMK74
Member
8 years ago
Unicornkisses, glad to hear your feeling a bit better. Ten days in hospital for you and I spent the first ten days of my ac chemo flat on my back in bed. The fatigue was incredible and next Tuesday I have my second round. It all sucks but you're so close to being done with chemo. Hope all goes well for you.
Zoffiel
Member
8 years ago
@Unicornkisses , no wonder you feel ripped off, it's a grind, isn't it? It's good to know the finish line is in sight. Best of luck, Marg
Unicornkisses
Member
8 years ago
Thank you LMK74.
I feel a bit ripped off as this was supposed to be my feel good week.
I have chemo again on Monday.
I think I was thinking that I would avoid the hospitalisation thing, that so many others have experienced too, but no such luck.
I am feeling a bit better now and reassured that all the bloods have been pretty good except for a mild hepatitis.
Still the next Chemo is the second last one so I am heading for the finish line now.
LMK74
Member
8 years ago
Unicornkisses, sorry to hear you've been in hospital. I hope you feel better soon as much as you can on this poison.
Take care x
Unicornkisses
Member
8 years ago
Well, I have found out that they will use my portacath for other than just chemo.
I have just come out of 10 days in hospital on IV antibiotics for high temperatures that so far we don't know what caused them.
Gosford Private was very happy to use the portacath to attach the IV drip.
I think I must have been in the chemo wing because half the rooms had signs on them warning of cytotoxic handling prceedures, so perhaps that was why they were proficient in accessing it.
I still had to have blood taken from veins for the almost daily tests though.
It was good to be able to have both hands free, though being tied to the drip for so long was a pain.
It is amazing how exhausting doing nothing all day is.
ccasper
Member
8 years ago
Hi there

mine was only ever used for chemo or when I was neutropenic in the oncology ward in hospital. It wasn't used for my surgery or any scans. It's still very useful don't worry :)
Zoffiel
Member
8 years ago
The MRI probably won't be as bad as you think it will be @Unicornkisses
I'll let you into a personal secret, music really irritates me. Most noise does. Trying to explain this to the staff prior to the scan was problematic; they had a list of artists which I wouldn't even look at even though they kept thrusting it at me. I spent a season working on a drilling rig, I'm not frightened by noisy machines so couldn't see the point of replacing one aggravation with another. In the end I won when I threatened to crawl out off the bed if they didn't turn the ^%%#ing radio off. Poor souls, they couldn't process that for me the music was worse than the thumping, assumed I couldn't make up my mind and put it on anyway :)
So, I go into the machine a bit pissed off (counters any fear) and proceed with my backward counting and breathing program and before I know it, I'm out. It probably doesn't take a great deal of imagination to realize I'm the sort that hates being contained and tied down, but, strangely, these machines don't freak me.
We have a choice, you can say "I'm not doing it" and no-one will drag you in there. But in most of us go. The valium is a plan. Have one for me too :) Marg
Unicornkisses
Member
8 years ago
Thank you for your support, ladies. You are right, @hopesanddreams I will feel better once it is done and I have done everything to make sure I make the best choices, I must focus on that, and not a one hour procedure.
Thank you for that information, @wendyh . I guess that explains why it may not be used.

I will definitely ask about the possibility of using the port for the operation, Kath, the chemo nurses are so quick and efficient, unlike the crabby anaesthetist at my lumpectomy.