Forum Discussion
What procedures can use my portacath?
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.
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.
19 Replies
- 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)
- 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. - 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.
- @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
- 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. - 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 - 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. - 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 :) 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
- 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.
