Hello Ladies
I am hoping someone can tell me about the portacath procedure.
I am starting chemo on 25th April (4 FEC + 18 Herceptin) and at my pre-assessment was told I would need a portacath as my veins are small and not very accessible. (6 attempts for 2 vials of blood and I passed out)
So portacath is being fitted on 24th April - under a local anaesthetic. Nurse who booked me has recommended i go to GP and ask for Diazepam to take the edge off the anxiety as it will be uncomfortable. I asked for a general anaesthetic and she said there isn’t time to schedule you in for one as your chemo is starting soon.
I know many ladies have portacaths, could you share your experience with me please. Is it horrid, painful, scary?.. the thought of tubes being pushed and pulled through my veins towards my heart is freaking me out completely.
Wobbly smiles
PPixie x
Hi PPixie,
Please don’t worry too much about this. I had mine fitted under local anaesthetic, and they gave me a mild sedative too, so although I was awake I wasn’t really aware of what was going on, and certainly wasn’t in any pain - and the port is fantastic!
I’ve had mine for 18 months now and it works really well, and is so much less stressful than all that “hunt the vein” palaver.
Best wishes,
Julie x
Hi Julie
Thank you so much for sharing - I often feel that the medical profession become de-sentisised. I will certainly ask for a sedative.
I do know the portacath will make it all so much better for me and at least its taking my mind of the chemo!
Hugs
PPixie x
Hi PPixie…you’ll love having the port. So easy to have treatment & also get blood out of you! You just feel a very slight pin prick as the needle goes in to the port & that’s it! I also love the fact it doesn’t interfere with normal life as it’s hidden beneath the skin & no tubes dangling from your arm etc. any discomfort/awareness of the port after fitting does go away & you forget you have it! I slept on my back for a while until I felt comfortable sleeping on my side again. Never give it a second thought now! I had mine fitted under general but regretted that as it left me with a sore throat for my first chemo next day. I shall have it removed using just a local. I think I was just feeling frightened when I was having it fitted but they do sedate you if it’s a local anaesthetic do you’re not really aware of what’s going on.
Good luck to you
Twinky x
Hi PPixie
I second what both Twinky68 and geewhiz have told you. Mine was fitted under a local anaesthetic and I didn’t feel a thing and even chatted whilst having it inserted - if I did doze over during the procedure I certainly do not remember doing so!
No worries about having it flushed once a week and no risk of infection either and sooo much easier than playing ‘hunt a vein’! I just wish I had been advised to have one fitted BEFORE my veins gave up after my 1st couple of FECs.
The only thing to remember is that it may not be able to be used if you have either a MUGA-scan, a CT scan or an MRI scan. Mine can’t be although I think that there are some types that will allow this.
Good luck and let me know how you get on please.
Mazzalou
Hi Mazzalou,
Yes, you are right that there are different types of port. I’m lucky and have a “Power” port, which as far as I understand it means that it can cope with higher speed infusions than a normal port. As a result, mine has been used for the contrast for CT scans as well as taking blood, having blood transfusions and administering chemo and other drugs. Not everyone is trained in their use yet (at my hospital anyway) so sometimes I have to go to the chemo ward to get “hooked up”, but it all seems to work very well. The only things I have still needed a conventional needle for are general anaesthetics and the nuclear injection for a bone scan.
Best wishes,
Julie x
Hello
Thank you ladies, I feel a bit steadier now - and will make sure I ask them to sedate me - either that or bonk me over the head with something heavy!
Am finding this whole BC journey just one set of eejy beejies after another…
On Thursday I am off to nuclear medicine for a cardiac ventriculography - no idea what it is for and about until jaynek on here told me.
Smiles
PPixie x
Lucky you geewhizz - I wish I had a ‘power-port’ but sometimes we just don’t have a choice or even know that there are alternatives. Still, I am now half-way through my herceptin sessions so not long now. As much as I appreciate having my port it will still be nice to say ‘good-bye’ to it, hopefully later on this year.
Hi,
I had a port fitted about 7 weeks ago it is a power port but not sure my hospital staff have been trained to use it for CT.
Anyway, I had it put in under local, without any sedation! Even without sedation it wasn’t too bad, you can feel a bit of pushing going on but not pain and after months of search the veins I am so pleased to have it and if I had the choice again I’d jump at it - good luck xx