I am to have a portacath fitted on wednesday as I start Vinorabline on Monday. I wondered what experience anyone had. I have read some of the old posts and I note that there was mention of it being done under a general anaesthetic but mine is going to be under local with sedation.
I am pleased as the last lot of chemo has wrecked my veins and getting contrast dyes in for scans and blood is murder. Also it’s going to mean hopefully that I can carry on with my usual activities.
Thanks Kathryn
I had one fitted in July and it’s been brilliant. Like you, my poor veins were crying out for mercy. I had it done under local anaesthetic - rather like dental anaesthetic. It wasn’t painful, just weird, to feel the surgeon’s fingers poking and pushing under my skin. I had a sedative as well, but that had completely worn off by the time I got called in.
Portacaths are much safer than hickman lines in terms of infection risk, as they are all enclosed under the skin. I consider myself fortunate to have one as the nurse told me sniffily that they were very expensive and you had to meet strict criteria to have one.
The only downsides - I was a bit upset at first at how noticeable it is - I’m quite slim so it protrudes a bit and I keep catching it as my move my hand past, and secondly there have been a couple of occasions when it mysteriously won’t give any blood. They have to spend ages flushing it through with saline before it will play ball. Also it does still prick when they put the needle in each time - well, you can’t have it all!
All the best for Wednesday,
Jacquie
Hi there,
My veins are complete rubbish so I sympathise with your problem. I had a hickman line for about six months which was only eventually removed as they thought it had given me an infection though this proved not to be the case, I think all lines can be temperamental when it comes to giving up blood. My hickman line often refused to give a drop. The chemo nurses would make me wave my arm about my head, cough and so on until it would budge. I did have mine put in under a general anasthaetic as my hospital was trying to reduce the risk of cross infection but I think it is more normal to have it done under a local. One other point, I don’t know if they can use a portacath for scan contrast - they can’t use a hickman - something to do with the pressure in which the contrast is injected. I have had many scans done without the contrast dye. I do have to go for a scan this week and this time I am going to go to my lovely blood man and get him to put a cannula in so that they can get the contrast into me. Why they didn’t suggest this to me many bruised arms ago, I don’t know.
Good Luck with the vinorelbine.
Jenny
xx
Hi
I had a portacath fitted back in July and have found it really great. It was done under a local anaesthetic with sedative and that was absolutely fine. In fact I was happily snoozing for some of it! I was a bit sore/bruised for a couple of days but it quickly settled down and has been so much easier for chemo than the frantic searching for a vein with me getting more and more stressed! I have had no problem having my blood taken using it but they didn’t use it for the contrast when I had my last scan. I couldn’t quite work out whether they couldn’t use it or whether the radiologist wasn’t trained to use it.
So good luck for Wednesday - I’m sure it will be fine. Kay
Yes, that’s another downer - I didn’t realise I’d still have to have needles for dye when having scans. But at least my veins weren’t all bruised as they’d had a nice rest, so it was easier to find one!
All the best
Jx
Thank You for all your comments, I wasn’t expecting it to show, is it obvious when you are wearing any sort of low cut top? Also do you keep it once chemo has finished and what happens about having it flushed out, do you have to pop back every 3 weeks. I have read that family can be taught to do it but my lot would be out of the door faster than you could say portacath!!
Thanks Kathryn
Hi, I heard it can stay in for up to 5 years but they would prob take it out if no further treatment imminent. I’ll be having Herceptin 3-weekly so will keep getting flushed then.
The surgeon was careful to try and place it as close to under the bra strap as possible, but in my case he was a bit out, so it does show with very rounded scoop neck tops but not with v-necks.
I’ve managed to learn to give myself subcutaneous injections of g-CSF (to everyone’s amazement who knows me!), but I don’t think i could do the flush as it makes me feel weak at the knees when they do it, if i think about what’s happening inside.
All the best for tomorrow - hope you sleep well
Jacquie x