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Have MS and needing to get a Port

Hello and Nice to meet everyone. :) I'm needing to get a Port and I'm curious if anyone has one. Do they have any issues with theirs and any tips or adivce would be appericated... I thank you so very much for your time.

Lisa
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your help JB

Lisa
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Avatar universal
Alex,

I'm sorry to hear that you have to do chemo, I hope that you are on your road to recovery. I thank you in advance for any information you can give me.

Do you have to be careful with it. I was told I wouldn't have to baby it. My problem is I'm not making it thru my infusions without my vein collpasing or them having trouble threading at the beginning. So they suggested a port, I don't know alot about them but was worried about the do's and dont's. Like does it hurt to lay on your tummy? I'm afraid of my grandkids sitting on my ap and bumping it. Is it going to rub on my bra? lol that kind of stuff can I exercise.

Thanks for your help Alex.
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667078 tn?1316000935
No my port is for chemo. It is the same kinda port. Make sure you get them to prescribe you some numbing cream. You put it on an hour or so before your infusion. Then put a little piece of saranwrap on it. It numbs the area for the stick. I had a harder time with the port when I was emaciated, but now that I have normal weight it is just there. I have known plenty of folks with them for tysabri.

Alex
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900662 tn?1469390305
best of luck to you...

Hope your need of a port isn't very long.

My son now has a port,  that is for his  Chemo treatment, and he is limited  and very careful.. he has about another 16 months for his port.


take care
JB
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Avatar universal
Alex,

Do you have a port for Tysabri?
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your help, yes mine is for the tysabri infusions, I've had great veins in the past but now it is taking them about 5 sticks before they are able to thread so we are discussing the port. I was just wondering if other MS members have ports how they were doing with them.

You know so much. :) Are you are nurse? And again thanks for your help
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667078 tn?1316000935
I have had a port since May.

Alex
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1045086 tn?1332126422
Accessing the port for an infusion still requires a needle stick.  There is an area in the center of the port disc (or reservoir) that serves as an accurate 'target' to pierce.  It is much easier than a vein to hit a bull's eye.  A single stick is usually all it takes.

You would need to make sure that only medical personnel who are knowledgeable about port use intend to use it for infusions.  Not every health care provider is familiar with them, willing to use them or experienced enough to use them with skill and safety (despite what they think).  As always, we have to make sure we know enough about our own health and medical equipment to have the confidence required to make good use of our personal 'STOP' and 'GO' choices (officially known as informed consent).

Sounds like you came here to educate yourself so you can make a good decision from the get-go.  Brave to you!  Wish I had more than this to offer.  I will try to get you some additional personal input here.  Otherwise, you may get more input from the cancer forum.  Members there are more likely to have experience with ports.  

Glad you joined us.  Please let us know how it goes.
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1045086 tn?1332126422
We do have one active member I'm aware of who had a port implanted to receive Tysabri infusions.  It was done when the monthly hunt-stick-miss-hunt again-stick again method of inserting a temporary line became too painful and burdensome to bear.

I've never had a med-port but my sister had one placed for chemotherapy treatments - twice.  She said the surgery itself was more uncomfortable than her (partial) mastectomy - not terrible, mostly just took her by surprise.  She was always glad she had the port when treatment time rolled around (that's why she had a second one placed years later when chemo was necessary again).

You may this already but:
A port is a device implanted under the skin of the chest.  It is a solution filled disc with flexible 'tubing' that threads into a major vessel or the heart.  It can be located under the skin by touch.  It may also be visible (as a quarter size bump) if you are thin or until it 'settles' into the surgical pocket that is created.
(to be continued)
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Avatar universal
Are you referring to a device so that meds can be pumped into your system on an ongoing basis?

We have had some members here doing that, but I don't think any of them are active these days.

I do know that this approach has both benefits and drawbacks, so I wish you well on your decision. It's not something that is done lightly--your neuro must have good reasons for this method of treatment.

ess
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900662 tn?1469390305
Why do you need a port?  


I''ve not heard of a port for MS
Have you posted on the correct forum?


take care
JB

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Avatar universal
Hi what is a POR??
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