Lying here having had abdominal port to drain a... - My Ovacome

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Lying here having had abdominal port to drain ascites

MidwifeGill profile image
28 Replies

Well girls, just giving you feedback on having permanent abdominal port inserted.

Has ascites building and sloshing around 3 rd time ... Requested permanent port so we can tap off water at home as and when.

All went well, piece of cake... Much slower to drain as small bore needle but 1.5 litres already. Trying to help so have bum up in air ( reminds me of conception x lol ) and filled the bag ????so those of you who need regular draining ask for a permanent port and this is easily drained..... Still on alvastin and oral chemo as ca 125 up at 2200! No tumours seen on CT scan ! Bizarre x that's all for now from my hospital bed x

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MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill
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28 Replies

Hi Gill,

Ooooh you are brave!!!! Thinking of you and sending you love and good wishes x G x :-)

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply to

Thanks Gwen x

wendydee profile image
wendydee

Hi Gill! Glad u are having something to help to drain the ascites. Not as much fun as conception, eh? It all makes coping a bit easier. How are you feeling in yourself? Hope it's not too bad at the moment.

Love Wendy xx

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply towendydee

Hi Wendy... Home now and feeling bruised and battered I. Surgery site but 1500ml lighter ?? in myself as positive as always x everyday holds he possibility of a miracle x here and waiting x

Hi Gill, anything that makes life easier. I've only needed drained twice, 13ltrs first time 5 1/2 four weeks later, that was last year hope it will be the last.

Good luck

Chris xx

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply to

OMG 13.5 litres, how did you manage to walk? My first drainage with diagnosis was 5.5 litres and that was awful! I have such terrible memories of removal... They did it wrong and didn't release the pigs tail ending... Screamed the place down!!! Chemo normally gets rid of ascites but I am platinum resistant so we'll be juggling formulas.. Ascites still building with these oral chemo tablets x

MargaretJ profile image
MargaretJ in reply toMidwifeGill

You too! No one knew how to release the pig tail valve here either. Poor little houseman (actually a girl in hijab) must have been very shocked by my language! I do not know how many litres as the drain leaked but I was 12lb lighter when I got home! I think my yells were audible in Hull!

M

in reply toMidwifeGill

I was like a beached whale Gill. Could only waddle, and couldn't lie down, it felt as though I was drowning. I didn't feel a thing when they inserted the drain, I was just so relieved as up until it was done they weren't sure if they were going to do it. I assured them that I would not be leaving until they did so they could suit themselves, I had a be on the ward and was not going anywhere. It was drained over the weekend.

It must be a relief not having to go back and forth to have it drained. I think I'm having another build up, had last chemo in Oct and due to start again next month but that could be sooner.

How often do you need to drain?

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply to

As soon as chemo wears off, so every few months! Seem to be on continuous chemo.... Interesting that you are already booked to start again.. How does that happen?

Archiebanana profile image
Archiebanana

Hi Gill

All sounds good, pleased that it was relatively easy, a permanent port sounds a good idea.

I've never had much fluid so have no idea what it feels like, I had to have what little I had originally drained vaginally for testing as there was so little.

Hope you feel a lot better for it.

Love Linda xxx

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply toArchiebanana

This must be a good omen Linda x

Hi Gill

Sounds like a smart move, may be lots easier if this is a regular thing. Had drains a couple of times and the procedure was far worse than when I had an IP port. Only thing I would say is to be really careful when you head home - i found that the slightest nudge could irritate the site and take quite a while to calm down - you be v vocal if it gets uncomfortable... In the meantime enjoy the relief! Hope M solves that CA125 mystery soon for you.

Love

Sue xxx

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply to

Thanks sue... Remembering you had yours removed recently x

Will be observant and careful... Feeling battered this evening. I have 2 sites ? Why.

Did this happen to you? X

in reply toMidwifeGill

I had 2 sites for some reasons the go in one place and run a tube to the actual port under the skin, wher they have cut a larger incision, right? I never could figure out why. Double the healing points. Not surprised you feel battered, the whole ascites thing was exhausting anyway I found. :-( you need to crash out and sleep I think

Xxx

MargaretJ profile image
MargaretJ

Hi Gill!

Love thought of you with bum in air thinking of conception! Reminds me of a 1960's joke about pregnant girl asking Dr what position she'll be in when baby is born! Same as when you conceived says Dr! OMGsays girl, do I have to have it with me legs out of the car window?

Hope that brings a smile as you endure the discomfort!

Love M

in reply toMargaretJ

I remember that joke too Margaret lol

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply toMargaretJ

Laugh out loud x

ChrisH profile image
ChrisH in reply toMidwifeGill

Very funny!

Chris

citrine profile image
citrine

Hope the self drainage continues to go well Gill. Keep us posted. I looked 9 months pregnant by the time I was drained and would definitely be interested in this if it became a persistant problem.

Sending you love & best wishes

Mary xxx

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply tocitrine

Thanks Mary ... Seems to be a theme here.. Conception, pregnancy... Suppose ovaries are SO female x

MargaretJ profile image
MargaretJ

Me too Mary and, at 69, that was no joke! I am now keeping to the Slimming world diet so that any unexpected weight gain can be spotted early and dealt with severely! LOL!

jeanv profile image
jeanv

I have had a permanent drain fitted for 14 months now much easier than repeat visits to hospital. So glad I had this done as at the time was draining 1 ltr every 3/4 days, but at the moment it is only draining once a week sometimes not a lot. Much easier being in control.

MidwifeGill profile image
MidwifeGill in reply tojeanv

Hi jean... That is a lot of ascites! Glad the port is helping. I had a mini port in my arm for I v access and I am SO grateful for that too x it's all about managing this disease x

Madz profile image
Madz

It's good to learn about all these things should I need them in the future - the power of sharing. Am getting ct result tomorrow which was taken after chemo no 4 and I am very lucky not to have had as cites at all. Good luck with the port I'm all for ports my picc line has been great.

Big hugs Amanda xx

sarah1963 profile image
sarah1963

I hope its all still going well Gill now you are home.

Having my ascities drained made me think of my very own wine box., Yes pretty disgusting but I hope you are getting to grips with it. I'm impressed that Jean has had one for 14 months.

What is your oral chemo called? Always keen to know what is coming up next.

Love Sarah

ChrisH profile image
ChrisH

I didn't know they did perminent abdominal drain ports. It's something to know for the future! My last one hurt like hell coming out, so maybe the pigs tail ending was the problem there. Mind you, it hurt like hell going in too, so maybe it the uh doing it was a butcher at heart! My worst case of ascities was 13 litres too. I felt like a beached whale and waddled along, so it was a big relief to get rid! My oncologist has tried me on diuretics to try to slow the build up. It certainly seems to have worked, I gather there is some abdominal fluid, but not enough to worry about, so that's great. Prevention is much better than cure

Love Chris

MargaretJ profile image
MargaretJ

Hi Chris! none of them know how to release the hook! it took a gynae nurse who came onto the ward to release it! Oh the bliss!

hil65wil profile image
hil65wil

All the best Gill. Hope you continue to get relief.

Best wishes

Hilary xxx

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