Hello sisters, I am planning to have a mediport implant because my veins are so thin and it usually takes 3 tries for the nurse to draw blood. What brand are your ports and are you happy that you had the port implant? How long does the procedure take?
Thank you.
yes, I also have this problem so I hope you get a few answers 🌸
I believe mine is called a Bard Power Port. Had it put in going on 8 years ago at M D Anderson. Don’t remember how long it took - I was asleep! But I don’t think it took very long. Still working perfectly. Use it for scans and blood draws. Make sure I get it flushed. I do mine every 6 weeks instead of 4 and have had no trouble. I think they have a newer version port now that’s even better.
Thank you for sharing your experience. 8 years wow! I’m glad you are happy with it. Was it a surgeon or a radiologist who did the implant ?
it was a surgeon. Dr Ervin Brown. He has done over 15,000 ports over the last 17 years at M D Anderson. I believe all he does are ports.
I had a consult with my onc yesterday and he said that a thoracic surgeon does the implant.
Hi
My port is by a French company called Perouse Medical. I am in the UK.
I am very very happy I have the port - it is unusual on the NHS (and in fact I had it done privately - long story). Makes all the iv stuff so much easier (and quicker). Also they can use it to take blood. It hardly hurts when they stick the needle in.
I also had a port for 18 months in 2016-17 when I had my primary cancer. When it was taken out I had only the tiniest scar! The same surgeon put this one in. It took about 45 minutes, I just had local anaesthetic, there is a lot of tugging and it was a bit uncomfortable, also unnerving with blood trickling down when he cut open the jugular vein 😂. But I was right as rain afterwards, took a few weeks to heal, they used it for the first time about 4-5 weeks after it was put in.
I definitely recommend it.
All the best
Lucy
Hi Lucy. Thanks for the reply. So nice to hear from you. I am glad that you are pleased with your port. Next time I see my onc, I will ask him what brands are available here in the Philippines.
hi! I think I have a bard power port too. I’ve had it since 2014! My 1st of chemo. I had to insist on getting one because me and needles are not friends. I love it. When I was not receiving chemo for years I had to flush it every 6 weeks by going to clinic. Now I’m using it again. Still works. Still happy I did it. I was awake but locally numbed and happy on Ativan lol. Doesn’t hurt or show. I highly recommend it.
Hi. I will ask my onc if Bard power port is available here. Now that you are using it again, how often do you have it flushed?
I’m back to having chemo so when I do chemo they flush it so I don’t have to go to the clinic for it. It totally doesn’t bothers me. I can take showers and baths and go into hot tub.
I've been thinking about this too. Veins are shot!
Mine are really thin and nurses find it hard to draw blood in one go. Yesterday, it took 3 tries for them to draw blood. It even becomes more difficult when they insert a cannula. One time it took 6 attempts before they were able to insert one. I really have have to have one specially now that the replies are very positive. My hand and arm is so bruised after a procedure and blood draw.
Mine too
you should insist on it. We shouldn’t have to go through all that pain to have our veins accessed when they is something available to make it easier for us.
So true
I don't know the brand, but I would suggest a power port. It is likely that all ports are power ports at this time. My port was placed in 2006. I still have it and it works like a charm. It can be a little ornery at times (it's deep and tilted) but I prefer it over an arm stick any day!!! I get all my labwork from my port and I try to get some scans with it. My port cannot be "verified" as a power port because it is so old. I think you will find that a port takes away a lot of the anxiety of getting stuck. Good luck!!!
Thanks for your reply. What is a power port? I’m glad you are happy with your port. How often do you have it flushed?
A power port allows you to use your port for injections used in scans. It is a newer version of a port. I have labwork every month so it is flushed then. I have gone as long as 2 - 3 months between flushings, though I don't think that is truly recommended. The general rule I think is 6 weeks.
thanks for the very useful information
hi. a power port allows fluid (such as contrast dye when getting a scan) to be injected at a certain rate/speed. it allows for a higher rate than a non-power port. hope that made sense. and yes on BARD. rule of thumb on flushing is 4-6 weeks if port not used during that time. and I agree with Morty87....that all ports placed now are most likely power ports. good luck! XO
Thanks for your reply. I didn’t know there was rate/speed on contrast infusions.
I've had a Bard port for almost 19 years! It's a pre power port model. I've been very happy with it. The procedure to implant it was fairly short--so long ago I don't really remember much about getting it, but it was during the first weeks after diagnosis when stress was high. I hardly feel needles and fluid going into it and highly recommend them!!!
Do you still have your port? I'm amazed as my port will be 17 years old in September and I have not heard of one being implanted longer than mine. My port has been an absolute blessing and I am so fortunate that my oncologist has allowed me to keep it all these years. There was discussion in 2018 to have it replaced but the surgeon commented that there was so much scar tissue that it would be best to leave what I had alone. I'm just thankful that I have it!!!
Ys, I still hav my port! (just damagd th most usd ky on ky board! lol, of all th lttrs to los!) havn't been on IV meds for a long tim but docs hav no r ason to rmov it and I agr. It's flushd about vry 2 months.
I have the Bard PowerPort as well. I actually haven't even used it yet. Just have it flushed every 3 months. I hardly notice it is there (I have had it for one year). Good Luck! Blessings!
Thank you. I will use it for the LOXO trial I will be joining.
I have a Huber mediport and I’ve had it now since 2016. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Besides all the blood draws I have been hospitalized a few times and they used it too. I had eye surgery a year ago and they used my veins and what a mess that was. They poked me everywhere and I’ve had problems with my one arm since then. I know the people who were poking knew what they were doing so it definitely was my veins.
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