Hi, guys
The past few weeks I've noticed a pain-not severe by any means-in my neck just above where my port line goes over my collarbone down into my chest. It feels sore-like I've strained my neck or been hit. This concerns me for a couple of reasons; 1)I get chemo weekly (3 wks on-1 off) and every time they try to access it, the thing is clogged and I have to wait a few hours after they flush it-occasionally needing TSP(or whatever it is) to unblock the clog,and am unsure whether this is potentially harmful, and 2)My Mom recently died from a bloodclot and I am uncomfortable with having to deal with this very same issue on a weekly basis, and 3)The amount of time I'm spending in the hospital chemo infusion area is time I'm NOT spending with family and friends or just doing what the heck <<I>> want to do.
I've noticed since they put the port in (aprox 2 years ago) that it "tingles" sometimes-an odd feeling, but nothing that would warrant putting myself through yet another surgery for. The pain is very new. I'm tired of all the wonderful "surprises" from every single surgery I've had, but then again don't want to leave a potential problem un-dealt with, either. Any experiences? Advice?

I would call the doctor and get yourself checked out. I had a port for about 2 years and at times it would be uncomfortable. That sensation would last for a couple minutes here and there. I never experienced anything like what you have described. Since you have said it gets clogged, that is NOT normal. Every month I would go in to get my post flushed and the nurses never had a problem with it being clogged. But this new pain and your history of it being clogged arent right. Ports are a great tool but they also come with risks and potential problems. Get checked out and hopefully its nothing major.

Thanks, Christine-got the phone in my hand. If all they can do is take this one out and put another in, I am assumming that I probably should go for that...(seeing as how I HATE needles!)

I really hope its not a big deal to exchange the port.

I had a picc line for 8 months after the mandibulectomy surgery. Three times a day, every single day for 8 months I took picc line antibiotics. I would also flush the picc line once when I got up and again when I went to bed. My visiting nurse would come weekly to change the picc line dressing and she also flushed it with 2 or 3 syringes. One day out of the blue, the darn picc line wouldnt flush. I called the doc and they had me go into a special lab where the nurses tried to clear the line. The first time my picc line clogged, this worked. They used a special syringe full of some different solution. But then it clogged again a few weeks later. This time the solution didnt work and I ended up getting a new picc line. I know we are talking about a port in your situation, but a port really is very similar to a picc line. I told you this story so you can see there may be an alternative to getting a new port. It may be able to be fixed by simply flushing a special solution. Hope its that easy anyway!

Good luck!!!!


PS.... Im right there with you with your dislike of needles. I even get a bit nervous when I have to give blood.

As advised, see your doctor. Ports also have risk of getting infected, even MRSA. Good luck.

Ditto what cristine and Paul said!

Thanks! Got an appt to have the dang thing removed and replaced next Tues
(still a little concerned, but it'll be alright!) ;-)

Paul ended up getting a bacterial infection from his 1st port and spent a week in the hospital while they tried to figure out and treat the exact type of infection. He ended up have to postpone chemo for another week so the could remove the port and put a new one on the other side. He hasn't had any problem with the 2nd one.