I know a lot of people are unfamiliar with ports so I will share what I know. Here is a great link showing a picture of a port and placement: http://www.diamondblackfananemia.com/links/mediportinfo2.pdf.
My port was placed on my left chest a few inches below my collar bone. This is a picture with the port accessed.
I don't know what it will look like when it is not accessed. The port will stay accessed the entire time I am on IVs. The needle gets changed every 7 days. I will have my home health nurse do that because I don't think I can pick myself with a needle. The reason this is better than a PICC is I can have my home health nurse access it when I need it and I don't need to go in the hospital just to start IVs.
So far I have done everything that I normally do. I even did my vest and had no problems with it.
In other news, I am going home today. I have a IV due at 2pm and I am going to get chest PT. After that, I can spring this joint. I will be on home IVs for another week and a half.
I cannot wait to be at home with my puppies and sleep in my own bed.
Posts
6 comments:
Congrats on heading home!!!!
Ronnie
Yay on going home!! Feel better, Steph!
YAY for going home!!! I don't access my port either (or let my Mom do it)! Mine is the exact place yours is, but on the right side!
OMG thanks for posting this. I am thinking of getting one before the school year starts (I teach) so that I can keep working when doing night IVs.
It helps to know what I would be getting into.
Mine is in the same place but on the right side too, same as Katey's. I'm still chicken to do it myself, but I plan on getting up the guts to start it on my own soon, with some numbing cream of course.
O you'll love the port. I hated mine at first, but now 4 years later its SOOO much better than PICC lines. I don't even feel it when they access it or anything. When its not access you can't even see it (well unless you loose alot of weigh then it sticks out and its a greyish color). Congrats on heading home...I can't wait to do the same.
Post a Comment