Port placement pain

Heartfull

Port placement pain

GregP_WN

How long has your port been in? I've had two of them and other than some mild pain for a few days afterward I didn't have any real pain. I kept my last one for 15 years before finally letting it go.

ChildOfGod4570

It's normal to be a little tender for a week or so after the port is put in. I remembered shifting the seat belt away because it rubbed against my port, and I had chemo 2 days afterward. You can imagine how tender that spot was and then to have a needle going through! It does calm down after a little while. How long have you had pain? If it's much longer than a week, you may need to call the doctor. HUGS and God bless.

triciab

I actually thought the surgical pain after port placement was worse than the pain after my lumpectomy/sentinel node removal. Then it took a while to figure out how to get comfortable. But it did get more comfortable and was so worth it for chemo - no more searching for veins for IVs. Be sure to call the doctor if you are worried about it - they can tell you if it's "normal" or should be evaluated.

Bengal

I had some pain for a few days after placement but nothing unbearable. Had the port put in on Friday, started chemo on Tuesday, so then I was distracted by much bigger issues. It was tender for awhile. Since I had it removed I get occasional twinges where the scare is. I do remember my seatbelt was a bother and I had to hold it away from my chest with one hand while driving.

Maryflier

I had pain from the port procedure for a few days afterward. A week later I had a different pain, which turned out to be 1 of the stitches was poking me. (It hadn’t dissolved and had to be pulled out by the doctor.) Good luck, feel better.

Lynne-I-Am

How long has it been since your port placement? I had some discomfort for first couple of days but after that my port was fine. Sometimes women with larger breasts feel a little more discomfort. Also, if you have larger breasts port displacement not uncommon. Sometimes this can be easily fixed. . Any discomfort from the port area lasting more than a couple of days should be reported by phone to your doctor.

Coloman

I haven't had much pain at all since I had mine put in. It was sore for a few days after the surgery but then was just a little tender for a couple of weeks.

Ashera

I was one of the unfortunates...and had pain the entire 15 months my port was in. After placement, I developed the most awesomely colorful burgundy and navy patch of bruising around the area. Called surgeon after hours and sent pictures. He said he'd never had a port do this and had chemo nurse report to him on first infusion. The port went in on a Friday and chemo started Tues. The bruising lasted several weeks.
It was excruciatingly painful putting the needle in - That stupid Emla/lidocaine cream was a joke - so nurse sprayed it with a freezey type spray before. It stayed patent - but everyone cringed for every infusion. Surgeon, nurses all decided it was lying on or next to a nerve, but as long as it was working - we left it alone.
After my year of Herceptin infustions was over, I told my surgeon that if he didn't take it out I was going to cut it out with a butter knife!

Lynne-I-Am

@Ashera, sorry you had such an unpleasant experience with your port. Like everything, we are all different. Luckily have had my port 6 years with hardly any difficulty. Spray did not work for me but the lidocaine has been a blessing.

Ashera

Lynne-I-Am, thanks for your note. It always amazing that there is just not one-size-fits all in the weird cancer world!

Bengal

I find it amazing when folks say they've had their port for years. It was recommended I keep mine for a year after treatment "just in case". About six months out mine started to feel like it was trying to claw and crawl it's way out of my chest. It was a very creepy feeling. When I told the surgeon he just said, " let's get It out of there. " Then added the caveat, " if we need to put it back in we will". Anyone else ever experience anything like that?

GregP_WN

After I decided to let mine go a surgeon at the clinic where I was going to took it out with me sitting on the exam table. Cut cut, snip snip, then he showed it to me and asked if I wanted it. We still have it in a drawer here somewhere.

Jayne

I've had 2 ports and both of them bothered me to no end. I couldn't wear a seat belt because anything that touched that area sent me through the roof. I couldn't wait to get them out and like Greg, I kept mine and it hangs on my monitor at work to remind me that whatever nonsense is happening there, it doesn't compare to where I've been. I also experienced a lot of pain when it was being accessed so I did the spray as well. It helped but I still cringed when the needle went in.

myb

After my port placement, I experienced some pain, but Tylenol helped me as threw up on the percocet I was given after surgery.

Maryflier

I agree Bengal. Port was “alien” to me. Had it removed ASAP.

MiriamMarino

I've had a chest port for 2 years and it's had to be "checked" twice through the camera used for placement because Dr wanted to see what was causing pain and discomfort so much of the time.
It was concluded the port is functional but Dr said it could be hitting against a nerve, hence pain.
I was given the choice to have it removed and another put in its place but there's no guarantee it will be any different, or worse. So, I endure it.
It hurts less if I maintain a bra in place, but who wants to sleep with a bra on?

Neeser

Almost 3. Yrs now I forget it's there until I need a flush but when I 1st got it it was uncomfortable,weird especially since it was in my body that took a while to get used to it u remember some pain but more tightness and hard to move now it like it's not there

brizzjo

I have had pain with mine ever since they put it in (2018) It always is black, blue, brown. I have a black spot where one of the bumps is coming through my skin. Wearing a bra, seatbelts, and laying on my side causes pain. I’ve begged them to take it out!