Have you got / had a Portacath fitted?

[PoptartPoptart]

I’m having a Portacath fitted next week in preparation for chemo.

I decided on a Portacath rather than a Picc Line as it seemed like it would be less bother on a day-to-day basis, although the initial fitting is more intense.

Has anyone had one fitted before? I’m feeling very nervous, I’m quite squeamish so I don’t want to know all the gory details!

They are going to give me a local anaesthetic and I have the option to have a sedative to help me relax. Although this sounds tempting, I suffer with nausea after general anaesthetic, so I’m worried the sedative will affect me in the same way .

Has anyone got any positive experiences to make me feel better please?

@PoptartPoptart Yep, I have one - best thing since sliced bread - particularly when at a 'bloods appointment' or receiving Chemotherapy..

... it would be less bother on a day-to-day basis ... Yes, it bloody well is.
... I’m feeling very nervous ... I understand, I'm slightly nervous as well but it's well worth it - I had a general anaesthetic - tell your health care professionals they will take care of you - during the procedure you don't feel 'owt.
... I have the option to have a sedative ... say, 'Yes, please, pile it on'
... nausea after general anaesthetic, so I’m worried the sedative ... can't answer that I'm afraid

Notes: 1) It needs to be flushed every 6 weeks if it's not used for a while.
2) When booking a 'bloods appointment' you need to specify that you have a port (or a PICC line) because not every nurse or phlebotomist is trained for them. I pop along to my local hospital.

It's by far the best option - go for it.

Our hospital only offers a portacath if you have problems with the picc. I've had both.
The difference is night and day.

The Picc line was fitted whilst I was in the scanner, no sedative (it was offered) just local, wasn't painful but lots of wiggling and measuring, it was fitted by a foundation doctor. The picc needed a waterproof cover in the shower, my line was high up and it was difficult to keep it dry. Swimming was not an option. It was uncomfortable and the dressings were irritating or always falling off. It needed a dressing at all times. I had chest/shoulder pains with it which lead to heart investigations and a chemo delay. Pains vanished when the bloody thing was removed. The picc line weirdly has a small nickel component, if you are allergic (I am), there's a plastic alternative which seems to cause problems.

The portacath is the best thing since sliced bread!

I didn't have a sedative to fit the portacath, although it was offered. Mine was done in theatre by a vascular surgeon. They cover your face with a loose cover, which I objected to, so instead I led with my head to the side and they just covered the side of my face. I had an anaesthetist sat at that side where I could see him and we chatted. I felt no pain beyond the scratch of the local anaesthetic.
The wound was about 5cm and it was glued, no stitches. I have a smaller 1cm scar on the base of my neck where they put the line down. It healed quickly, you can see a small bump where the port is, it's not painful.

The only downside is that there is a sharp scratch each time the portacath is accessed and as Dan says, not all medical staff can access it. My bloods are done in oncology so everyone there can. It does need regular flushing, but then so does a Picc line.
You can swim, shower, play most sports without needing to give it a thought. It's fairly hidden, doesn't need a dressing and doesn't scream I am ill.
The one thing I have heard mentioned is be careful of placement if you hike (rucksack) or are ample-boobed and have strong thick brastraps. I went in blind and was lucky that it is perfectly placed. Mine is on the right, because of my previous left sided pain.

And random exoeriences... The airport scanners flagged my picc line most of the time, but my portacath has never flagged 🤷

@DanFmDorking and @StayClassySandy

Thank you both so much for the reassurance.
After reading your experiences I feel lots better!
I know I’ve made the right decision, it’s just getting it fitted which is a bit daunting, but I’m sure I’ll cope.

I’ll be having chemo fortnightly, so I guess they will flush it then.

Thanks again for your replies x

Good luck @PoptartPoptart , hope it all goes well for you.

I had mine fitted last month with a local anaesthetic and sedative with no issues, but then I don’t get nausea/vomiting with anaesthesia. I was awake during the procedure and could see and feel (without pain) a lot of tugging, but with the sedative wasn’t bothered, and went home right after. I took ibuprofen the next couple of days and had some bruising but not much pain. The stitches were dissolvable and the small wounds that were glued together have healed up.

I really like having the Portacath now after being poked for blood tests and IV contrast injections for scans for so long (I was on tablet treatment for cancer). I have tiny, invisible, easily collapsed veins in my arms and sometimes have to endure up to five attempts at cannulation each time, so now that I’ve started Enhertu infusions it’s a relief not having to face all that every 3 weeks.

The needle does sting a bit going into the port each time it’s accessed, but to be honest it’s not that bad and worth it not having the grief of being poked several times without result. I’ve tried putting on EMLA cream ~30 minutes before (really thickly, with a bit of plastic wrap on top to occlude and maximise absorption), but it doesn’t seem to make a difference.

I can shower, swim and do anything with it, it’s just a little bump now and I’m trying to smooth out the scars with a bit of scar tape.

I’ve found that one shoulder or slouchy off shoulder or Bardot tops and jumpers (like the one in the picture, but obviously with the port shoulder bare) are really convenient for when I’m getting the infusions done. I wear them without a bra and just position the material so there’s easy access to the port without having to undo or take off anything.

@Mithrellas thats a really good tip about the tops, thank you.