Accessing Port

A video of me accessing my double lumen port-a-cath. It's not that graphic because, since I was making the video myself, I wasn't able to zoom in when I did the actual accessing but it does involve needles. I just wanted to show people what it looks like when I access my port myself, which I do at least once a week so I can do all my IV meds during the week. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have!

The music is "Hope for the Hopeless" by A Fine Frenzy.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Lyme disease
• Port-a-cath
• IV
• antibiotics
• hydration
• Hope for the Hopeless
• A Fine Frenzy

[penguini1982]

@SellyNue - And at first I was a little nervous about missing things but I was supervised by a nurse the first 2 or 3 times I did it myself and since then it's just become a simple thing that I don't have to think too much about. I do have to make sure I have everything all set before I start and there have been times when my Lyme brain has kicked in and made me forget something so someone else has had to bring it to me and put it not be sterile field. But generally it has become just another t

[penguini1982]

@SellyNue - oops, posted before I had really written anything! I would recommend a port over a picc line in some situations but it depends on a few things. 1) How long your treatment is expected to last. 2) If you will be doing the IV antibiotic everyday or pulsing with sone days off. 3) if you do anything that would require you to need more use of your arms and to be able to lift things. I will send you a message with more detail but those are the three biggest things to consider in m opinion,

[penguini1982]

@SellyNue - I wou

[MotherWhimsey]

My son said "*gasp* she used NO magic cream?!?!" (he's talking about EMLA). He's terribly impressed if you didn't. lol

[penguini1982]

@MotherWhimsey I believe I used EMLA for this particular accessing and I used to use it most of the time, but now I never use it. I find it easier not to have to plan the hour to have it on and I don't mind the needle stick too much. But tell your son I don't think there's anything wrong with using EMLA. If you don't have to feel the pain from the needle, then you might as well not feel it!

[penguini1982]

The song is "Hope for the Hopeless" by A Fine Frenzy.

[ekarayannis1]

to access the port once a week, or every day (once in the morning and de-access at night) im not sure what to do and am kinda lost, but it looks like I would be accessing my port myself, rather than having someone do it for me.

[ekarayannis1]

issue is a lot of my veins will not support another picc line) or a port in my chest. I am used to the picc line and very familiar with it. but the port is very new and scary to me. I am also away at school and used to my parents being close by for help/looking over me, but that is not the case with me being 6 hours away at college. If you would provide me with some more information perhapse pros and cons of picc line vs port. Also I would be receiving antibiotics twice a day, would it be better

[ekarayannis1]

hii,

firstly, thank you for sharing this video and all this information. I am 20 years old and have been diagnosed with lyme disease since i was 11 years old. I have had numerous picc lines in the past, but my last treatment (receiving iv rocephin) i began to create kidney stones, and had to stop my treatment. Since then I have been on oral antibiotics but they aren't helping. I have been discussing options with my doctors and have come down to another picc line with different antibiotics (the

[alittleinbetween]

This is inspiring. I was recently re-diagnosed with leukaemia and because of the chemotherapy plan I needed a double lumen port. I have had one removed due to a line infection. But my second one is in the same place as yours but on the left due to the right already been used. The doctors and nurses have suggested that they can teach me or my dad to access my own port. I was just wondering what it is like to do it yourself. Is it scary hard etc.... This video has really given me hope... Thank yo

[XxxXJessXxxXilysm]

@penguini1982 i have a port two and im only 12 i got a liver transplant what happened to you?

[FlyinHyy]

thank you SO MUCH for sharing, plan on accessing my own port soon, cool to see someobdy accessing their own chest port seems like you're able to see and access it esaily enough which i s my main concern

[SellyNue]

I just love the music on this video!!