does anyone have a port a cath for chemo? i just got mine two days ago and i'm having a hard time getting used to it. it's raised and a little red around the incision. i'm wondering if this is normal or if i should call the doctor tomorrow am. i get infections easy. it is not hurting too bad. just a soreness. if anyone has any experience with this please let me know. i hate calling the doctor as it seems i'm constantly there nowadays. also my first chemo is monday at 8am and i'm getting nervous about what it will be like. i'm going to education tomorrow so maybe that will calm my fears about it.
I had my port in for 14 months. It felt like I had a watch battery under my skin. It itched as it healed, but no infection. Chemo can be scary. Tomorrow should help calm your fears. I had a lot of preconceived ideas about chemo and none of them came true. I am not sure what kind you are having. Let us know how you come out.
I see my Oncologist tomorrow. I am not feeling warm and fuzzy about the visit. First visit in 4 months. I have a couple new swollen lymph nodes.
stitches_87
follicular nhl 4/2009
Stage 3-4, Grade 2
cvp-r
ned 10/2009
Mine was a little red the first few days don't worry unless it starts to hurt. I was so afraid before I had my first round of chemo, I found out I was scared for no reason with the port it doesn't hurt. Just make sure you bring a book or something so you don't get bored. Because it takes a long time.
ms.P
thanks i’ve been so worried about being sick to my stomach during and after chemo. my port is a little red and itchy. i think its ok though. i have a book but i think i’ll try to sleep during my first chemo which takes 8 hours. should i bring food to my first chemo? thanks and take care. mbh456
Food is a good idea I was afraid to bring some for my first one because I was expecting to be sick or something. But the pre-meds they gave me stopped that. Actually I only got sick once and that was the next day after my first treatment. My chemo made me very hungry so be prepared for that also. Good luck keep me posted.
ms.P
the nurse checked my port and it is fine. they gave me a script for ativan and compazine today for nausea during chemo treatment. i can't think i'll be more hungry than i am now. but i believe it can be. i've been gaining water weight rapidly in the last few days. my education class helped me greatly. i did order a turban and a cap tonight because he said i will lose my hair. for some reason it really bothers me more then the fact i have cancer. well, i will stay in contact. you take care.
I understand what you're saying about losing your hair because I have what they call dred locks that I've been growing for three years now and my doc said I would be bald in a week or two after I started chemo. I'm happy to say I still have my hair it thinned out, but it's still here. Good to know your port is okay.
I also have dread locks and I lost mine after the first treatment but I keep them as you can re-attached then after your hair grows back. Good luck on your treatment…
i just came home from my first r-chop treatment. they put in a picc line to use till my swelling goes down over my port. i’m doing well. sleepy, nauseated and not feeling like eating to much. i had crackers and cheese earlier and now ginger ale. i took a ativan to calm me before the treatment this morning.it went without a incident and fast. although i was there 7 hours. i actually believed all the horror stories about chemo but so far i’m fine. my temp is climbing its 99.4 right now. at 100.5 i have to call doctor. they will put me tin hospital then i won’t know how long till i get out again. well, i hope everyone is well. kermica i’m glad your biopsy went well. keep me in touch. mbh456
I'm happy to hear that everything went well why is the area over your port swollen? I hope that temp stays down because a trip to the hospital is no fun. Thanks for keeping us updated. I'm still waiting for authorization for everything I need.
yes, mostly going well. i’m still having a sore throat today but no more temp which is great. my skin over the port is inflamed from surgery which is how i react to surgery each time. i hope you get your clearance for your treatment to start. i called my doctor today and they are calling me something stronger in than Imodium for the digestive upset. keep me updated about your treatment ms.p
i know it takes awhile at first then everything goes kind of fast. mine was almost too fast when everything worked out. i was at infusion therapy all afternoon yesterday as i got dehydrated from having intestinal problems. i go there today and Thursday. at least i can sleep or watch TV if i want. hopefully this stops the runs I've had from the chemo. well take care and know your treatment will start soon. the waiting and not knowing is the worst. keep in touch. mbh456
The waiting-&-not-knowing IS the worst! It's so easy to anticipate what can go wrong or be horrible when all you tend to hear about--especially from recent past & past-past--are chemo horror stories. I was diagnosed not even 3 moonths ago & have already gone thru 3 treatments, as of yesterday. I'm rather happy I didn't have too much time to think about all the "what if's" even though I DID do my research before having the 1st.
It may be something we have to deal w/whenever & for however long ... but knowing what it is we're dealing w/tends to make the process more bearable. And thus far, it's been a heckuva lot more gentle for me than I had expected at the onset.
My biggest "gripe" has been very hot cheeks, a la high blood pressure, the 1st few days after treatment. Yet my blood pressure is just about normal for me & my drs aren't too concerned--they believe it's probably the Prednisone. My body has never taken well to that, & I have to deal w/it for 5 days--including chemo day & the 4 after. I have a no-more-Prednisone-for-3-weeks party every 3rd Saturday! ; >
Mbh sorry to hear that you're having those side effects I never had anything but a little nausea after my first round. And horrible hot flashes that I still get. I hope things get better for you soon. @Linda my blood pressure was high my first few rounds of chemo and then it got normal again. Now I'm dealing with these side effects= shortness of breath and major numbness of my hands and feet with pain.(ouch)!
Ms. P: This is the beauty of groups like this. It's comforting to know reactions we face are similar to those others have known. The BP thing isn't earth-shattering, I can deal w/it, but it's aggravating & very uncomfy. I've also had numbness; seems to get more intense w/each treatment ... neuropathy, I understand. Supposedly even THAT goes away once treatment has progressed.
I've been blessed thus far w/no nausea, just indigestion counter-acted by Prilosec. The Emend, part of my treatment cocktail & 2 pills daily afterward, is a Godsend ... absotively amazing.
And those hot flashes ... nasty! The 1st few days after chemo, I go thru hot/cold, hot/cold, to the point where I've 2 sets of tops in the bathroom. I awake in the middle of the PM, freezing so much my teeth & entire body chatter, or I'm sooo hot, I'm ready to tear everything off.
But then ... THAT also explains menopause to a great degree, doesn't it?! ROFL
linda,
i hear you about the night sweats is what i call them. i have them during the day too. i change about 5 shirts a day. i wear a cpap mask at night so i often wake soaked and my face sweaty which doesnt go with a cpap mask. i just change or dry for awhile and surf the web. during the day i do change. how do you mange the sweats? my stomach upset is diarrhea which I'm still having like the plague and i go to get iv fluids still. today they gave me two bags plus now i have to go tomorrow. all in all i think my chemo went well. i expected much worse. i had heard stories. horror stories. i think more people should share their good experiences with chemo on here as it takes the fear away. ms.p. hang in there. i saw a lady at chemo today have a blood pressure problem so i guess it is common. i get R-chop so i just got a cough for awhile which didn't bother me too much. mbh456
Thanks mbh I'm being as patient as possible.@Linda I pray your neuropathy goes away mine got worse so be sure to tell your doc it that happens. I'm also diabetic and I was told by my primary doc that the could be the reason my neuropathy hasn't went away.
thanks ms.p. I'm diabetic too with some neuropathy in my feet even before chemo so I'm not surprised i have a little. i just plug away and walk slow. i do get scared of falling down now. i broke my fibula a year and a half ago which isn't healing very well. most likely the fl. well i enjoy talking to you both. what should i do to have on hand if my reaction is the same next chemo? by the way i quit having the runs and I'm feeling 100% better now. not as many night sweats and stuff is settling down finally from chemo. well, take care. mbh456