Hi everyone I am looking for some advice please. The canullation nurses are having trouble finding veins in me, with 2-3 tries by the experienced nurses to get a vein and they are now up to my upper arms, and have suggested I need a port-a-cath, and should talk to the immunologist about it (which I will do). I've read on here strong views for and against port-a-caths, but was wondering how long it took for those of you with port-a-caths until you needed one? Was there any other option? We don't have sub-cutaneous IG available in Australia, and other than a central line which looks like more of a problem than a port-a-cath, is there any other options you know of? Thanks for your help Regards Ann http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18587#msg-18587 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:01:50 +0100 Phorum 5.2.7 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,19200#msg-19200 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,19200#msg-19200 Best wishes,
Gillie.]]> Gillian General Discussion Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:30:44 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,19194#msg-19194 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,19194#msg-19194
I had my porta-cath put in, and everything is going fine so far. I have been on 7 antibiotic tablets a day to reduce the infection problems I have, to keep it out of the porta-cath. The first infusion in it will be in 2 days, but the doctor says everything is going fine, so should be no problems. Thanks everyone for your input.

Regards
Ann]]> Ann (Australia) General Discussion Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:53:40 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,19149#msg-19149 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,19149#msg-19149
Melissa]]> mahgirl General Discussion Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:00:02 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18819#msg-18819 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18819#msg-18819
I have now seen the immunologist, and he recommends that I get a port-a-cath. He has referred me to the vascular surgeon who does them to make the final decision relating to risk - I have an active gastrointestinal wound/infection that has been there for 2 years and has not responded to 7 lots of surgery and IV antibiotics and continual oral antibiotics for the 2 years, so the immunologist is concerned about the risk of infection spreading to the port. But he thinks the risk of not being able to give IVIG is a higher risk, as I'm running out of veins. Final decision will be 10th May, and if approved, then it will be put in a couple of days later.

Thanks everyone for your comments
Regards
Ann]]> Ann (Australia) General Discussion Thu, 03 May 2007 04:24:11 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18758#msg-18758 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18758#msg-18758 I have been on IVIG for over 15years & monthly IV antibiotics so you can imagine how bad my veins were! I used to have long lines put in by cystic fibrosis nurses(although I do not have CF-they were the only ones who could find my veins!!).eventually my veins were so scarred I could not use them & the CF nurses suggested a port-a-cath. At first my immunologist was concerned whether this would be too risky if it became infected but eventually decided that it would be more beneficial for my life long-term.As the port is enclosed beneath the skin & strict aesepsis is required to insert the needle (which my wife has been trained to do) the benefits would outweigh the risks with myself. Overall I have found it has made my life so much easier with treatments which I can now self administer at home & reduce the number of stays in hospital where I tended to pick up more infections! Hope you manage to read this before your appointment as I have only discovered this website today.

All the Best
Andy]]> Sheeny General Discussion Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:24:11 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18626#msg-18626 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18626#msg-18626
I see the immunologist in about 3 weeks, and will be discussing the -port-a-cath then.

Thanks again
Ann]]> Ann (Australia) General Discussion Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:42:22 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18601#msg-18601 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18601#msg-18601 Barb from BC]]> Barb from BC General Discussion Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:12:08 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18595#msg-18595 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18595#msg-18595 It will be a year on Tuesday since I had my portacath fitted.Up until then I had been home infusing for 16 years. During this time, I have needed more & more courses of IV antibiotics as well as my weekly infusions. All of this had made getting suitable veins for longlines etc. more & more difficult.I am so pleased that I had my port fitted. It took a few months to get used to getting the needle in at the first attempt, but my husband now has it down to a fine art! I would highly recommend having one fitted.
Hope this helps,
Best Wishes,
Helen]]> Helen Smith General Discussion Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:40:13 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18593#msg-18593 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18593#msg-18593 like lois, my veins are really reliable, in fact for many years now i have used the same vein in the same plcae for all my infusions (the crook of my left arm). however if they just need to take blood, or for ANY other reason, i insist that they use another site - guess i don't want old faithful damaged by "amateurs"!!!!
lots of the pia members i speak to from work have ports though, and by and large they're pleased with them. i hear they can rarely become the source of infection though.
so it's your decision, if you have no choice, and i were you, i would go for it!!
you could ask for a sub-cut trial i suppose, sub-cut is often a replacement for people with weak veins.
hope you're well in spite of all this, although i do remember you saying that work was becoming a problem again, so if you're not well, get well soon!!
take care - john]]> Anonymous User General Discussion Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:26:11 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18592#msg-18592 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18592#msg-18592 Lois General Discussion Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:40:39 +0100 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18587#msg-18587 http://www.pia.org.uk/forum99849144/read.php?1,18587,18587#msg-18587
I am looking for some advice please. The canullation nurses are having trouble finding veins in me, with 2-3 tries by the experienced nurses to get a vein and they are now up to my upper arms, and have suggested I need a port-a-cath, and should talk to the immunologist about it (which I will do). I've read on here strong views for and against port-a-caths, but was wondering how long it took for those of you with port-a-caths until you needed one? Was there any other option? We don't have sub-cutaneous IG available in Australia, and other than a central line which looks like more of a problem than a port-a-cath, is there any other options you know of?

Thanks for your help
Regards
Ann]]> Ann (Australia) General Discussion Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:55:12 +0100