Medical ports: shirts for access plus help me not freak out
January 23, 2020 1:36 PM Subscribe
My "fencing with a port" problem has been resolved. Now I would like recommendations for shirts to make it easier to access ports and also some reassurance because I am super freaked out about this.
This was me. MisanthropicSarah brought up the PaceGuard. I bought one and showed it to the interventional radiology folks, and they say they have no qualms about me fencing if I use it. Yay.
I've been looking online at companies that sell shirts that make port access easy, and I would love to hear personal recommendations. I have a nightmare of a super thin, scratchy shirt showing up. These are not companies I know anything about, so I don't know what I'm getting into. The most helpful answers will say more than just the company name. I'd really like to hear your experience. And please don't just say "Etsy," though if you can recommend a specific seller personally or see a reason you think someone in particular looks exceptional, go for it.
And, even though I know people always say they love their ports, the whole idea of having this plastic thing in my body is making me very uncomfortable as is the idea of surgery that involves my heart. I'd appreciate any encouragement based on personal experience.
This was me. MisanthropicSarah brought up the PaceGuard. I bought one and showed it to the interventional radiology folks, and they say they have no qualms about me fencing if I use it. Yay.
I've been looking online at companies that sell shirts that make port access easy, and I would love to hear personal recommendations. I have a nightmare of a super thin, scratchy shirt showing up. These are not companies I know anything about, so I don't know what I'm getting into. The most helpful answers will say more than just the company name. I'd really like to hear your experience. And please don't just say "Etsy," though if you can recommend a specific seller personally or see a reason you think someone in particular looks exceptional, go for it.
And, even though I know people always say they love their ports, the whole idea of having this plastic thing in my body is making me very uncomfortable as is the idea of surgery that involves my heart. I'd appreciate any encouragement based on personal experience.
Best answer: As for reassurance, let me be another one of those annoying people who LOVED THEIR PORTS. I don't have mine anymore, but it was so much less stressful than trying to get chemo through venipuncture. Having it placed was no big deal, and it didn't hurt or bother me day to day. It was one less thing that was difficult about chemo, and that's a time when you really need less friction.
15/10, would port again.
posted by jeoc at 2:10 PM on January 23, 2020 [3 favorites]
15/10, would port again.
posted by jeoc at 2:10 PM on January 23, 2020 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Agreeing with jeoc, I didn't have any special shirts. Anything that isn't a tight high-necked situation is going to be fine.
I also had the port-a-cath, and I'll tell you, it felt pretty weird at first. My throat felt a bit tight, like I had a lump I couldn't swallow, and my oncologist acted like he had no idea what I was talking about. I heard it from other patients, though - this is one of those things even the best doctors don't really know about, I guess. So, if it feels weird in your body at first, that's normal and you're going to get used to it over time. Mine hurt a LOT for the first day after insertion, too, which everyone also acted like was really unusual but I will tell you here in case it happens to you. It was strange, though - it was super sore for 24 hours and then the next day felt absolutely fine.
Ports really are a lot, lot better than IVs. I did my first few chemos through IV and was thrilled with the port in comparison. You're making a good decision!
posted by something something at 2:15 PM on January 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
I also had the port-a-cath, and I'll tell you, it felt pretty weird at first. My throat felt a bit tight, like I had a lump I couldn't swallow, and my oncologist acted like he had no idea what I was talking about. I heard it from other patients, though - this is one of those things even the best doctors don't really know about, I guess. So, if it feels weird in your body at first, that's normal and you're going to get used to it over time. Mine hurt a LOT for the first day after insertion, too, which everyone also acted like was really unusual but I will tell you here in case it happens to you. It was strange, though - it was super sore for 24 hours and then the next day felt absolutely fine.
Ports really are a lot, lot better than IVs. I did my first few chemos through IV and was thrilled with the port in comparison. You're making a good decision!
posted by something something at 2:15 PM on January 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I am getting the Power Port. I thought they said it went into the heart a bit, but perhaps I misunderstood.
Thanks so much for all of the answers. I wear a lot of v-neck shirts, so I can see if that works. It sounds like it should.
posted by FencingGal at 6:30 AM on January 24, 2020
Thanks so much for all of the answers. I wear a lot of v-neck shirts, so I can see if that works. It sounds like it should.
posted by FencingGal at 6:30 AM on January 24, 2020
Best answer: I have never had a port, but I wonder if nursing tops may work? Here are two examples from Old Navy (1, 2) that are basically cross-front or faux wrap to allow easy access. My experience with nursing tops is that they are generally knit fabric and pretty comfy, so not the thin scratchy stuff you might be worried about. (Skip any styles that are "double-layer" though, as those are meant for the top layer to lift up and give access from underneath. That's probably more fabric than you want bunched up there while providing port access.)
posted by scarnato at 6:41 AM on January 24, 2020
posted by scarnato at 6:41 AM on January 24, 2020
Response by poster: The nursing tops seem like a great idea. I never would have thought of that. Thanks.
I found that last time I went through chemo (injections only), I had to throw out my favorite comfy shirt that I wore to all of my appointments because I could only think of chemo when I saw it. That's another reason a shirt just for this might be a good idea.
posted by FencingGal at 7:18 AM on January 24, 2020
I found that last time I went through chemo (injections only), I had to throw out my favorite comfy shirt that I wore to all of my appointments because I could only think of chemo when I saw it. That's another reason a shirt just for this might be a good idea.
posted by FencingGal at 7:18 AM on January 24, 2020
This was the circumstances under which my husband (to his super yuppie shame) bought and wore the hipster deep-v (well he thought it was super deep, it seemed pretty regular v to me), but only to chemo appointments.
It's basically at your collarbone, so anything that allows you to easily expose your collarbone. If you are female then definitely a normal tank top or normal female v-neck or non-crew neck shirt.
But yes, the port (internally) is inserted into the vein (artery? vein...) that goes to the heart, the access part is up near the collarbone on the other side though.
posted by magnetsphere at 8:20 AM on January 24, 2020
It's basically at your collarbone, so anything that allows you to easily expose your collarbone. If you are female then definitely a normal tank top or normal female v-neck or non-crew neck shirt.
But yes, the port (internally) is inserted into the vein (artery? vein...) that goes to the heart, the access part is up near the collarbone on the other side though.
posted by magnetsphere at 8:20 AM on January 24, 2020
V-neck shirts totally work. I wear this one (which I already had) with a comfy cashmere wrap cardigan on top. Good luck with the port! Getting one totally freaked me out and, after the initial week of healing, it's been fine.
posted by beyond_pink at 8:27 AM on January 24, 2020
posted by beyond_pink at 8:27 AM on January 24, 2020
I have a nursing shirt from Old Navy that's the same or similar as the ones linked above, and it's very comfortable but looks a lot more pajama-y than I hoped.
It does sound like pull-down style nursing shirts would work well though. I like Liz Lange scoop neck maternity tanks from target - they're maternity, but don't have the side ruching so you can't tell, they have a normal scoop neckline (not super low) and are stretchy enough to easily pull down. This Stars Above henley is also great - super soft and can be pulled aside or unbuttoned to access any part of your chest. It's listed as a pajama top but looks like a normal casual shirt to me.
(I haven't had a port myself, my experience with these shirts is based on nursing.)
posted by insectosaurus at 1:54 PM on January 24, 2020
It does sound like pull-down style nursing shirts would work well though. I like Liz Lange scoop neck maternity tanks from target - they're maternity, but don't have the side ruching so you can't tell, they have a normal scoop neckline (not super low) and are stretchy enough to easily pull down. This Stars Above henley is also great - super soft and can be pulled aside or unbuttoned to access any part of your chest. It's listed as a pajama top but looks like a normal casual shirt to me.
(I haven't had a port myself, my experience with these shirts is based on nursing.)
posted by insectosaurus at 1:54 PM on January 24, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
If this is what you are getting, you definitely do not need a special shirt. They place them pretty high. Mine was about 2 inches below my collar bone, so any v-neck, scoop neck, button down-type situation was fine. Really anything other than a turtleneck would work. I usually wore a scoop tank or cami with a zip up cardigan or hoodie over it. Observing the scars on other cancer patients (I have met quite a few!) this placement is typical.
If you're getting a PICC or something else, I think the shirt arrangements above would also work fine.
posted by jeoc at 2:05 PM on January 23, 2020 [1 favorite]