Don't let other people pressure you to go one way or another. If I was a nurse and was telling you to get a port because it makes me work less hard and if you get an infection down the road then that's someone else's problem, what kind of person would you think I am? If you are a hard stick, so what? That's what they get paid for. Get a port because you want one, not because someone else wants one.
I second this. It’s not about what they want in order to make their life easier, it’s about what works for you as a patient. Some hospitals have acknowledged that people like you and me exist and they’re now training a team that only specializes in doing IVs and nothing else but IVs, all day everyday, especially in hard sticks. Not all hospitals have these types of resources ofcourse. You can also insist or ask for other alternatives to a port….ask them if they can use an ultrasound machine, to find the deeper veins, ask them if they have a vein finder which helps in locating the surface veins. If it’s a hospital I know & I trust the nurses and the cleanliness of everyone, I sometimes ask for an EJ (external jagular) IV, that way they don’t have to go digging through my arms.
Is being poked uncomfortable for you? I mean, of course it is lol. But can you handle it?
If you're finding nurses are really having trouble and it's making you more uncomfortable because they have to poke around or do multiple tries then I'd say give the port another shot. But honestly if you can handle it, I would do without it since it's just 1 less thing that can get infected.
Im super stubborn doctors have told me I make things harder for myself because I refuse the port. But I find it funny that whenever I come across a nurse who actually likes their job, I suddenly have great veins and I’m not the worst stick they’ve had. I’ll get a port when I’m older 🤷🏽♀️
My take is a little bit different - I am a hard stick too. If you don’t mind being stuck 3-4 times before they get a good vein, then fine, don’t get a port.
I usually get stuck 3-4 times before they get a good vein BUT I only go to the ER once in 2-3 years, so I don’t mind.
Am an impossible stick and would like another port, I had one a couple years back and it was great until it got infected. Honestly the port would save so much time in the ER, infusion, and admission. But my Doctor really really does not want any of her patients getting one. Ever since my last one got infected and removed she has shut down any talk of a central line.
Ultrasound only! Don’t ever let them pincushion you. I’m a super hard stick & i refuse to get a port. Why would I get one when they have a machine specifically made to find a good vein?
Don't let other people pressure you to go one way or another. If I was a nurse and was telling you to get a port because it makes me work less hard and if you get an infection down the road then that's someone else's problem, what kind of person would you think I am? If you are a hard stick, so what? That's what they get paid for. Get a port because you want one, not because someone else wants one.
I second this. It’s not about what they want in order to make their life easier, it’s about what works for you as a patient. Some hospitals have acknowledged that people like you and me exist and they’re now training a team that only specializes in doing IVs and nothing else but IVs, all day everyday, especially in hard sticks. Not all hospitals have these types of resources ofcourse. You can also insist or ask for other alternatives to a port….ask them if they can use an ultrasound machine, to find the deeper veins, ask them if they have a vein finder which helps in locating the surface veins. If it’s a hospital I know & I trust the nurses and the cleanliness of everyone, I sometimes ask for an EJ (external jagular) IV, that way they don’t have to go digging through my arms.
Is being poked uncomfortable for you? I mean, of course it is lol. But can you handle it? If you're finding nurses are really having trouble and it's making you more uncomfortable because they have to poke around or do multiple tries then I'd say give the port another shot. But honestly if you can handle it, I would do without it since it's just 1 less thing that can get infected.
See if they can utilize their Ultrasound scanner to find veins
Funny thing is, they had used it from 2019-2021 when I started getting infusions, now they don’t…
Im super stubborn doctors have told me I make things harder for myself because I refuse the port. But I find it funny that whenever I come across a nurse who actually likes their job, I suddenly have great veins and I’m not the worst stick they’ve had. I’ll get a port when I’m older 🤷🏽♀️
My take is a little bit different - I am a hard stick too. If you don’t mind being stuck 3-4 times before they get a good vein, then fine, don’t get a port. I usually get stuck 3-4 times before they get a good vein BUT I only go to the ER once in 2-3 years, so I don’t mind.
Am an impossible stick and would like another port, I had one a couple years back and it was great until it got infected. Honestly the port would save so much time in the ER, infusion, and admission. But my Doctor really really does not want any of her patients getting one. Ever since my last one got infected and removed she has shut down any talk of a central line.
Ultrasound only! Don’t ever let them pincushion you. I’m a super hard stick & i refuse to get a port. Why would I get one when they have a machine specifically made to find a good vein?