PICC vs Port

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Heyy guys, 

Does anyone here have or has had a Picc Line or a Port??

If so what is your experience with them?? 

What are they like and can you feel them inside of you?? 

Do they hurt at all?? 

Which one of them is better?? ThinkingThinking

Also is there anyone here who has or has had a Picc Line or a Port and is also Autistic and/or has sensory issues?? If so please also share your experience with that and how it felt for you etc! 

I've been getting my treatment and stuff done through a cannula for the past 2 years now ever since this all started and it's always been fine, but I think my veins are unfortunately starting to give up as the last few times for treatment and blood tests etc, they just haven't been able to find my veins or get them to work with the cannula! I literally had to have a CT Scan without the contrast last week as we had the exact same issue again with my veins! It also keeps making me feel really overwhelmed, anxious and upset every time they try for some reason...... 

We're seeing our consultant properly next week but my mum spoke to her on the phone earlier today for a seperate issue and the vein thing was mentioned and she said that it might now finally be time to start properly/seriously thinking about getting either a Picc Line or a Port put in instead as the cannula just doesn't seem to be working anymore PensiveBroken heart

I'm Autistic with pretty severe sensory issues and I absolutely can NOT stand the feeling of anything on or in my body so that really worries me! I also worry about it moving, hurting, getting infected etc...... I wanted to try and avoid this for as long as I possibly can and I'm honestly really sad that we're now at this point!

So if anyone could please share their experiences with a Picc Line or a Port (and especially if you're also Autistic) then pleeeeaaaase let me know!

I'd very much appreciate it as I'm absolutely terrified and anxious at the moment Broken heart 

  • I'm not autistic but hopefully my post will still be useful to you. My vote is for a port. I got.mine put in about three years ago and it was one of the best decisions I have made. Once you've had it inserted surgically (quick, simple.procedure), the skin heals over, you dont have to wear a dressing, and it.only needs to be flushed every 12 weeks if you're on a treatment break. Obviously, they have to press a needle into it when you have an infusion but it's.a.quick prick rather than the often painful probing when you get a cannula put in. Mine is a small one and quite mobile apparently, it protrudes slightly but it sits.under my  t shirt line so not visible. It hasn't caused me any trouble. Never been infected or inflamed. It has brought me so much relief from cannulation that I have become very fond of it and see it as part of my body now rather than something alien.