This picture says it all. The surgery to insert a port inside my left shoulder, under my left collarbone took only about 30 minutes. Of course the drive into Austin and preparation for surgery and waking up from surgery took much more time. The added bonus that doesn’t show in the attached diagram, is that my port tubing extended into my left jugular vein, too.
How strange that something this invasive didn’t hurt afterwards, other than the spot on my jugular. Perhaps that discomfort was because my neck bends there. I’m glad to have extra, soft pillows around my head and neck for sleeping. Amazingly, I found that sleeping on that side wasn’t too uncomfortable. Several friends who’ve had ports installed found side sleeping impossible.
I’m thankful for making the decision to have this installed for ease of drawing blood weekly and infusing chemo and immunotherapy for the next 12 months. I’m not sure my arm veins would have survived.
