In today’s video I decided I wanted to talk about the little round thing underneath my skin on the right side of my chest. Aka my port. Otherwise known as a “MediPort,” this device is in the shape of a circle, with a catheter connecting to one of my main arteries. It sits right below the surface of my skin, with a septum (I like to think of it as a cork) that you then stick the IV needle into. I have had my port since August 25th of 2014. I know this because I post this recipe for Paleo Egg Mcmuffins, a recipe I made for my dad since we had to drive early to NY to get my port implanted (please excuse the poor image quality for this recipe!). Overall, my experience with a port has been pretty smooth. The most difficulties I had with it were when it was first put in, as my right arm decided it didn’t want to move or function properly. I’ve never had an infection, and the majority of discomfort I experienced with it occurred around surgery. Aside from this, I experience(d) very few “phantom” pains, and quite honestly, forget it is even there most days. When I first got my port I averaged about 100 lbs. I weigh much more than that now, and have gained quite a bit of muscle in my upper body. For this reason, my port has become less obvious to the eye, and typically is pretty hidden from view. That being said, when I first got the port it was a site for sore eyes. Many individuals would stare at me like I had an alien attached to my body. However, in the end, it was so so worth it. IV’s became a lot easier and I stopped dreading the once painful search to find a vein in my arm that wanted to cooperate for the day. It is for these reasons I say that getting a port was “the best thing that happened to me” while dealing with Lyme. To hear more about my experiences with a MediPort, be sure to check out my Youtube video below!
Psalm 119:14 “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”