I am having a double mediport install. It took over an hour for the Doctors to install a central line last time. So it has been decided that have a mediport would a good idea for safety. My blood pressure drops so low that the staff can not get a reading. This was the case when the center line took so long. Does any one else have a mediport?

The way I avoided having a Medi-Port inserted was to start showing up at the hospital BEFORE my capillaries had leaked out, my blood pressure had dropped, inserting a central venous line had become a challenge, and the ER/ICU doctors would pump my body full of fluid -- which then caused me to swell and compromise my muscles and nerves, necessitating emergency surgery (fasciotomies) and a long and painful physical rehabilitation. And the way I went about doing that (at the suggestion of my doctors) was, first, by monitoring my hemoglobin levels on a daily or more frequent basis, with the purpose of spotting episodes sooner rather than later, with the use of a portable, hand-held Hgb analyzer. (See "Portable, instantaneous test for hemoconcentration" under Diagnostic Tests in the Disorder Details section of this website.) The second thing I did was to experiment (under medical supervision, of course) with various dosages of steroids like Prednisone, in an attempt to abort episodes of SCLS -- which we succeeded in doing. In sum, I confirmed that an ounce of prevention is worth a lot more than a pound of cure. Feel free to share this with your doctors!

Hello Ritz, I have a port as well. My last three episodes in December prompted my doctor to realize my need of one. In all three episodes my blood pressure drops so quickly they could not access a vein. So close to death three times. Last episode was awful!!! Just this past January I received my port. It is like my security blanket, I know that if I should have an attack, they will have an access to fluid my body. Every month they draw labs from it and flush. So thankful to have one less worry. In Oct 2004 when I had first attack , my pressure went 50/30 I had shock and seizure, was in intensive care, they had to put central line in. I have huge problem with pressures and vein access. Went to Mayo, go every year, stay on cocktail meds, Theo-24 and terbutiline, went 5 years and then this past Dec. three attacks, last on Christmas Day came home New Years Day, they gave me IVIG, it was my lifesaver!!! As of now, holding, continue to have fatigue, swelling on and off, pressures not stable most of time, it is quite an adjustment to life as we once knew it! Take care, God Bless Mary Jane