Can you get a massage with an accessed portacath? This is the question I kept asking myself over the past couple months. I get so stressed with school and being sick, that sometimes I just really need a massage, but I could not figure out if I could get one with a port. See I am accessed all the time, which means I have a needle in my chests, and the idea of laying on my stomach while someone pushed on my back just did not sit well with me.
Over winter break, I decided to take the plunge, and use a gift card that one of my amazing relatives had given me for a massage. I wasn’t sure exactly how it was going to work out, but I was in serious need of a massage.
Before I left the house, I grabbed one of my aquagaurd shower dressings and took it to the salon. On my way back to the room I informed the nurse I had a port and much to my surprise, she informed me that she was in med school and was familiar with ports! This made me feel better about getting a massage, because at least she knew what we were working with. When we got back to the room I showed her my aqua guard and we agreed it would be a good idea to cover my port. We placed it over my port and began my massage.
When it was time to flip over on my stomach, we placed a small cushy pillow under my port! It was like it wash’t even there. There were certain times that it was a little uncomfortable during the massage, but overall the experience was very very enjoyable.
I am so excited that I learned that I can get massages while I am accessed and even though it was a little more complicated than the normal massage, it was very relaxing and seriously needed. I wanted to share this information because it is sometimes hard to know what you can and can’t do with medical appliances. So know we all know, you can totally get massages with an accessed port!
Over winter break, I decided to take the plunge, and use a gift card that one of my amazing relatives had given me for a massage. I wasn’t sure exactly how it was going to work out, but I was in serious need of a massage.
Before I left the house, I grabbed one of my aquagaurd shower dressings and took it to the salon. On my way back to the room I informed the nurse I had a port and much to my surprise, she informed me that she was in med school and was familiar with ports! This made me feel better about getting a massage, because at least she knew what we were working with. When we got back to the room I showed her my aqua guard and we agreed it would be a good idea to cover my port. We placed it over my port and began my massage.
When it was time to flip over on my stomach, we placed a small cushy pillow under my port! It was like it wash’t even there. There were certain times that it was a little uncomfortable during the massage, but overall the experience was very very enjoyable.
I am so excited that I learned that I can get massages while I am accessed and even though it was a little more complicated than the normal massage, it was very relaxing and seriously needed. I wanted to share this information because it is sometimes hard to know what you can and can’t do with medical appliances. So know we all know, you can totally get massages with an accessed port!
Sarah Brocker
Hi my name is Sarah Brocker and I have Crohn's Disease. I've got 8 scars and am missing two feet of intestines and my life isn't normal, but whose life is normal? I want to use my experiences to help you, even if it means sharing embarrassing experiences. I am also looking to break the stigmas associated with IBD in order to make living with IBD just a little bit easier. All I want to do is help, so please, let ME help YOU!
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