A while ago, my medical team and I made the decision to place a port. Living with chronic migraine means frequent infusions, and over time with iron infusions, B12 treatments, blood draws, and hospital visits. After years of repeated IV access, my veins, skin, and arms had simply been through a lot.
A port is a small device placed under the skin that allows healthcare providers easier access to a vein for treatments. While it was a big decision, it has made receiving the care I need much easier and less traumatic on my body.
It’s not something I ever expected to need, but it’s one more tool that helps me manage life with chronic illness and continue moving forward.
Having a port in my chest and spending the last month and a half after the back surgery last November…I think I’m finally making my way back..but let’s not go crazy yet.
No high mileage over here I’m not even flirting with anything past 3 miles yet. At this point, my pace is somewhere between “runner” and “person casually escaping a parking lot.”
Having been close with KT Tape since 2009, I’ve had the privilege of watching the brand grow beyond its roots in pain relief and injury prevention. Over the past few years, they’ve expanded into other areas of health and wellness, recognizing that people’s needs go far beyond athletic recovery. It’s encouraging to see a company continue to innovate and address a wider range of medical and wellness needs as more people take an active role in prioritizing their health.
They sell CGM patches for a variety of monitors.
They currently have CGM patches for the
Dexcom GT and Stelo (currently out of stock)
Dexcom G6 and G5
Freestyle Libre 2 and 3
- It is Pro Extreme tape which is the strong hold they have and can get wet
- Can last up to 7 days without peeling or fraying
- Designed for maximum comfort and durability and keeps device secure
- Dermatologist tested. Hypoallergenic and Latex Free
- Each pack contains 20 patches, pre-cut to perfectly fit your device
I started using these patches around my port because I became a little self-conscious and worried that something would bump into it and cause pain. Since the catheter is connected to my jugular vein, I found myself feeling pretty anxious about it. Surprisingly, having a KT Tape CGM patch over the area gave me an extra sense of protection and peace of mind. It may seem like a small thing, but it helped me feel more comfortable and confident going about my day.
One of the routine parts of living with a port is having it accessed and flushed every few weeks. Before each appointment, I apply a numbing cream to the area to make the needle insertion more comfortable. The cream needs to stay in place for about 45 minutes before the port is accessed.
I quickly discovered another helpful use for the KT Tape CGM patches. After applying the numbing cream, I covered it with plastic wrap and used the patch to hold everything securely in place. It kept the cream exactly where it needed to be, without shifting or peeling up, and made the process much more convenient. AND I didn’t break out in a rash! Sometimes the simplest solutions end up being the most useful.
If you didn’t know about KT Tape’s other products and thought they only made Kinesiology tape, it might be time to take another look. They offer a variety of products designed to support different needs and lifestyles. Hopefully, by sharing some of the ways I’ve used them, along with a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way, I can help make someone else’s day a little easier.
-gelcys
Empire Unleashed 
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