No iv infusion for me yesterday | Arthritis Information

 

I was afraid this was going to happen.  Not sure if you all remember me posting a few weeks ago about the the trouble they had drawing blood, three days, 4 people, something like 16 sticks.  NOT fun.

For my adrenal exhaustion, I need to have iv infusions.  Well the girl tried for almost two hours yesterday, 9 pokes in all.  Black and blue from fingers to shoulders, both arms.  She would get the iv in, it would run for like 30 seconds, then blow my vein.  My arms are so swollen from the solution thats in there.

Its so upsetting, after years, they think they find something that might help me feel a bit better but they can not give it to me.  The medication can only be given by iv and my body is just shutting down so much.

I go in Wednesday to try again, there will be a different nurse there, lets hope they have better luck.  Not sure where they even think they are going to try and put it!!!  My hands are always to swollen as are my feet.  Not sure if they can do it in my chest or not?
Oh how aweful Michele!  I am so sorry and do hope that Wednesday they can get the iv to stay in and not blow.I hope it works on Wed.  If it doesn't have you thought about getting a port.  It really makes getting infusions much easier than trying to find healthy veins

Dear Michel, OH no!, that is so annoying to have them try and try, but it doesnt work. Once I had a tight shirt and rolled it up to have the iv, and my vein in my arm was already 'ready' .  But in the emergency they tried 4 times.   I've had those blown veins.I hope yours works next time.

thinking of you, sarah

Drink lots of fluids, Michele. Be just as hydrated as possible before hand. Also before starting, make sure they know you are a hard stick. Usually they will put the best person on it. Ask if they can use an Ultrasound to find the vein. When they can't do your hands or feet, then they often try at your neck. In the hospital, they will go and get either someone from the ER or the premmies to do the hard sticks.

Poor baby, you are trying so hard to get well and it seems like everything is set against you. But you are going to get there.

Oh man ((((hugs)))).  I hope on Wednesday they have someone that can stick you.  Like Deanna said, lot's fluids.  Your chest is kinda reaching it a little bit, but they may try your neck. 

I hope this works out for you!!!

NECK!!!  Ouch!  She knew I was a hard stick, it was the same girl who tried to get the blood last time.  She had my hands in warmers, which felt wonderful for 30 minutes first, its supposed to bring the veins up. 

I drank so much yesterday, my bladder hurt! Hi Micheleb, do you have to have these infusions on a regular basis for a
long time? If so, talk to your doctor about having a portacath put in. It is
placed just under the skin on the chest area. Then, they just put a needle
into the port and do the infusion. They can also do blood draws this way. I
think 16 sticks warrents something like this if this is going to be somthing
that is continual for weeks or months. Please ask your doctor about this.I will ask them Wednesday, although I never get to actually talk to the doctor herself!! As lousy as it is going, I think you are on a helpful path!

Michele, I'm so sorry you are having such a hard time with the needle sticks.

It sure sounds like they tried all the tricks before they started. This probably sounds really stupid, but can they use a butterfly needle for the IV? I know they always draw my blood with one, but I can't seem to remember if they ever did one for my IV's.

I agree that you need someone else to do the stick on Wed. O.R. or preemie people really are the best at hard sticks, in my experience.

Why don't you call your doctor at the office and ask about the portacath? Maybe she can send an order for one, before you have to go thru the whole thing again?

It does sound like your new doc is on to something, doesn't it? I so hope that this will make you feel much, much better.

I am thinking of you, Sweetie.

Hugs,

Nini

The other thing I was going to tell you is that most institutions have a cap
on the number of times a nurse can stick a patient. At our hospital that
number is 2. If the nurse does not get it in two tries, another member of the
team is consulted. They shouldn't be practicing on you. You are not a lab
rat. Don't let the same person stick you over and over. That would make
me angry. Anyway, good luck to you and I'm sorry you are having to go
through all of this.I have only two nurses at my hospital that can get blood out of me. I tell them every time (every 3 wks) where to put the needle and to use the butterfly. This way I know i dont need to be jabbed continuously . one day they were both away and they tried 7 times to get blood. I was an emotional mess. it bought back the ptsd symptoms full on. i had got myself off the antidepressants 6 mths prior and did not need to go on that path again. next time i will stop way before it gets to that point. just remember its your body.i think the more determined we are for it to work the harder it gets. try meditation or possitive thinking next time you have that problem .all the best . ally
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