Re: Xolair Injection from Nurse - Ouch!

[Guest guest]

Crap.

I don't know what to suggest other than you call the infusion center

and ask to speak to the nursing manager. If you can't get through,

get a fax number for that person's office. I would say something

non-confrontational, something like, " I just wanted to let someone

know that after nearly two years of self-injecting successfully, the

first time I had a problem with Xolair injections was last week when

I received them for the first time at your infusion center. I'm

concerned about it. " and go from there. You might ask whether or not

they can confirm that the nursing staff has been trained for this

particular injection. I know my pulmo's staff was trained by a nurse

or pharmacist for Genentech, because I had to wait to get trained on

my first shot until they had their training.

Good luck,

Addy

--- In , " instdesgn1 " <instdesgn1@...>

wrote:

>

> This past Mon. I had 3 injections by an RN at an infusion center

after

> self injecting successfully at home for 1-1/2 years. She injected

into

> the upper part of my arm - 2 in the left and 1 in the right. I

still

> have bruises that hurt on Fri. (I don't want to lean on the area

when

> laying down)

>

> I thought this should be injected into fat - that's what I always

did

> and I NEVER had painful bruises that lasted this long. At the time

I

> told her I wanted it injected a bit further down my arm and she

curtly

> informed me that she was the RN. The two injections were only

about 1

> or 1-1/2 inch apart which was also part of the problem. She

injected

> much faster than I did also.

>

> I don't think the doctor is listening to me at all, not to mention

> there wasn't a doc in sight anywhere - just cancer patients in bad

> shape. Trying to figure out what to do.

>

[Guest guest]

Who orders your injections?  Your allergist?  I would say something to my

allergist.  I had one nurse who gave me my shot too fast and not only did I have

bruises, but it hurt while she was doing it and my arm was terribly sore.  I

made it a point of telling the doctor at my next appointment with him and also

told him which nurse was the best.  Each time I had a new nurse, I very politely

said:  Please make sure you give it to me slowly as my arm really hurts when it

goes in too fast.  I have not had any more problems.  I think it has to do with

the doctor who is in charge of the center or the clinic.....And she may be the

nurse, but you are the one getting the shot! 

 

Hope it doesn't happen again to you...

 

Adah

From: instdesgn1 <instdesgn1@...>

Subject: [ ] Xolair Injection from Nurse - Ouch!

Date: Friday, July 4, 2008, 11:18 AM

This past Mon. I had 3 injections by an RN at an infusion center after

self injecting successfully at home for 1-1/2 years. She injected into

the upper part of my arm - 2 in the left and 1 in the right. I still

have bruises that hurt on Fri. (I don't want to lean on the area when

laying down)

I thought this should be injected into fat - that's what I always did

and I NEVER had painful bruises that lasted this long. At the time I

told her I wanted it injected a bit further down my arm and she curtly

informed me that she was the RN. The two injections were only about 1

or 1-1/2 inch apart which was also part of the problem. She injected

much faster than I did also.

I don't think the doctor is listening to me at all, not to mention

there wasn't a doc in sight anywhere - just cancer patients in bad

shape. Trying to figure out what to do.

[Guest guest]

All the nurses who have give me my shots evidently have been well

trained.

Here is the usual convo and procedure:

Nurse checks my BP, heart rate and has me blow into the kazoo.

Nurse: " How have you done since your last shots? Any problems, ER

visits for asthma, changes in your prescriptions? Ok, here goes the

first one. Theres gonna be a stick "

I never feel a thing.

Nurse: " This stuff is thick and going to take a bit, are you sure you

are ok "

Me: " Nope I haven't felt a thing. "

She slowly takes her time injecting.

Nurse: " There it's all over. Now for the other arm "

Me: " Ok thanks "

She sets the 30 minute timer

Nurse: " You can wait in here or out in the waiting room. Let the

girls up front see your arm before you leave. Have a great weekend Doug "

30 minutes later: " Ding "

Nurse up front: " Your arms look great, had any pain? Redness,

swelling, signs of reaction, anything else "

Me: Nope not a thing "

Nurse: " Looks great as usual. I can't even tell where they were given.

See you next Friday, have a great weekend "

Me: " you too "

THE END

Doug

Group founder

[Guest guest]

Wow, that's in sharp contrast to my experience .... It sounds like

your clinic has the traditional allergy de-sensitization shots in

mind with you.

Mine started out with a big hassle since I was going from home

injection to an infusion center. That was very upsetting - mixing an

allergy patient with cancer patients. (If I had a loved one w/cancer

I would be willing to stay with them, it's just that it's not

appropriate for someone with allergies who doesn't need cancer

treatment.)

I signed a bunch of papers. AFter an hour of arguing and waiting

while the pharmacist prepared the Xolair and having blood pressure

checked (extremely high) and oxygen sensor (low oxygen) and temp

(normal) the nurse pulled the curtain and injected - two in the left

arm and one in the right. She asked about injecting in the belly and

I said " no. " I suggested injecting more into the fat ... the

injection was way too fast. She was curt. There was no discussion

as far as she was concerned.

Somewhere in there they rehashed the epi pen business (I've had one

for 1-1/2 years) and asked about side effects of Xolair. The

pharmacist gave INcorrect instructions initially re epi pen ....

I couldn't lean back in the lounge chair (like a Lazy Boy) because I

couldn't breathe. My chest was tight and it was uncomfortable for

breathing. I complained and was ignored. It was not caused by

Xolair - just my chronic breathing problem. I called a family member

on my cell phone and surfed the net. The chair smelled like sweaty

dirty hair (and it wasn't mine!)

Probably about 3 or 4 more times the nurse checked oxygen satuation

and blood pressure. At the end of the two hours post Xolair inj(I

was in there for 3 hours altogether) the RN checked again - temp had

gone up to 98.8 (I felt warm - my normal temp more around 97.8) and

I'm not sure of bp or oxygen. I don't remember them asking how I

felt at the end before I left. They DEFINITELY did NOT CHECK MY

ARM!

The next day my temp was running aroun 99 so apparently Xolair does

spike an increase in temp.

This was a Xolair trained nurse and they went by the book ... except

for listening to the patient, that is.

I was sitting there for 3 hours with an RN alone and a pharmacist

part of the time. That seems like a tremendous waste of resources.

I guess in theory, sitting in a waiting room does not fit the

protocol.

The RN was always in full view and within I would say about 15 feet

of me except for the two times I went to the bathroom. It was

definitely overkill - that's why I said it seems like this

contributes to run-away healthcare costs. And after 1-1/2 years of

no problems and now having a painful arm it's even more wasteful and

harmful.

>

> All the nurses who have give me my shots evidently have been well

> trained.

>

> Here is the usual convo and procedure:

>

> Nurse checks my BP, heart rate and has me blow into the kazoo.

>

> Nurse: " How have you done since your last shots? Any problems, ER

> visits for asthma, changes in your prescriptions? Ok, here goes the

> first one. Theres gonna be a stick "

>

> I never feel a thing.

>

> Nurse: " This stuff is thick and going to take a bit, are you sure

you

> are ok "

>

> Me: " Nope I haven't felt a thing. "

>

> She slowly takes her time injecting.

>

> Nurse: " There it's all over. Now for the other arm "

>

> Me: " Ok thanks "

>

> She sets the 30 minute timer

>

> Nurse: " You can wait in here or out in the waiting room. Let the

> girls up front see your arm before you leave. Have a great weekend

Doug "

>

> 30 minutes later: " Ding "

>

> Nurse up front: " Your arms look great, had any pain? Redness,

> swelling, signs of reaction, anything else "

>

> Me: Nope not a thing "

>

> Nurse: " Looks great as usual. I can't even tell where they were

given.

> See you next Friday, have a great weekend "

>

> Me: " you too "

>

>

> THE END

>

> Doug

> Group founder

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Wow, that's in sharp contrast to my experience .... It sounds like

> your clinic has the traditional allergy de-sensitization shots in

> mind with you.

>

> Mine started out with a big hassle since I was going from home

> injection to an infusion center. That was very upsetting - mixing an

> allergy patient with cancer patients. (If I had a loved one w/cancer

> I would be willing to stay with them, it's just that it's not

> appropriate for someone with allergies who doesn't need cancer

> treatment.)

>

> I signed a bunch of papers. AFter an hour of arguing and waiting

> while the pharmacist prepared the Xolair and having blood pressure

> checked (extremely high) and oxygen sensor (low oxygen) and temp

> (normal) the nurse pulled the curtain and injected - two in the left

> arm and one in the right. She asked about injecting in the belly and

> I said " no. " I suggested injecting more into the fat ... the

> injection was way too fast. She was curt. There was no discussion

> as far as she was concerned.

>

> Somewhere in there they rehashed the epi pen business (I've had one

> for 1-1/2 years) and asked about side effects of Xolair. The

> pharmacist gave INcorrect instructions initially re epi pen ....

>

> I couldn't lean back in the lounge chair (like a Lazy Boy) because I

> couldn't breathe. My chest was tight and it was uncomfortable for

> breathing. I complained and was ignored. It was not caused by

> Xolair - just my chronic breathing problem. I called a family member

> on my cell phone and surfed the net. The chair smelled like sweaty

> dirty hair (and it wasn't mine!)

>

> Probably about 3 or 4 more times the nurse checked oxygen satuation

> and blood pressure. At the end of the two hours post Xolair inj(I

> was in there for 3 hours altogether) the RN checked again - temp had

> gone up to 98.8 (I felt warm - my normal temp more around 97.8) and

> I'm not sure of bp or oxygen. I don't remember them asking how I

> felt at the end before I left. They DEFINITELY did NOT CHECK MY

> ARM!

>

> The next day my temp was running aroun 99 so apparently Xolair does

> spike an increase in temp.

>

> This was a Xolair trained nurse and they went by the book ... except

> for listening to the patient, that is.

>

> I was sitting there for 3 hours with an RN alone and a pharmacist

> part of the time. That seems like a tremendous waste of resources.

> I guess in theory, sitting in a waiting room does not fit the

> protocol.

>

> The RN was always in full view and within I would say about 15 feet

> of me except for the two times I went to the bathroom. It was

> definitely overkill - that's why I said it seems like this

> contributes to run-away healthcare costs. And after 1-1/2 years of

> no problems and now having a painful arm it's even more wasteful and

> harmful.

>

Talk about a complete turn around for you. Giving your own injections

successfully and then having to go a place that has OVERKILL!

Sheesh!

I just got back from getting my regular allergy shot. They gave me the

shot " OUCH " (regular shots still hurt) and I waited 30 minutes.

I was swolen up a bit but not too bad. Here it is 2 hours later and I

can still feel pain and a bump where they gave it.

Xolair injections have never hurt or swolen up like this.

Doug