Re: Blood draw leaves egg size lump...hematoma!!

[Guest guest]

Hi AJ,

I can't give you medical advice on this, but I did have a somewhat similar

experience. First of all, there's a better way to draw so much blood: they use a

small needle attached to a long piece of tubing to fill all the vials rather

than switching them right near your arm. Second, I started avoiding one

particular tech at my endo's office. The head tech said he would not complain to

her but that I was welcome to ask for him instead any time. Finally, I believe

PTU makes us clot more slowly, which means you really need to put steady and

sustained pressure on the puncture for a few minutes afterwards.

My worst encounter with the tech I started avoiding left me with a lump nearly

the size you describe. I don't believe it's a health risk beyond the local

damage, but the nurse you spoke to would know better. Certainly danger signs

would include red streaks running out from the site or increased swelling.

I took extra vitamin C and also used arnica gel from the health food store.

Arnica is supposed to dissolve the byproducts that cause the swelling. It's used

in sprains and muscle injuries--I don't know if it's generally used in cases

like this, so I'm not recommending it. Actually, I often ask at the counter of

the health food store--but your GP should be able to give you advice, too.

I think you don't need to worry--except about avoiding inept techs! (The worst

blood draw I ever endured was one I caused myself--I was getting tested for HIV

and got talking with the counselor about teenage girls having sex, something she

was impassioned about. The longer we talked, the harder her hand with the needle

shook. Taught me a lesson!)

Best wishes,

From: aj12thy

To: graves_support

Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 12:47 AM

Subject: Blood draw leaves egg size lump...hematoma!!

Please help!!

Oct 29 blood was drawn. I have a lump the size of a small egg where

the 6 vials of blood were drawn. The vein also has a small lump on

it. The arm has a mark from the tournaquit. (sp)

A friend ...surgical nurse...looked at my arm today. Says it looks

like a hematoma in the deep tissue. No black and blue evident.

Probably poked thru the vein. (I told the tech my veins are always

missed. Lab techs go too deep. She said the vein rolls.)

How concerned should I be? Does this happen often? Could the lab

tech have prevented this? What danger is this to my Graves'

Disease..PTU protocol...or my health? Should I have a CBC?

Bloodclot danger? Will it heal without further medical " help " .

That must have been a lot of blood to make such a large lump!!!

I am still ever hopeful,

Al

[Guest guest]

Right. They call this type of needle a " butterfly. " Very good for accessing

the smaller veins, the brittle veins, etc. Ask for it by name. :-)

Carol

Re: Blood draw leaves egg size lump...hematoma!!

Hi AJ,

I can't give you medical advice on this, but I did have a somewhat similar

experience. First of all, there's a better way to draw so much blood: they use a

small needle attached to a long piece of tubing to fill all the vials rather

than switching them right near your arm.

[Guest guest]

Carol,

Thank you so much for your reply about my hematoma. It is good to

know it isn't something dangerous to my present health.

Actually this was the first time anyone used a butterfly on me. The

tab tech even said something about using a small need aloud.

AJ

> Right. They call this type of needle a " butterfly. " Very good

for accessing the smaller veins, the brittle veins, etc. Ask for it

by name. :-)

>

> Carol

> Hi AJ,

>

> I can't give you medical advice on this, but I did have a

somewhat similar experience. First of all, there's a better way to

draw so much blood: they use a small needle attached to a long piece

of tubing to fill all the vials rather than switching them right

near your arm.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you ,

I'm calmer now. My husband and the nurse at the doc office looked

so shocked, it frightened me. I'm certain it is possible for a lab

tech to avoid this from happening. I always tell them that prevous

techs overshoot my veins, but it didn't make any difference.

I have so much numbness and stiffness in my hands that I am pretty

upset when it looks like something more will happen to them. I

assume it is due to the low FT4 .91 (range .89-1.78). I presently

take 1/6 of a 50 mg pill 3 times a day. I hope my veins heal for

the next blood draw in about 2 1/2 weeks.

I am glad to have made it thru cello performances this weekend

without fingers triggering permanently. I've already had carpal

tunnel on both hands and 2 trigger thumbs. I have nodules on other

fingers that could trigger...and the hands don't open and close

first thing in the am. I just want to play cello.

Do many Graves' Disease patients have carpal tunnel? I thought it

was primarily a hypo occurrence. And plantar's fascitis. And one

knee won't bend this month.

Of course, the endo says my aches and pains are not related to a

thyroid problem because my FT4 and TSH 3.52 (.5-5.5)

are " normal " and I am in a state of eurothyroid. (sp) sigh!!

I've wondered if I should eat more " normally " and lay off the

groidregens (sp)....or increase iodine and salt in my diet. What

foods...besides fish and I love fish...will increase the production

of T4 and conversion of T3?

I have an acupuncturist. I am still in amazement that his therapy

really might work!!??? I wish I had gone to him first thing when I

returned from Florida last spring.

With your alternative approach have you tried acu or bio meridian

testing?

I am glad to hear from you. I guess I've gone on and on.

Trying to be ever hopeful,

AJ

> Hi AJ,

>

> I can't give you medical advice on this, but I did have a somewhat

similar experience. First of all, there's a better way to draw so

much blood: they use a small needle attached to a long piece of

tubing to fill all the vials rather than switching them right near

your arm. Second, I started avoiding one particular tech at my

endo's office. The head tech said he would not complain to her but

that I was welcome to ask for him instead any time. Finally, I

believe PTU makes us clot more slowly, which means you really need

to put steady and sustained pressure on the puncture for a few

minutes afterwards.

>

> My worst encounter with the tech I started avoiding left me with a

lump nearly the size you describe. I don't believe it's a health

risk beyond the local damage, but the nurse you spoke to would know

better. Certainly danger signs would include red streaks running out

from the site or increased swelling.

>

> I took extra vitamin C and also used arnica gel from the health

food store. Arnica is supposed to dissolve the byproducts that cause

the swelling. It's used in sprains and muscle injuries--I don't know

if it's generally used in cases like this, so I'm not recommending

it. Actually, I often ask at the counter of the health food store--

but your GP should be able to give you advice, too.

>

> I think you don't need to worry--except about avoiding inept

techs! (The worst blood draw I ever endured was one I caused myself--

I was getting tested for HIV and got talking with the counselor

about teenage girls having sex, something she was impassioned about.

The longer we talked, the harder her hand with the needle shook.

Taught me a lesson!)

>

> Best wishes,

>

>

> From: aj12thy

> To: graves_support

> Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 12:47 AM

> Subject: Blood draw leaves egg size

lump...hematoma!!

>

>

> Please help!!

>

> Oct 29 blood was drawn. I have a lump the size of a small egg

where

> the 6 vials of blood were drawn. The vein also has a small lump

on

> it. The arm has a mark from the tournaquit. (sp)

>

> A friend ...surgical nurse...looked at my arm today. Says it

looks

> like a hematoma in the deep tissue. No black and blue evident.

> Probably poked thru the vein. (I told the tech my veins are

always

> missed. Lab techs go too deep. She said the vein rolls.)

>

> How concerned should I be? Does this happen often? Could the

lab

> tech have prevented this? What danger is this to my Graves'

> Disease..PTU protocol...or my health? Should I have a CBC?

> Bloodclot danger? Will it heal without further medical " help " .

> That must have been a lot of blood to make such a large lump!!!

>

>

> I am still ever hopeful,

> Al

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

AJ,

I am an advocate of using common sense. If you are hypO on such a low dose,

then you can probably cut back. I stopped the meds because my FT4 was

staying too low, even on 1/4 pill a day. I will continue to monitor

monthly, and play it by ear.

At 05:38 PM 11/9/2003, you wrote:

>I have so much numbness and stiffness in my hands that I am pretty

>upset when it looks like something more will happen to them. I

>assume it is due to the low FT4 .91 (range .89-1.78). I presently

>take 1/6 of a 50 mg pill 3 times a day. I hope my veins heal for

>the next blood draw in about 2 1/2 weeks.

[Guest guest]

Hi I'm a diffecult draw as well when it comes to having blood drawn.

Last friday when I had some blood tests done.

I informed the tech, and she just blew me off.

She said that I was just jinksing myself.

Then when she was looking at my arm, she said that I wasn't lying.

I'm thinking, hello, its my arm and my veins.

I should know about them.

Melisssa R. Green

" It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities

without your help. "

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

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[Guest guest]

,

You might see if there is an acupuncture school anywhere around you. I don't

know whether you're in a major metro area, but if you are, there's likely to

be one. They always have low-cost clinics, where the students work under

supervision to treat patients. Many, many clinical hours are required for

graduation/licensing.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 05:04:08 -0500

> To: <graves_support >

> Subject: Blood draw leaves egg size lump...hematoma!!

>

> Hi AJ,

>

> It must be tough to have problems with your hands when you're a musician. I

> would feel extremely hypo at TSH of 3.5 (that's above the new guidelines,

> which say 3.0 is the top limit. You could show your doctor the Amer. Assoc.of

> Clinical Endos. press release stating this (it's available at

> thyroid-info.com). If you could get your levels up, some of these symptoms

> would probably subside. And since you're above the new limits, perhaps your

> dr. will have to pay attention. ;

>

> My once-skeptical mom has had great benefits from acupuncture for irritable

> bowel syndrome and general achiness. I think getting your energy circulating

> properly would be a very helpful thing for regaining health and balance.

> Unfortunately I'm far too broke to be able to take advantage of alternative

> tretaments (thankfully I do have health insurance).

>

> It's tough dealing with being hypo when you're hypo! But hang in there.

>

> Best wishes,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/9/2003 8:38:12 PM Central Standard Time,

graduate56@... writes:

Hi I'm a diffecult draw as well when it comes to having blood drawn.

Last friday when I had some blood tests done.

I informed the tech, and she just blew me off.

She said that I was just jinksing myself.

Then when she was looking at my arm, she said that I wasn't lying.

I'm thinking, hello, its my arm and my veins.

I should know about them.

I know what you are talking about. The tech who draw my blood today had a

less than cuddly personality. I am allergic to Latex. Well, she b*tched and

b*tched about it. She told she wasn't going wear those damn gloves. And then she

put them on and complain so more. I was afraid she was going to hurt me. TG she

didn't.

A wonder tech told me to have other tech. use a butterfly needle. Because it

smaller for my smaller veins. Well, tech. like this one don't want to listen.

They don't care about anyone but themselves. Gggrrr. Sorry that you are in

pain. I wish we could get tech like these fired!

Blessings, Dionne

Cradle to Crayons Home Daycare

" We care We learn We laugh We play "

Provider: Dionne Lane

in Austin, TX

Check out:

Click here to see my website:

http://www.geocities.com/cradletocrayons1111/index.html

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/8/2003 4:37:05 PM Central Standard Time,

carol@... writes:

Right. They call this type of needle a " butterfly. " Very good for accessing

the smaller veins, the brittle veins, etc. Ask for it by name. :-)

Carol

I have had techs. say no. Gggrrr!

Cradle to Crayons Home Daycare

" We care We learn We laugh We play "

Provider: Dionne Lane

in Austin, TX

Check out:

Click here to see my website:

http://www.geocities.com/cradletocrayons1111/index.html

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/8/2003 2:28:37 PM Central Standard Time,

nyb@... writes:

Hi AJ,

I can't give you medical advice on this, but I did have a somewhat similar

experience. First of all, there's a better way to draw so much blood: they use a

small needle attached to a long piece of tubing to fill all the vials rather

than switching them right near your arm. Second, I started avoiding one

particular tech at my endo's office. The head tech said he would not complain to

her

but that I was welcome to ask for him instead any time. Finally, I believe

PTU makes us clot more slowly, which means you really need to put steady and

sustained pressure on the puncture for a few minutes afterwards.

My worst encounter with the tech I started avoiding left me with a lump

nearly the size you describe. I don't believe it's a health risk beyond the

local

damage, but the nurse you spoke to would know better. Certainly danger signs

would include red streaks running out from the site or increased swelling.

I took extra vitamin C and also used arnica gel from the health food store.

Arnica is supposed to dissolve the byproducts that cause the swelling. It's

used in sprains and muscle injuries--I don't know if it's generally used in

cases

like this, so I'm not recommending it. Actually, I often ask at the counter

of the health food store--but your GP should be able to give you advice, too.

I think you don't need to worry--except about avoiding inept techs! (The

worst blood draw I ever endured was one I caused myself--I was getting tested

for

HIV and got talking with the counselor about teenage girls having sex,

something she was impassioned about. The longer we talked, the harder her hand

with

the needle shook. Taught me a lesson!)

Best wishes,

Tell me about it. I have had so many inept

techs. I have had at leased 5 times were a tech or nurse has drawn my blood

and it hurt was 3 or for days. At the hospital this

time I had 3 IVs the first wasn't put in right. I felt the needle stick each

time I bent my arm just a little. the second on I felt burning with what every

putting through it. And then my forearm swelled up to twice it size because

it wasn't in a vein. And the third on was put in right but I swear that the

nurse second job was as a dominatrix. Because pulled the scrap on my arm as hard

as she could. I screamed out loud. The nurse told me she had to do it that

hard. My arse she did. I have had IVs 2 children and I have had my blood drawn

20

times in the last 16 years. I was afraid to say something to her because I

was alone at the hospital at the time. Blessings, Dionne

Cradle to Crayons Home Daycare

" We care We learn We laugh We play "

Provider: Dionne Lane

in Austin, TX

Check out:

Click here to see my website:

http://www.geocities.com/cradletocrayons1111/index.html

[Guest guest]

I haven't been diagnosed " officially " , have my first endo appointment on

November 24th..have been learning so much from these sites...am so grateful

I found this. My GP said I have hyperthyroidism, and how did I slip through

their cracks? Another story...but I know about " rolling veins " , have had

them all my life...know about the " butterfly " needle...always recommended..

however, a good tech can get your blood without having to revert to the

butterfly " . Complain if they are a problem...let the doctor deal with them.

they should be fired. I work in a hospital, by the way...What a b*tch.

dealing with the disease, as it is, and then dealing with the cr*p from the

so called healthcare workers. Sorry, maybe I am due my meds...:>)

-- Re: Blood draw leaves egg size lump...hematoma!!

In a message dated 11/8/2003 4:37:05 PM Central Standard Time,

carol@... writes:

Right. They call this type of needle a " butterfly. " Very good for

accessing

the smaller veins, the brittle veins, etc. Ask for it by name. :-)

Carol

I have had techs. say no. Gggrrr!

Cradle to Crayons Home Daycare

" We care We learn We laugh We play "

Provider: Dionne Lane

in Austin, TX

Check out:

Click here to see my website:

http://www.geocities.com/cradletocrayons1111/index.html