Guest guest Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 I don't want to even talk about IV's!!! I had to have one put in for my CT-scan two days ago, and in the end I felt like a pin cushion!! Why, oh why, is it that when I say I'm a " hard stick " , the nurse looks at my very visible veins and say's, " Oh honey, I've done this a million times, and you won't be any trouble at all. Why lookie there, there's a great one right there " ......... When I say I've got rolling veins or tight veins she looks at me as though I just made the names up. I told her that if an anesthesiologist with 18 years of training couldn't get access for a triple lumen, what made her think she could get access for a simple needle IV? I was mad, and sore, at the time I said this, because she sat there with the needle in my arm, jerking it around every few minutes, for a good ten minutes, just trying to get one vein!! I asked her to quit, and she twice said that she was " nearly there " , and would quit, in a second, if she couldn't get it. Ten minutes past, and I felt like ripping my arm away from her clutches. There was a man laying on an elevated table in the room, waiting to be taken back to his hospital room. He kept watching this needle sticking scenario and shaking his head at me in sympathy. So finally, after at least twenty minutes and one sore arm later, she withdrew the needle, admitted defeat and left to call in another nurse. The man on the table asked me if I was still alive. The new nurse came in, so I switched arms, and told Nurse # 2 that if she couldn't get it with one stick, that I would go without the contrast. Nurse # 2 apologized for my discomfort with the first nurse's attempts, yet didn't brag about her own ability or make any promises. She quietly picked up my arm, swabbed the site, and within two seconds, painlessly stuck me and we watched the blood flow up into the lumen. Now, why couldn't they have sent her to me in the first place? She taped the tubing to my arm and escorted me to the radiology room. I met with my GI today to discuss the results of the blood tests, lab work, EKG and CT-scan. Everything was " perfect " , he said, except for the CT, which showed absolutely no decrease in the pseudocyst at all. It's still 6.5 x 5 something cm. and I guess it's just going to be that way forever. There's been no change in this one in over three years, so I guess if it's staying around that long I really will have to name it. I was really happy to learn that all the blood work and the CA-19-9 were all so good. With my LDL way back down now in the 60's, and my HBA1c so good, it appears that I've not got anything to worry about in those areas, at least for some time. My GI also set up a referral to a Neurosurgeon for me to see about having the surgery done on my left hand for my left sided carpal tunnel, which is more severe than the right. He's not convinced that I'll be happy with the results, as he says that the surgery is not always successful. But I feel that I have to give it a try, anyway. What other choice do I have? My thumb has gotten so restrictive that I've had trouble buttoning buttons, twisting caps, putting on shoes, picking things up, holding things, etc., and the wrist braces haven't provided any actual relief or benefits. I do wear the braces when driving, and that helps with my ability to grip the steering wheel, but that's about it. I do think that I'll try to get by until after the first of the year before contemplating any more surgery for this year, though. I'd like to get through the holidays without any bandages or impedements of any kind. With love, hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth SC State & SE Regional Representative Pancreatitis Association, International Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 If you are a hard stick since we all know how much we have to give blood to keep levels in check. Then maybe you should talk to your doc about having a Port A Cath put in. I had one for a few yrs and it worked great. They make a little slit in your chest and put a mini disc in. There is a hole in the middle where a needle goes. Mine started to mess up after a student nurse tried to flush it. So only RN's or docs should try to excess it. If you have any questions about a port a cath please feel free to email me at kebajackson@.... It is a lot better then having to be stuck every three days when in hospital. Cause I was also taking demerol for pain and that stuff eat's up veins really bad....sorry hate to cut short but I have a doc's apt in about 30 mins...hope everyone is having a pain free day... KebaJ. > > I don't want to even talk about IV's!!! I had to have one put in for > my CT-scan two days ago, and in the end I felt like a pin cushion!! > > Why, oh why, is it that when I say I'm a " hard stick " , the nurse > looks at my very visible veins and say's, " Oh honey, I've done this a > million times, and you won't be any trouble at all. Why lookie there, > there's a great one right there " ......... When I say I've got rolling > veins or tight veins she looks at me as though I just made the names up. > > I told her that if an anesthesiologist with 18 years of training > couldn't get access for a triple lumen, what made her think she could > get access for a simple needle IV? I was mad, and sore, at the time I > said this, because she sat there with the needle in my arm, jerking it > around every few minutes, for a good ten minutes, just trying to get > one vein!! I asked her to quit, and she twice said that she was > " nearly there " , and would quit, in a second, if she couldn't get it. > Ten minutes past, and I felt like ripping my arm away from her > clutches. There was a man laying on an elevated table in the room, > waiting to be taken back to his hospital room. He kept watching this > needle sticking scenario and shaking his head at me in sympathy. > > So finally, after at least twenty minutes and one sore arm later, she > withdrew the needle, admitted defeat and left to call in another > nurse. The man on the table asked me if I was still alive. The new > nurse came in, so I switched arms, and told Nurse # 2 that if she > couldn't get it with one stick, that I would go without the contrast. > Nurse # 2 apologized for my discomfort with the first nurse's > attempts, yet didn't brag about her own ability or make any promises. > She quietly picked up my arm, swabbed the site, and within two > seconds, painlessly stuck me and we watched the blood flow up into the > lumen. Now, why couldn't they have sent her to me in the first place? > She taped the tubing to my arm and escorted me to the radiology room. > > I met with my GI today to discuss the results of the blood tests, lab > work, EKG and CT-scan. Everything was " perfect " , he said, except for > the CT, which showed absolutely no decrease in the pseudocyst at all. > It's still 6.5 x 5 something cm. and I guess it's just going to be > that way forever. There's been no change in this one in over three > years, so I guess if it's staying around that long I really will have > to name it. I was really happy to learn that all the blood work and > the CA-19-9 were all so good. With my LDL way back down now in the > 60's, and my HBA1c so good, it appears that I've not got anything to > worry about in those areas, at least for some time. > > My GI also set up a referral to a Neurosurgeon for me to see about > having the surgery done on my left hand for my left sided carpal > tunnel, which is more severe than the right. He's not convinced that > I'll be happy with the results, as he says that the surgery is not > always successful. But I feel that I have to give it a try, anyway. > What other choice do I have? My thumb has gotten so restrictive that > I've had trouble buttoning buttons, twisting caps, putting on shoes, > picking things up, holding things, etc., and the wrist braces haven't > provided any actual relief or benefits. I do wear the braces when > driving, and that helps with my ability to grip the steering wheel, > but that's about it. I do think that I'll try to get by until after > the first of the year before contemplating any more surgery for this > year, though. I'd like to get through the holidays without any > bandages or impedements of any kind. > > With love, hope and prayers, > Heidi > > Heidi H. Griffeth > SC State & SE Regional Representative > Pancreatitis Association, International > > > Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or > opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical > consultation. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Actually it is probably more of what they give you with the demoral that eats up your veins...hope this finds you and yours well......Mark Re: ..........IVs > If you are a hard stick since we all know how much we have to give > blood to keep levels in check. Then maybe you should talk to your > doc about having a Port A Cath put in. I had one for a few yrs and > it worked great. They make a little slit in your chest and put a > mini disc in. There is a hole in the middle where a needle goes. > Mine started to mess up after a student nurse tried to flush it. So > only RN's or docs should try to excess it. If you have any questions > about a port a cath please feel free to email me at > kebajackson@.... It is a lot better then having to be stuck > every three days when in hospital. Cause I was also taking demerol > for pain and that stuff eat's up veins really bad....sorry hate to > cut short but I have a doc's apt in about 30 mins...hope everyone is > having a pain free day... > > KebaJ. > > >> >> I don't want to even talk about IV's!!! I had to have one put in > for >> my CT-scan two days ago, and in the end I felt like a pin cushion!! >> >> Why, oh why, is it that when I say I'm a " hard stick " , the nurse >> looks at my very visible veins and say's, " Oh honey, I've done this > a >> million times, and you won't be any trouble at all. Why lookie > there, >> there's a great one right there " ......... When I say I've got > rolling >> veins or tight veins she looks at me as though I just made the > names up. >> >> I told her that if an anesthesiologist with 18 years of training >> couldn't get access for a triple lumen, what made her think she > could >> get access for a simple needle IV? I was mad, and sore, at the > time I >> said this, because she sat there with the needle in my arm, jerking > it >> around every few minutes, for a good ten minutes, just trying to get >> one vein!! I asked her to quit, and she twice said that she was >> " nearly there " , and would quit, in a second, if she couldn't get > it. >> Ten minutes past, and I felt like ripping my arm away from her >> clutches. There was a man laying on an elevated table in the room, >> waiting to be taken back to his hospital room. He kept watching > this >> needle sticking scenario and shaking his head at me in sympathy. >> >> So finally, after at least twenty minutes and one sore arm later, > she >> withdrew the needle, admitted defeat and left to call in another >> nurse. The man on the table asked me if I was still alive. The new >> nurse came in, so I switched arms, and told Nurse # 2 that if she >> couldn't get it with one stick, that I would go without the > contrast. >> Nurse # 2 apologized for my discomfort with the first nurse's >> attempts, yet didn't brag about her own ability or make any > promises. >> She quietly picked up my arm, swabbed the site, and within two >> seconds, painlessly stuck me and we watched the blood flow up into > the >> lumen. Now, why couldn't they have sent her to me in the first > place? >> She taped the tubing to my arm and escorted me to the radiology > room. >> >> I met with my GI today to discuss the results of the blood tests, > lab >> work, EKG and CT-scan. Everything was " perfect " , he said, except > for >> the CT, which showed absolutely no decrease in the pseudocyst at > all. >> It's still 6.5 x 5 something cm. and I guess it's just going to be >> that way forever. There's been no change in this one in over three >> years, so I guess if it's staying around that long I really will > have >> to name it. I was really happy to learn that all the blood work and >> the CA-19-9 were all so good. With my LDL way back down now in the >> 60's, and my HBA1c so good, it appears that I've not got anything to >> worry about in those areas, at least for some time. >> >> My GI also set up a referral to a Neurosurgeon for me to see about >> having the surgery done on my left hand for my left sided carpal >> tunnel, which is more severe than the right. He's not convinced that >> I'll be happy with the results, as he says that the surgery is not >> always successful. But I feel that I have to give it a try, > anyway. >> What other choice do I have? My thumb has gotten so restrictive > that >> I've had trouble buttoning buttons, twisting caps, putting on shoes, >> picking things up, holding things, etc., and the wrist braces > haven't >> provided any actual relief or benefits. I do wear the braces when >> driving, and that helps with my ability to grip the steering wheel, >> but that's about it. I do think that I'll try to get by until after >> the first of the year before contemplating any more surgery for this >> year, though. I'd like to get through the holidays without any >> bandages or impedements of any kind. >> >> With love, hope and prayers, >> Heidi >> >> Heidi H. Griffeth >> SC State & SE Regional Representative >> Pancreatitis Association, International >> >> >> Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or >> opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical >> consultation. >> > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 When I go into the hospital I ask for a P.I.C. (Peripheral Intravenious Care or Cathedor: I forget the meaning of the acronym) line right away to avoid the constant hassle of IV's. The P.I.C. line enters your vein at your elbow and gets pulled along, by the blood returning to your heart, to just before it enters the heart (right above the heart). It's a flexible blue plastic (I don't know what its made from) containing a thin wire. They install the thing, then get a chest x-ray right in your room and the metal wire inside the P.I.C. line shows where it is. If all wen't well, which is usually the case, they remove the wire leaving behind the P.I.C. line. From then on all your IV's and blood draws are done from two " thing-a- ma-jiggs " (a hightly technical term) that are attached to the end of the P.I.C. line that protrudes from your arm. The two ports are taped to your arm. You have the choice of getting one or two ports at the end of your P.I.C. line, get two. They can draw blood and hook up all IV's, TPN, PCA, and so on from the " ports " . Also, when they give you morphine it gets mixed up with all your blood faster than an IV would do it. Yea, they can slam 12mg or morphine in a second to stop breakthrough pain (thats what I really like). Also, they can push meds faster through the P.I.C. line than through an IV. For instance, instead of havin to stop my PCA for 20 minutes in order to run Protonix or an antibiotic, they can run it in 5 minutes. I'm a computer person, so ports may sound a bit wierd. Dick P.S. Its less invasive than a main line or Port A cath too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Kebaj, I have a port, have had one for over 2 years, and a central line before that and a PICC line before that. I have found the port to be a lifesaver, but there are still hospitals/doctors who refuse to use it. I have 2 hospitals converted just for me at the moment, but still come up against those who want to stick me rather than access my port... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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