IV'e Got Veins, Maybe

[Tom Galli 4,013]

I'm stuck.  Often as it turns out, and I'm more than a decade away from active treatment.  My veins, or what is left of them, run away and hide when in proximity of one of those IV devices.  I'm down to about 4 scheduled draws a year.  When in active treatment, I'd get poked that many times a week.  What results from all of this mayhem -  an irrational fear of blood draws.

Needles and injections are a piece of cake.  While in the army, we got vaccinated frequently, before every deployment, on a just in case basis.  We had a thing called an official shot record that was faithfully recorded each vaccine but it was never consulted by army medical authorities.  You just lined up for the assault by "jet injectors."  Everyone would walk the line and a medic would grab each arm, dab with an alcohol swab, hit you with the jet injection, and tell you to move on.  But there is a vast difference between an injection and an IV insertion.

My first year after diagnosis, IV insertions were relatively easy.  Sometime during my second year of treatment, missed insertions became common place.  Moreover, even successful IV sticks often failed to deliver the infusion.  Could it be callouses?  I often went through 3 or more nurses trying to install a functioning IV.  Once, they needed to call a CT technician to the infusion area because I used up every nurse in the place!  Further, I once had an IV installed in my foot!

Hospitals are the worst place to get an IV.  Unlike my small cancer treatment clinic, where everyone knew my name and IV history, hospitals proclaim: "we are the experts".  They proceed to stick and wiggle while inflicting high trauma, all the while saying "now sir, just relax, we know how to do this"!  I hope I have time to make a large "Summon the Hard Stick IV Team" sign before my next hospital admission.

Lessons learned.  I've acquired a few.

Most important, if you are offered a port before chemotherapy, get one.  If not offered, then ask for one.  A port settles the raging IV storm.  Drink lots of water before the stick.  Start drinking days before, not hours before.  Tell the medical "professional" to use an inflatable blood pressure tourniquet in place of one of those thin rubber devices.  Warming an area with a heating pad is nearly worthless unless the area is iced first.  And, the heating pad must be tightly secured to be effective.  Lidocaine patches work well if applied to a candidate area about 30 minutes before the stick.  I've had some success with the aerosol freeze spray that is now in widespread use.  I also take a .5mg Xanax about 30 minutes prior to a stick but my wife drives. 

Do not go quietly into your next IV stick session.  If you are paired with one of those hearing impaired medical professionals who says "we know best" after you tell them you are a hard stick and they miss.  Complain!  Loudly!  You are paying for all this madness, even for every miss.

Stay the course.

Tom

 

 

 

 

 

[Susan Cornett 1,230]

Being a hard stick is no fun.  My oncologist didn't want to insert a port since I only had 4 treatments and he said their infusion nurses are the best.  Fast forward to chemo #2 and SEVEN sticks to get a vein.  When I had my CT at the beginning of July, they weren't able to inject contrast dye after five sticks.  For my thyroidectomy a couple of weeks ago, the nurses brought in a doctor and an ultrasound machine to find a vein.  Just another adventure!

[Meloni 76]

This thread needs to be reactivated, especially for the new people coming on. 

If you or your loved one has recently been diagnosed, ask about a port for chemo! It's been such a godsend for me. I've only had four chemo sessions to date, and my oncologist recommended I keep my port "indefinitely" for now, in the event we need to do more in the future (lo and behold, this may be happening soon). I hardly notice its presence, and the only maintenance it requires is a flush every 4-6 weeks. 

My port has been used my port for chemo sessions and for the in-between hydration sessions. So much better than a stupid IV. I still get vein stuck for contrast imaging and outpatient blood draws. Also, if I go to the hospital, and somebody isn't port trained or seems fishy with their training, I don't let them touch it. Use your best judgment on that.  

[Barbara H. 5]

GREAT ARTICLE!!!!!

 

where can I get the aerosol  freeze spray??? that sounds like something that would definitely work for me!!!!  is there a brand  name??

[LexieCat 3,116]

My oncologist had a note right on his outline of the various treatment plans saying "will probably need port"--even before I asked about it. He also told me that since I have such a great relationship with my surgeon, he'd have him install it. Which, believe it or not, gives me something to look forward to. I totally love my surgeon. I wish I could have him handling all my treatment--though I know my medical oncologist is far more qualified to make the treatment decisions at this juncture.

[Tom Galli 4,013]

Barbara,

Freeze spray is what the chemo nurse called it. It was an aerosol spray in a can and was very cold. It likely had a topical anesthetic. You’ll need to ask your physician or nursing staff if they use it. One cannot purchase it. 

The nurse would find a good candidate vein and then hit it with the spray. Then installing the IV was a piece of cake. 

But if your treatment includes infused chemo, your best solution is a port as described in Lexi’s post. 

Stay the course. 

Tom

[GaryG 703]

My oncologist did not want me to have a port. I am scheduled for a 3rd and fourth round already all through IVs. Luckily  IVs never bother me and there is hardly a trace of a needle in my arm the next day.  My oncologist even talked about a maintenance schedule after the 6th infusion and you would think   a port is more suitable for that as well as blood work.  I wish they followed a standard. 

[LexieCat 3,116]

Did your doc say WHY they didn't want you to have a port? Was it something specific to you, or they just didn't like ports in general?

[Tom Galli 4,013]

It was specific to me and my treatment complications. 

[LexieCat 3,116]

I was actually asking Gary, since he said his doc didn't want him to have a port.

[Babs 158]

My story with ports is I can’t have one, even though I would love to. I have SVC syndrome and the vein they would put the port in is the one obstructed. I have asked both here and now down at the Mayo and they both say no!  I did have a PICC  (2X) during my first treatment and that was kind of a disaster.  Developed blood clots and they finally took it out after it only worked less than half the time.  I will be at their mercy with the needles and IV’s, but it’ll be OK.  
 

Gary - Sounds like you are doing fine without one, then so shall I
 

Babs

[GaryG 703]

2 hours ago, LexieCat said:

I was actually asking Gary, since he said his doc didn't want him to have a port.

Actually there are no physical limitations that I know off preventing  me from  having a port.  Maybe my oncologist was not sure what type of treatment to put me on for the long run. That does not make sense either because I don't have any biomarkers, can't have radiation or surgery. Next time I see him I will ask. 

[LexieCat 3,116]

My veins are about as hard to get as Tom's--and I have never even had chemo! In fact, the worst part of the bronchoscopy, for me, was getting the IV in the hand. Like Tom, I've also had my foot tapped. Those hurt WAY more than arm punctures and if I had to deal with that every day, or every few days, it would be pretty distressing. I'm not particularly afraid of needles, I'm just averse to repeated punctures looking for a vein and then being stuck in odd/painful places. A port sounds GREAT to me!

[BridgetO 2,498]

I'm with you on that, Lexiecat!  I had chemo for my prior non-lung cancer. My veins are hard to get, also. I can't be stuck in the left arm due to lymph node removal and radiation in the armpit, so all sticks have to be on the right. Those right arm veins , which were hard to stick anyway, are now pretty scarred up. if I ever need to have chemo again,  I'm going to ask for a port.  Cross fingers that I won't need chemo again!