Re: TO: Lily.........veins

[Guest guest]

Kaye,

I too have no veins. My CP finished mine off. They inserted a PICC

line but 5 days after that went in, my line infiltrated, arm and

neck swelled up and I ended up with a 6 inch blood clot in my left

subclavier and left jugular. I'm lucky they caught it when they

did..would hate to think about it getting any further north...A

nurse lost her job over that because she failed to report my fever

and swelling to the doctor and the clot could have been avoided. So

basically, they can't use my left arm or neck for any lines or IV's,

not that that matters about the veins in my arms, because they are

useless anyway.

I have had a central line, which after having it in for 6 months, my

oncologist said.. " ohh, that looks infected, it needs to come

out " ..it wasn't an infection..my skin just tends to stay a dark

pinkish colour from having something foreign sticking out of it.

Then I thought well, I'll get them to put another one in when I need

it. Had another attack, went to hospital and they spent 2 1/2 hours

trying to get a vein. The doctor was getting frustrated and after 6

veins blowing, she tried to get an artery in my groin..while she was

doing that, another nurse tried to get a vein in my feet...I was in

tears, the doctor was crying because she knew they were all hurting

me, nerves were being hit by the needle in my groin, and after a 2nd

failed attempt to the artery in my groin..the doctor said no more..I

said no more with the feet, that was so painful. She left for a few

minutes to consult with the surgeon about putting another central

line in, then came back and tried an artery in the crease of my

elbow. She got that one with no problems. They gave me my pain meds,

by which time my CP pain was over with..the pain meds helped with

the pain inflicted on my arms, feet and groin.

A week after I got out, I went to another hospital and had a surgeon

put in a port-a-cath. One doctor told me that i might not be able to

have any more ports or Hickman Catheter's placed, but if people such

as yourself have had multiple lines put in, then there is hope if

something goes wrong with mine. I've been almost pain free for 3

months and was thinking of having my port removed, but after reading

your message, i think i'll keep it a while longer.

I was told it takes about a year for veins to heal..but in my case

that hasn't happened. They have softened a bit, but they usually

blow after a few hours to a day. I even had the PICC team try to

locate veins on my arm using an ultrasound...that was unsuccessful

also..

Sorry I couldn't give you any answers you are looking for.