Are your needles flexible? You know it doesn’t matter wasn’t looking to upset you or question your nurse. I don’t desire the drama it is unnecessary I am sure you have great staff and life is what it is.
I have spoken with the supervisor on the phone. She more or less leaves it up to the nurse. The nurse is wonderful, except for the IV, which has been getting harder and harder to find a spot and a spot that lasts. If I get 2 days it’s the equivalent of winning the lottery. I’m lucky if I make it through my session. When I started in March my skin was tough and the veins Were really big and healthy. Now I have veins that are hard and nothing can be done with. Her reasoning is because I’m approved until March 2018. She doesn’t want to make me get one. I asked in September and she said the same thing then. So I’m left to trust her judgement and have multiple sticks. I don’t know why I complain because I can’t feel them at all, just worry about needing a vein in an emergency and they can’t find one that isn’t scared.
Pam
The staff is nice and the needles are flexible. You did not upset me. I was curious if the port would be easier too maintain and especially easier to have the infusions without placing an IV everytime or are they more a PIA to deal with.
I really don’t wish to communicate with you. I find our conversation to be unhealthy. Please enjoy your day. I wish you well.
Thank you for reaffirming me about the benefits of the port. It was a very intelligent, well written comment, that makes me want the port even more. I know my nurse is trying to look out for my best interest but, she can’t make a decision about the port for me. I see my Nuerologist in 2 weeks, after my infusion, and I’m going to ask her to put one in. Thank you Skip.
Pam
Ok I wish I knew what was unhealthy about what I said but it’s your choice. No more communication from me.
Pam
Let me know how the ‘new’ port works out.
Skip
Pam, I’ll be very interested in how things go — whether your neurologist approves the port, and if so how it feels and works for you. I’m eager to go ahead with getting one, but I’ve developed a severe inflammation in one of my legs that doctors are having trouble diagnosing and treating, and I can’t have any kind of surgery until that’s dealt with. It’s always something. Sigh. Best of luck to you! I sympathize because I’m going through the same problems with IV needles, despite having an excellent nurse.
Sandy
I hope they find out and cure the inflamed leg. I have my infusions this Monday thru Friday and my appointment is the following week. I will let you know what happens. Please take care and good luck.
Pam
Hi, I have a port, but it wasn’t originally for IVIG. At first, it was weird, however, once I got use to it… I loved it. I have really bad vines and circulation, so for me, the port was great.
Everyone has different experiences here, and than will also lean towards or away from using ports.
I can only tell you for myself, it’s been great, as it is under the skin in the right clavicle area… I can do all kinds of things… shower, bubble bath… was even able to use it the same week I got it.
I hope you have as much .uck with yours as I have had with mine.
K
My problem is getting my various doctors to agree to the surgery to put a port in. I have a mysterious inflammation in my left calf —truly awful to look at, and terribly painful — and I won’t be allowed to do anything until that’s cleared up. After more than four months, I don’t even have a diagnosis! I really do want a port. I’m so tired of my infusion nurse struggling to get the needle into a vein. My veins are so bad now that even drawing blood is a problem.
Sandy
I completely understand how some nurses with a ton of experience blow bones! I am a patient with CIDP, PPMS and a genetic disorder called EDS or elhers-danlos syndrome which prevents my body from producing enough collagen- I got a port because I sort of got tired of being stabbed a hundred times in Florida be days. Ports aren’t for everyone however every nurse you encounter isn’t good at what they do no matter what the agency’s tell you.
Sandy ask for a referral from your GP or family doctor. It’s how I got mine when you had a half a dozen doctors.
I’m am new to IVIG treatments. My first infusion required a 5 day hospital stay. Thereafter all treats are conducted at the infusion clinic. I have suffered through one 3 day treatment with a second rapidly approaching.
I may have the wrong idea of what a port is. I define it as the catheter inserted into my vein to which the drip tube is attached. First morning of my first visit it took 4 tries and 2 nurses to get it inserted. Second day 5 tries before success. Problem was my veins kept collapsing. I’ve never had that issue in the past. i asked that first morning if I could just leave it in until end of 3rd day infusion. I was old ‘no’ due to risk of infection.
Am I understanding correctly that it is possibly to continue wearing the catheter or is the port in reference something entirely different?
Here’s some good info: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/port
azurelle