I was recently diagnosed with "connective Tissue disease" by my Rheumy adding that it was most likely Lupus but she just didn't want to tag it with that just yet.
I had surgery last week for TMJ and they wired my mouth shut til it heals. I go back on the 10th to have the wiring removed. But my question is does anyone else here have trouble with the IV's? When I was in the hospital they ended up doing the IV 8 times before it finally would stay and not blow a vein and then the nurse had to use the smallest one they had for it to work.
I've never had this problem before now and I mentioned to the nurse that I was recently diagnosed with Lupus and she said "oh that explains it then." Is this something I will always have trouble with now? Just wondering.
Praying for a speedy recovery for you. IVs are always painful to me, I always ask if they can not put them in the top of my hand and use my arm instead. I think the lupus is dehydrating for us and before a surgery you can't eat or drink so the veins shrink a bit.
I blow veins all the time. it always takes the smallest needles and usually top of hand to work. this is very common. also ask for smallest needle, size 23 or butterfly needle, when having your labs done. it saves on unnecessary pain. I made nurse cry with 8 blown veins once. anesthesiologist finally got IV on way down hall to surgery. Sorry lupus causes so many extra problems. Good luck.
Sheri
I have trouble with IVs. And I have a strong rule: 2 sticks and you're out. No one person gets more than 2 tries on my arm. They have to get someone else. And yes I ask for the pediatric phlebotomist. Never let the doctor stick you- they don't have enough practice with needles. Get the phlebotomist, because they do it all day. Just tell them you have tricky veins and need the smallest needle, and if they resist, tell them last time it took 8 tries. You shouldn't have to go through that.
Always be your own best advocate. I know where the only “good vein” is in my body and direct them immediately to it. Also, ask for butterfly. I always tell them that I am a difficult person to IV, and that if they are at all unsure to get someone else.
Yep, I have to warm them I am a very hard stick. They take a look at my arms and hands, I say back of the hand, small needle even though I am on Cumadin.
Nobody should try 8 times on one person. for both people's sake. You for the pain, her for the performance anxiety and guilt. I had a Dr. try 4 times and I hid my arms behind my back and told her to give up. She said "I'll never give up on you, Carla!" And I said, "uh, that's nice, but I mean you need to give up on YOU getting that needle into MY arm! Please- a phlebotomist!"
Sheri said:
I blow veins all the time. it always takes the smallest needles and usually top of hand to work. this is very common. also ask for smallest needle, size 23 or butterfly needle, when having your labs done. it saves on unnecessary pain. I made nurse cry with 8 blown veins once. anesthesiologist finally got IV on way down hall to surgery. Sorry lupus causes so many extra problems. Good luck. Sheri
It’s typical for a lupie to be a hard stick. My veins roll. I warn them… for draws, left arm and not the usual spot. When they deviate from what I point out, they fail. They can’t go by visual or they miss. It has to be felt, and it’s a vein just above my elbow on the topside. The rule at my hospital is one try per nurse for an IV. I think it’s a good one. They had to go to an odd spot for me on my second shoulder surgery. It has to be left arm since the right was being cut… and she tried the back of my hand first and found the first valve anyone’s ever hit. O - M - G OWWWwwww. They never know where those are on you, so no fault about it. On the redo I think it ended up on the inside of my forearm, which I hate. So many nerves there, but since you’re dehydrated by the time you get there (nothing consumed after midnight), it makes the problem worse. They do numb the area first at the hospital I go to. Valves just hurt no matter what.
I just went to the ER yesterday with history of DVT and PE, and I had a very swollen ankle and trouble breathing. I showed her the only vein anyone can ever get blood from. She tried and failed, so she went looking for another vein, and failed. I was getting nervous cause now I was going to get more sticks, but she stopped and said she was going to get as much as she could from the tube & she would come back with a smaller needle. Usually they just keep trying. Turns out I didn’t need an IV and she was able to get enough bloods for her tests. I asked why everyone has so much problem with my veins, and she said it was Lupus. She said it reeks havic on my veins and there is a lot of scarring. I didn’t know that and it made me wonder what else I didn’t know (probably a lot). After worrying I had more blood clots in my legs and lungs, the dr came back and told all my blood work looked good, kidney function was good, xrays of my lungs were clear, heart was good and the only explaination they had was that I was holding a lot of water in my body. I was having a “flair” and could go home. Obviously I have a lot to learn about lupus. I had no idea.
I am sorry this is long.
Angelwings I am so sorry for all you have been going through, I can’t imagine what it must be like to have your jaws wired. Will be thinking of you.
I ALWYAS had problem with IV's & it had nothing to do with having Lupus, 4 I did not find out I had SLE until 2006.
anyway-----the problem was ever since I was born. was told it is because my veins r deep in my skin & roll a lot.
I wouldn't worry about it. really......
I have found that since I was diag., every Doc says "oh-it's because u have lupus"------kidding now, but it could be a hang nail & it's because of lupus...
I've had PIC lines in that got infected so my Rheumatologist had an implantable port inserted, I have it flushed with heparin & NS to keep it open every 8 wks. Sometimes the lab tech has a hard time getting blood. They use the smallest needle because my veins blow easily. Lupus causes inflammation probably the cause. I'm hoping to get this line out I haven't had Cytoxin or Rituxan in a while. Good luck with ur surgery
Thanks everyone for your responses. Those help a lot. I'm usually pretty easy to get an IV in so this was new to me. I'm still black and blue from all the blown veins but that too will pass. At least now I know to ask for the smallest needle before they start. I go back on the tenth to have all this metal removed or at least most of it. Will still need to wear some metal and rubber bands for another 8 weeks. :( Good thing is I'm finally losing a few pounds so I guess there is a bright side to everything. Lol. I'm just tired of thin soup, ice cream and yogurt! My sweet husband even blended some chili for me. Lol now that was different. I don't have a hole anywhere for food to go through, just the tiny space between my upper and lower front teeth. Good thing I have a slight overbite. Lol
Thanks sunflower for your post. I pray you are doing much better today. I really didn't know what to expect completely either before my surgery. My teeth are so sore from all the pressure from the wires and I just pray nothing happens to them before I get out of the wires. Of course I have several ulcers in there too. I shouldn't complain as there are so many a lot worse off than me. A good friend from my church just had back surgery to correct for scoliosis and she has been in the hospital almost 2 weeks with blood clots and pain. So when you say your prayers I really appreciate it if you could add a good word for her, Cindy, and myself for healing. Thanks again, Karen
Sunflower said:
I just went to the ER yesterday with history of DVT and PE, and I had a very swollen ankle and trouble breathing. I showed her the only vein anyone can ever get blood from. She tried and failed, so she went looking for another vein, and failed. I was getting nervous cause now I was going to get more sticks, but she stopped and said she was going to get as much as she could from the tube & she would come back with a smaller needle. Usually they just keep trying. Turns out I didn't need an IV and she was able to get enough bloods for her tests. I asked why everyone has so much problem with my veins, and she said it was Lupus. She said it reeks havic on my veins and there is a lot of scarring. I didn't know that and it made me wonder what else I didn't know (probably a lot). After worrying I had more blood clots in my legs and lungs, the dr came back and told all my blood work looked good, kidney function was good, xrays of my lungs were clear, heart was good and the only explaination they had was that I was holding a lot of water in my body. I was having a "flair" and could go home. Obviously I have a lot to learn about lupus. I had no idea. I am sorry this is long. Angelwings I am so sorry for all you have been going through, I can't imagine what it must be like to have your jaws wired. Will be thinking of you.
Thanks Trisha for your post. I covet all prayers as I know how powerful they are. Everyone has been great here in posting help.
May God Bless
Karen
Trisha said:
Angelwing,
Praying for a speedy recovery for you. IVs are always painful to me, I always ask if they can not put them in the top of my hand and use my arm instead. I think the lupus is dehydrating for us and before a surgery you can't eat or drink so the veins shrink a bit.
Hi, I’ve had SLE, Connective Tissue and Sojgrens since I was 13 I’m now 46. I’ve had terrible times with IV’s my veins are gone. I’ve had numerous PICC’s and I’m on my 4th port. I was diagnosed a year ago with Gastroparesis. So I have to IV access at all times.
I wish everyone well on here!!!
In the last few years I can't keep an IV more than 24-36 hours before they have to put in a stent. Not fun, but blown veins not fun either. I usually come out of the hospital looking like I was beat to a pulp. I had a series of iron infusions and since then it usually only takes 1-2 times to find a vein...and you know how much blood work we have done. If you know that you are going for blood work hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. That will help some. Not a lot you can do if you don't know you are going in the hospital. I also try to have them rotate between my 2 best veins for routine tests.
Just some suggestions, but short answer (too late) is yes I have started having real issues with blood draws.
