Anyone else have vein envy?
I just have to say that I used to have awesome veins, and I had a revelation at work today...I was actually jealous of the veins of an 80 something year old woman!! I have been in and out of the hospital so many times that it took me 6 sticks, on two separate visits, to get labs drawn to check my vitamin levels; yep, my veins are that bad. I am actually getting concerned about my upcoming EGD, wondering how the heck they are going to gain IV access??!! The last IV I needed, it took 2 IV therapy nurses and an ultrasound machine to find my last good vein.
I don't mean this as a pity party, more of a "what the heck do I do, because the reality is, this won't be my last IV or lab draw?"
I do not want the PICC line thing again, I work in an ER, and a PICC is out of the question, too much risk of infection, and they don't allow it for the same reason. I even have trouble with those as well, the last few I had all failed within about a week. I've had RN's who take care of me, usually the unlucky ones who have to re-start that IV, ask me why they don't put in a medication port. I don't know the answer. It is covered by skin once it heals, so the risk of infection from the outside would be better than a PICC, and less sticks for me.
The best scenario would be for all of this to just go away, but the reality for me is that this is a lifelong problem, no end in sight. I would welcome any/all suggestions. I know a lot of you have these issues, or have had them...so I am just wondering if anyone has any feedback.
Thank you in advance
Jules
I don't mean this as a pity party, more of a "what the heck do I do, because the reality is, this won't be my last IV or lab draw?"
I do not want the PICC line thing again, I work in an ER, and a PICC is out of the question, too much risk of infection, and they don't allow it for the same reason. I even have trouble with those as well, the last few I had all failed within about a week. I've had RN's who take care of me, usually the unlucky ones who have to re-start that IV, ask me why they don't put in a medication port. I don't know the answer. It is covered by skin once it heals, so the risk of infection from the outside would be better than a PICC, and less sticks for me.
The best scenario would be for all of this to just go away, but the reality for me is that this is a lifelong problem, no end in sight. I would welcome any/all suggestions. I know a lot of you have these issues, or have had them...so I am just wondering if anyone has any feedback.
Thank you in advance
Jules
Jules RNY 10/30/2007
Ji Jules,
I wishI had good news for you but Ive had @ 10 PICC lines and 6 porta a caths (under the skin) in the past when I needed IV nutrition and antibiotics over a 2 yr period. I still spend a fair amt of time in and out of hospitals and some insist on trying 8-9 sticks) which I now give 2xs and than they use the juglar veins in my neck but even have had some trouble there. Drs office has 1 MA that can use a small needle in my foot but it does hurt quite a bit. ERs , at least should, have the ability to use a little numbing medicine first but most times you have to ask. In my case the veins just get worse. I dont blame you for not wanting "permanent" type IV access because risk of infection.
Keep in touch on how you are doing.
Janette Ariz.
I wishI had good news for you but Ive had @ 10 PICC lines and 6 porta a caths (under the skin) in the past when I needed IV nutrition and antibiotics over a 2 yr period. I still spend a fair amt of time in and out of hospitals and some insist on trying 8-9 sticks) which I now give 2xs and than they use the juglar veins in my neck but even have had some trouble there. Drs office has 1 MA that can use a small needle in my foot but it does hurt quite a bit. ERs , at least should, have the ability to use a little numbing medicine first but most times you have to ask. In my case the veins just get worse. I dont blame you for not wanting "permanent" type IV access because risk of infection.
Keep in touch on how you are doing.
Janette Ariz.
Thank you Janette :)
an IV in your neck is pretty desperate and scary, I'm sorry about that, it stinks! May I ask why you have had 6 ports? Do they fail like the PICCs do? I hope that you spend less time in and out of the hospital, and feel better :) I will keep in touch, have been trying to be better about checking in on here to see how everyone is doing.
Thanks,
Jules
an IV in your neck is pretty desperate and scary, I'm sorry about that, it stinks! May I ask why you have had 6 ports? Do they fail like the PICCs do? I hope that you spend less time in and out of the hospital, and feel better :) I will keep in touch, have been trying to be better about checking in on here to see how everyone is doing.
Thanks,
Jules
Jules RNY 10/30/2007
vein envy. that's a new one on me:). throughout my weight loss journey, i have envied many things ( people who can eat whatever they want and not gain weight, people with firm, toned bodies), but never thought about veins, except varicose veins. you are so funny.
so nice to see you posting, haven't heard from you in a while. i love your positive attitude.
since you're asking, i think you should get a port. if an emergency happens (God forbid), you def don't want medical personnel having a problem putting a line in. and i know you don't want to leave the er.
so nice to see you posting, haven't heard from you in a while. i love your positive attitude.
since you're asking, i think you should get a port. if an emergency happens (God forbid), you def don't want medical personnel having a problem putting a line in. and i know you don't want to leave the er.
I still try and keep my positive attitude, nice to know it shows lol
I am going back to Cleveland Clinic again in November to see the surgeon, and among other things, I am going to talk to him about doing a port. It was a 3 ring circus obtaining IV access for my EGD, and then I ended up in the ER at the clinic later that evening because I had a microscopic tear/leak in my esophagus from the EGD. They did get the IV in the ER, but it was very finicky, they couldn't advance the catheter in the vein all the way due to scar tissue, so it was basically taped with the catheter hanging halfway out in order to work. I needed it to work, so I didn't care at that point.
Thanks for the input :)
Jules
I am going back to Cleveland Clinic again in November to see the surgeon, and among other things, I am going to talk to him about doing a port. It was a 3 ring circus obtaining IV access for my EGD, and then I ended up in the ER at the clinic later that evening because I had a microscopic tear/leak in my esophagus from the EGD. They did get the IV in the ER, but it was very finicky, they couldn't advance the catheter in the vein all the way due to scar tissue, so it was basically taped with the catheter hanging halfway out in order to work. I needed it to work, so I didn't care at that point.
Thanks for the input :)
Jules
Jules RNY 10/30/2007
HI! I have vein envy too! However, I am overweight and mine are "hidden" underneath the adipocytes.
Anyway, don't worry too much about IVs. They can use your neck, hands, legs and feet. They dont like to (due to pain and difficulty turning patients and the chance of it being dislodged) but they can in a pinch!
L
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