May I vent..

Dear Kate,

I am very sorry that this happened to you.  It happened to me a lot before I finally figured how it was going to be done.

My first experience before BC,  the nurse used me as a pin cushion.  I nearly fainted.   After BC, I didn't use my left arm.  In my case, I did have two full lymph node dissections:  level 1 lymph nodes with the mastectomy,  then with a regional tumor all levels 2 lymph nodes & some of  level 3 were removed.   That is a lot of lymph nodes that are gone.  I have had 4 bouts of cellulitis on that arm which required hospitalization.  I always state that "you will not touch this arm, I will walk out of here first".  I do look at them and they know I mean it.

I've had the same experience, when the nurse, the supervisor and two anesthesiologist couldn't access a vein with the doctor pacing back and forth knowing I was blowing her schedule for that day.  The anesthesiologist finally said to me, "ok, we do it your way, tell us what to do".  Now I don't give them that opportunity, two strikes and their out, find me a good phlebotomist or a nurse preferably one that works on babies.  I have seen them over the years, their frustration with my veins.  If I was a table, they would have kicked me.  It's not my fault.

Today, my first words are:   "I am a hard stick, you can't use my left arm, the right arm is it.  Two tries and your out, now  you will need either a  hot, wet towel or use those little hot packs".  I keep myself warm, a hot blanket, even wear a coat if you have too.  I show them where they might access a vein.  I now know locally who is good and who isn't.   I do hydrate myself.  I drink water to the point that another swallow and I will be sick.  I have permission for water usage for ct scans and the last time I had surgery.  If I'm not hydrated my veins collapse.

I won't let the mediocre techs, nurses near me. 

This is a fact of life, people with lymph node dissections, lymphedema, those with small veins, hidden veins should have a good nurse or phlebotomist.  When I go for a ct scan, I use the same place every time, I go to the cancer center and request the best nurse they have.  If she isn't in, I go to the blood lab and request the best phlebotomist they have.  

Your good now with the port, keep it forever.  To late for me in that department.

Please complain about your treatment.  They had no right to make you feel like the culprit due to their incompetency.

I am so very sorry for your treatment and you came to the right place to vent.  We understand, those of us who are hard sticks.

Doris

SIROD said:

Complain!

Dear Kate,

I am very sorry that this happened to you.  It happened to me a lot before I finally figured how it was going to be done.

My first experience before BC,  the nurse used me as a pin cushion.  I nearly fainted.   After BC, I didn't use my left arm.  In my case, I did have two full lymph node dissections:  level 1 lymph nodes with the mastectomy,  then with a regional tumor all levels 2 lymph nodes & some of  level 3 were removed.   That is a lot of lymph nodes that are gone.  I have had 4 bouts of cellulitis on that arm which required hospitalization.  I always state that "you will not touch this arm, I will walk out of here first".  I do look at them and they know I mean it.

I've had the same experience, when the nurse, the supervisor and two anesthesiologist couldn't access a vein with the doctor pacing back and forth knowing I was blowing her schedule for that day.  The anesthesiologist finally said to me, "ok, we do it your way, tell us what to do".  Now I don't give them that opportunity, two strikes and their out, find me a good phlebotomist or a nurse preferably one that works on babies.  I have seen them over the years, their frustration with my veins.  If I was a table, they would have kicked me.  It's not my fault.

Today, my first words are:   "I am a hard stick, you can't use my left arm, the right arm is it.  Two tries and your out, now  you will need either a  hot, wet towel or use those little hot packs".  I keep myself warm, a hot blanket, even wear a coat if you have too.  I show them where they might access a vein.  I now know locally who is good and who isn't.   I do hydrate myself.  I drink water to the point that another swallow and I will be sick.  I have permission for water usage for ct scans and the last time I had surgery.  If I'm not hydrated my veins collapse.

I won't let the mediocre techs, nurses near me. 

This is a fact of life, people with lymph node dissections, lymphedema, those with small veins, hidden veins should have a good nurse or phlebotomist.  When I go for a ct scan, I use the same place every time, I go to the cancer center and request the best nurse they have.  If she isn't in, I go to the blood lab and request the best phlebotomist they have.  

Your good now with the port, keep it forever.  To late for me in that department.

Please complain about your treatment.  They had no right to make you feel like the culprit due to their incompetency.

I am so very sorry for your treatment and you came to the right place to vent.  We understand, those of us who are hard sticks.

Doris

I am very sorry. You should not suffer because of unprofessional staff.

I have had similar problem when they did bone biopcy. Now I am trying to be accertive, while probably need to be better.

Yesterday i had PET/CT (Doris I listen, done this year on Dec 28, took images/CD just in case.

Now I am asking about needle size only 22G for me!!! Plus plow infusion rate for a contrast (yesterday asked 3 times until they adjusted.

Can we buy hot packs? they do not have them at imaging facility, I did ask. Nurse tried , and tried, I told him to use a different site, eventially got it on my hand.

I am going to complain to my doctor.

From my experience the  medical services have been deteriating compare to 4 years ago. this time around I am very dissapointed in medical services from the same institution, wondering what is the reason behind it

New Flower said:

Kay, I am sorry

I am very sorry. You should not suffer because of unprofessional staff.

I have had similar problem when they did bone biopcy. Now I am trying to be accertive, while probably need to be better.

Yesterday i had PET/CT (Doris I listen, done this year on Dec 28, took images/CD just in case.

Now I am asking about needle size only 22G for me!!! Plus plow infusion rate for a contrast (yesterday asked 3 times until they adjusted.

Can we buy hot packs? they do not have them at imaging facility, I did ask. Nurse tried , and tried, I told him to use a different site, eventially got it on my hand.

I am going to complain to my doctor.

From my experience the  medical services have been deteriating compare to 4 years ago. this time around I am very dissapointed in medical services from the same institution, wondering what is the reason behind it

Yes, you can buy them.  I had one given to me years ago to use at late season soccer games.  Someone gave it to me as a joke.

However, if you have a place where you can have them stick the needle in before the ct scan, you might go there.  I now go to my CancerCare place and I arrange my ct scan to when the nurse I like is working.  The ct scan place where I go don't have a seperate room to find a vein, they do it in the room where the scan is located.  The room is to cold for me and my veins go awol.

Your question about medical services deteriating.  Your in for the long haul and notice all the on going problems institutions have.  The first time around your hit hard and numb.  You don't notice, your more into yourself.   When you go all the time, the flaws show up a lot more than the first time.  My take on it.  Here is the information:

I googled "Hot Pack for hands"   and clicked on an image that stated "heat factory hands" and it's the one I had and what they use at the blood lab.   They do show a small single one as you go down the page.  This is what it states:

These Heat Factory Hand Warmers come in a pack of 12 pairs and are small enough to slide into gloves, mittens, pockets, Heat Factory headwear - anywhere you want heat.

As soon as they're exposed to air, they become activated and produce over 10 hours of warmth; plus these small packs are the perfect size to carry in luggage or gear bags.

These hand warmers are safe to use, odorless, non-toxic, and biodegradable.

SIROD said:

For New Flower From Doris

Yes, you can buy them.  I had one given to me years ago to use at late season soccer games.  Someone gave it to me as a joke.

However, if you have a place where you can have them stick the needle in before the ct scan, you might go there.  I now go to my CancerCare place and I arrange my ct scan to when the nurse I like is working.  The ct scan place where I go don't have a seperate room to find a vein, they do it in the room where the scan is located.  The room is to cold for me and my veins go awol.

Your question about medical services deteriating.  Your in for the long haul and notice all the on going problems institutions have.  The first time around your hit hard and numb.  You don't notice, your more into yourself.   When you go all the time, the flaws show up a lot more than the first time.  My take on it.  Here is the information:

I googled "Hot Pack for hands"   and clicked on an image that stated "heat factory hands" and it's the one I had and what they use at the blood lab.   They do show a small single one as you go down the page.  This is what it states:

These Heat Factory Hand Warmers come in a pack of 12 pairs and are small enough to slide into gloves, mittens, pockets, Heat Factory headwear - anywhere you want heat.

As soon as they're exposed to air, they become activated and produce over 10 hours of warmth; plus these small packs are the perfect size to carry in luggage or gear bags.

These hand warmers are safe to use, odorless, non-toxic, and biodegradable.

An alternative to buying warmers is making one for yourself.

Sew a bean bag sized square with woven cotton fabric, leave a small hole.  Fill the square with rice, about 3/4 full.  Sew the hole shut...you now have a warm or cold compress.  I keep a couple in the freezer for cold compresses.  For a hot compress microwave for 30 seconds.  For me, after 30 seconds it is too hot to apply directly to skin.  I have to wrap it in a towel, then apply.

albeit, politely.  Facilities need to know where there are problems, or they cannot fix them.

After my recent experiences where I had a pre-op nurse's call that was replete with incompetence, I reported it, and the nursing services manager was very glad to be apprised of the problems.

Similarly, after my last hospitalization, where there had been several significant errors and problems, I wrote a letter, copied to my surgeon, of what I found both good and bad.  I got excellent response from the hospital, and my surgeon was very glad that I wrote.  He, too, made sure that the right people saw my letter.

It is one thing to complain and vent, another to let those people involved know.  When we write up our issues, we make it better for everyone who comes after us (and ourselves, if and when we go back.)

What you went through was horrific.  I'm glad it's over and done.  Now let's see what we can do to avoid it happening to someone else.

Alice