Chemo Arm Infusion

ToBeGolden
ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Apparently the chemo needle slipped and Taxol went into the arm tissue rather than the vein. I did not notice; I sleep thru must infusion sessions. (I'll have caregiver check on my arm next time.) Well, whole arm was swollen and at Level-8 Pain. Pain meds and ice packs brought the pain level down to a 5.

So I spent the next 48 hours: Every 4 hours waking with level 8 pain. Change the ice in the pack and take a little more pain medication. Take a little food and a little fluid. Sleep for a couple of hours.

Seems better today. Pain down to a 4. Can concentrate just a little. I will put other odds and ends in other treds or in at least other posts. As you can tell, I'm having a hard time. My caregiver is having a much more difficult time. Her daughters live out of state, but can call and talk for 10 minutes on most nights. I am thankful she has her daughters; wish I could do more for my caregiver. Rick

Comments

  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #2
    take care

    Rick, and have your caregiver notify your Dr what happened, just to be on the safe side~~I'm sure your caregiver is a nice person but she's hired to take care of you and that's where the focus needs to be.   Do you have family that helps keep an eye on you?  Keep fighting the good fight

  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #3
    Grandmax4 said:

    take care

    Rick, and have your caregiver notify your Dr what happened, just to be on the safe side~~I'm sure your caregiver is a nice person but she's hired to take care of you and that's where the focus needs to be.   Do you have family that helps keep an eye on you?  Keep fighting the good fight

    Notified

    The medical team (including my oncologist) were notified immediately. The problem occured at a medical center. I kept my medical team abreast of developments thru emails. Not a big deal, when compared to all cancer stuff. But still very painful to live thru. Thanks for your concern. Rick.

  • alligatorpointer
    alligatorpointer Member Posts: 131
    #4
    ToBeGolden said:

    Notified

    The medical team (including my oncologist) were notified immediately. The problem occured at a medical center. I kept my medical team abreast of developments thru emails. Not a big deal, when compared to all cancer stuff. But still very painful to live thru. Thanks for your concern. Rick.

    Did any of the infusion go where it was needed?

    Other than the obvious issue of causing you pain that you should not have had to suffer, my concern would be whether any of the infusion went where it was needed?  Did you lose the cancer-fighting benefits of that infusion?  It would seem that your medical team needs to rectify the loss of this session in your schedule of treatments.  Sending healing thoughts and hopes that you will receive adequate pain management, along with the best standard of care from a competent medical team.  You deserve no less.  You are still amazingly 'Golden' in the face of so much misery.

  • NJShore
    NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
    #5
    ACK!

    Rick,

    Not exactly what you needed! So sorry to hear it happened. Hopefully the pressure and pain will let up very soon. I bet you get a lot of attention by the nurses in the infusion center for the rest of your treatments, they must feel pretty badly that it happened to you too.

    Dan was a heavy sleeper too by the time he got to the chemo, he had 2.5 hrs of prep. infusions. He had taxol with his cisplatin.

    I hope and pray that you and caretaker are doing much better soon.

    Take care,

    Kari

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #6
    skin pop

    Rick,

     

    That was an oops moment.  You seem to take it in your stride.

     

    Let’s hope level 1 and no more.

     

    Matt

  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #7
    Now I have a FEVER

    The arm swelling and pain are down BUT I'm running a 101.2 Fever. Will report it overnight in an email Will take some liquid Ibubrofin. Hope that helps. I have fever-brain, very sluggish.

    Thanks for all you kind words. Know that I'm not "all here" but part of me is somewhere else. Rick.

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #8
    ToBeGolden said:

    Now I have a FEVER

    The arm swelling and pain are down BUT I'm running a 101.2 Fever. Will report it overnight in an email Will take some liquid Ibubrofin. Hope that helps. I have fever-brain, very sluggish.

    Thanks for all you kind words. Know that I'm not "all here" but part of me is somewhere else. Rick.

    Amazement

    Rick,

    You are truely an inspiration.  Send my hugs to that wonderful caregiver of yours and to yourself.  You stay in my thoughts and prayers my friend !   Katie

  • VivianLee5689
    VivianLee5689 Member Posts: 546
    #9
    katenorwood said:

    Amazement

    Rick,

    You are truely an inspiration.  Send my hugs to that wonderful caregiver of yours and to yourself.  You stay in my thoughts and prayers my friend !   Katie

    Just wondering how you are

    Looking for an update on your condition. 

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