Well this is just great! NOT :(

Sorry Tasha -  what a carry on.  Feel like a pin cushion I expect.  Hope you get something for that pain, what comes next?  

Marcia527 said:

Big hugs

So sorry you have to go through this. Not sure why it took so much to get the IV going. Hang in there. 

Hugs,

Marcia

 

I'm sooo sorry you have such severe anxiety prior to medical stuff.  I'm all for support groups (we're all here aren't we) but did he have any suggestions for drugs?  If one is in a high state of anxiety, learning techniques that can be helpful and/or getting support just doesn't happen if you can't come down enough to be able to receive it.. 

This has all been a really hard time for you.  Please get all the help you can get to help you.  It's hard to fight when you're down. 

Sending hugs,

Suzanne

Double Whammy said:

You poor dear

I'm sooo sorry you have such severe anxiety prior to medical stuff.  I'm all for support groups (we're all here aren't we) but did he have any suggestions for drugs?  If one is in a high state of anxiety, learning techniques that can be helpful and/or getting support just doesn't happen if you can't come down enough to be able to receive it.. 

This has all been a really hard time for you.  Please get all the help you can get to help you.  It's hard to fight when you're down. 

Sending hugs,

Suzanne

Hi Tasha,

I totally agree with everything Suzanne said.  I tried to be strong, but my anxiety always took over.  I don't think I could have survived without medication.  Everyone is different, but you are going through hell right now, so if you need help to relieve anxiety maybe you can look into medications.  I hope you find some relief Tasha. 

Hugs,

Ginny

sandra4611 said:

Getting IV going

Do you mean that 3 nurses tried to access a vein? Or do you have a port that malfunctioned? As someone who is a "hard stick" I sympathize and understand how you could be in tears. During the last hospitalization they tried 25 times...yes, 25 failed sticks, including in my feet. It was agonizing. They kept bringing in people from the ER and ICU, each claiming to be the best and promising they would be successful. I finally refused to have anyone else try and asked to see my surgeon. He agreed and ordered a PICC line to be placed. It's perfect, has two ports, one for IV's and the other for blood draws. As long as it is kept clean, the PICC team says you can keep it for a year or more. I've had mine two months.

After about a month I got an occlusion in the line. Two nurses tried to draw blood but couldn't get it from either port so they said they would have to try to find a vein in my hand. Nope...two sticks, two fails...and those sticks in the hand really hurt. I was so upset, my blood pressure was sky high, and tears running down my face. Finally I asked to see the PICC team and sure enough, there was a substance they could use to unclog the PICC line. They were so sympathetic and said from now on I should come right to them whenever I needed a blood draw or dressing change.

I would love to keep the PICC line forever but my PS wants it out since I finished with IV antibiotics a couple weeks ago. But I'm quite anemic and the oncologist ordered an iron infusion in a week so I'm allowed to keep it for now. My husband flushes each line with saline twice a day. Could you ask if they will place a PICC line for you?

I have two more surgeries coming up to finish reconstruction as well as several blood draws in the meantime as we work on fixing some blood deficiencies. I was already dreading life without a PICC. The PICC line team told me this week that I should request to see them before any procedure in which I will need an IV started. Using the same technology as when the put in the PICC, they will use ultrasound to find a vein and start the IV. They can use it for simple blood draws too. I can't tell you how relieved I am. Could you request something like that too?

With everything you are going through, it may seem odd to others that you would get upset when it took an hour to get an IV started. Those with "good" veins should thank their lucky stars. The last thing you need when you feel like crap is to have to go through that miserable process again.

Wishing you good luck and no more unnecessary pain to add to your burden,

Sandra

 

Hi Tasha,

I am very sorry for your "rotten day". I have small veins and often it is a trick to get my IV going. Warm packs often help when put on for 5 min before that. I try to drink a lot (if I remember) it does help too. Of course you are anxious as you have been  waiting for your Scan results no wonder about why.

I am sorry that cancer has spread. Does your oncologist have new suggestions about your treatment?

Whishing you a better day tomorrow 

Hugs to you

New Flower

So sorry...I hope things get better soon..

Denise