what do you do

mjjporter
mjjporter Member Posts: 15
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
what do you do in case of an accident to make sure that the emts do not stick the side where nodes were removed

Comments

  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #2
    Hi! I think the only thing you can do is wear a medic alert bracelet or necklace that states no arm pricks in the specific arm. In a life or death situation tho, I wouldn't worry about that. Just want to live anyway it takes. HUGS!! Cathy
  • DebRoa
    DebRoa Member Posts: 31
    #3
    cruf said:

    Hi! I think the only thing you can do is wear a medic alert bracelet or necklace that states no arm pricks in the specific arm. In a life or death situation tho, I wouldn't worry about that. Just want to live anyway it takes. HUGS!! Cathy

    I have a bracelet I purchased that says not to use the right arm for BP, IM , IV or fingersticks. My onc told me that in an emergency-they would pretty much do what they needed and that was that. A former EMT told me that they would try not to use my arm, but the life comes first. I guess I have to agree. I just need to be reminded not to let my drs do bps and stuff on my right arm.

    Deb
  • epgnyc
    epgnyc Member Posts: 137
    #4
    I would try not to get too concerned about this. I have had two fairly extensive skin cancer surgeries on my left arm in the past year and my left arm is the one that's never supposed to be used for needle sticks, bp, etc. This was a whole lot more than a stick (10 stitches in one and 8 in the other), but there was really no choice - and I had no negative side effects, by the way. If you were unconscious and unable to tell an EMT to use the other arm, I think you have much more serious problems! More important is to be sure that doctors, nurses and othes always use the correct arm.
  • Kathern
    Kathern Member Posts: 9
    #5
    Hi,
    I have a braclet that I wear. Be sure to have it engraved with your allergies,and the arm that can't be stuck. Mine is pretty so it isn't to bad to wear.
    Kat
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #6
    As it turns out it isn't that big of a deal unless you suffer with allot of swelling. I have had both sides done and wondered what now. But as it turns out they avoid the cancer side as much as they can but veins not good in good arm. Sometimes I have had to have the arm done, they just take more percautions in making sure the area is cleaned before and after needle inserted. I think we should always try to avoid things but I have found I can't. I cut myself all the time and haven't found infection happening more often something we should be concerned about. I clean cuts in dirty water and all working and haven't had a problem. Buy the way they use to think exercise was bad but have since found that is better for our arms than anything. Hence dragon boat racing.
    Be careful and everyone does what they can but it doesn happen...
    Be good to yourself,
    Tara

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