I had some blood tests a few weeks ago, and as usul the nurse said ''I’ll try the other arm ‘’…I explained she couldn’t and why.
She said ‘’ well if I have to I’ll make sure the areas well cleaned after ‘’…( didn’t need to use ‘other’ arm …thank goodness )
But I’m confused as I thought it wasn’t just a case of the area being well cleaned in the case of needles…if that is the case then why is blood pressure monitoring on that arm a No No too??
I had a blood test a couple of weeks ago and the nurse took it from my bc arm as she couldn’t get any out of my good arm=her comment was it will probably be alright!! Fortunately it is but that is hardly the point is it.
Hi Karen,
it is confusing isn’t it! There have been a few threads on this recently, either wondering why these ‘rules’ exist or becuase people have had jabs/bloods in their ‘wrong’ arm
So far as I can make out there are two things here…
needles - puncture the skin so there is a small increased risk of infection, which would mean the body sends more lymph fluid to mop it up and it can get ‘stuck’ if the lymph nodes are gone
bp - crush injuries to muscles also attract the lymph fluid to help with repair; againit can get stuck.
Not a very scientific explanatio, but that’s how I undertand it
As far as I can ascertain lymphoedema is a bit of a mystery and they err very much on the side of caution. I now wear a wristband on my ‘at risk’ arm to serve a reminder to me and to any medical folks! (if you use the search option on the forum and type on lilac wrist band a thread with the link should pop up)
Edit - other similar/useful threads are
share.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=33923&p=590924#p590924
share.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=32052&p=550974&hilit=+needle+lymph*#p550974
share.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/lilac-medic-alert-bracelet-t33654.html
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Hi Karen,
Revcat I think you explain it beautifully. It is tricky when others are a bit dismissive of the risks. I’m afraid I tend to back down right away, bit of a woos!
I do always wear my bracelet though if doing anything sporty or going to the doctors.
Hope it all goes well.
carolyn x