I suppose this is one for the BC Nurses but I have recently been in hospital for a Pulmonary Embolism and mild heart attack no big deal now but a bit of an issue at the time . As you know it’s a series injections , bloods , canulars which on the face of it is o.k unless you’ve had nodes removed and that leaves you with the one arm! which in turn gets very bruised and limiting in option sites for sticking the needles in.
Could I have relaxed my vigilance on not letting them take blood or put anything into the ’ node’ arm , even the Doctor was questioning
whether it was necessary recognizing having access to both arms would be easier for me and them. So for future reference what do I do?
Hi, I have also had all my lymph nodes removed on one side. I have always been told the arm on this side must not be used for blood tests, pressure etc. Then, once when I went for a blood test the doctor couldn’t find a vein to get a needle in on the good side. So he said he would try the other side. I said to him that this was not possible but he insisted, so being as he’s the doctor and I’m not, I gave in. Then when I told my oncologist about this she was furious and said UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should this arm be used. They can always find a vein somewhere else in the body if they can’t in the good arm.
Hi…a friend of mine who had all her lymph nodes removed like me went into hospital for surgery on a broken arm. She told the nurses and doctor that she was not to have any blood taken/drips etc put into the wrong side. When she came round from the operation, they had put a drip in the wrong arm. She was livid and made a complaint. After the threat of legal action they have only just recently admitted they were wrong. She could have sued them for assault apparently. Maybe we should all carry a card like a donor card stating what surgery we have had so that if any of us were unfortunate to have an accident then the mistake wouldnt be made.
I did wonder whether we should wear medialert braclets or similar.
Does the no bloods etc also apply if you only had 6 or 7 nodes replaced? I am sure I was told it does, but then you are told so much it is so easy to forget or get something wrong.
Yes I was lead to believe it does - the problem is when time moves on and all the advice becomes a bit woolly. Doesn’t help when doctors who are not Cancer specialists put doubt in your mind . tends to make you feel like your being a drama queen!
you have to weigh things up… although ideally you wouldnt want routine bloods or BPs done in your affected arm… when it comes to life and death situations and medical emergencies getting venous access is the main priority.
if they cannot gain venous access from your non-affected side then the only option is to try the affected side… getting lymphodeama may be a pain in the butt but less of a pain in the butt than being dead.
as for the number of nodes removed… it often referrs to women who have had a full clearance as they are most at risk of LO, however even one node removed could potentially result in LO, after all some people who dont have any nodes removed or any surgery suffer from it as a condition in its own right… but this is very rare.
generally you want to be careful, advise you health professionals to use the other side where possible but, some people like me have had bilateral disease so you do have to make some compromise… for me im right handed so would prefer them to use the left.
it is surprising though how many health professionals do not realise the implications of doing bloods, cannulas, injections, BPs, etc on those having had surgery to the nodes.
I too had a full node clearance and am very careful with skin care on that arm. It isn’t only needles and blood pressure cuffs you should avoid, it is also important to wear rubber gloves when doing chores and gardening gloves when doing gardening. ANYTHING that breaks the skin, even an insect bite, and allows bacteria into your arm, is a potential cause of lymphodeoma (not sure of spelling!).
I had a procedure done on Monday and answered all the questions prior to going in and told them AGAIN about not using my left arm for cannulas etc. I go into the surgery, lie on the table… and what is the first thing that happens? They start to put an cannula in my left hand! They put my name on a red wrist band which indicates the patient has an allergy, so why couldn’t they have put that information onto it too? Argh!
Keep the beggers away from your affected arm and beat them off with the nearest chair if they try LOL!
I purchased a plastic wristband like the charity ones from an australian based website called Mediband. Its bright pink and has on it ALERT - Axillary Node Removal NO NEEDLES NO PRESSURE in this arm. I have found this useful when going to the hospital. They are not very expensive and look ok and they are a reminder for drs and me.
Thanks everyone some thought provoking info - will take up these ideas and be prepared ( god forbid) for the next emergency - hey is this a hat trick ? cancer , phlebitis , pulmonary e and heart attack all in 6 months from being really healthy !! my lucks got to change soon.
Hi
I was warned by my lymph nurse that medical staff not in the bc field wouldn’t all realise the significance of using my other arm. I find when I am wearing my compression sleeve it is easier to dissuade people. In hospital they tend to write on my lymphoedema arm in indelible ink before surgical procedures. Recently they used my legs in hospital ( I have dodgy veins from chemo in my good arm), but said they don’t like to do this for long or for deper lines.
C
Lazydaisy1, glad the info was of use. I also felt like a drama queen when the doctor I mentioned insisted on using my bad arm. But you just have to stick to your guns!! You don’t want any added complications from that after the 6 months you’ve had!!!
Bboonie - Please can you tell me/us from where we can purchase these wristbands? It would be nice to have some physical ‘evidence’ to back up our assertions that ‘they’ shouldn’t mess with the affected side of our body.
I have drummed it into my husband that, should I be unconscious… or worse, that he must tell the medics. I hope he remembers, bless him!
Hi,
I had node removal from left side and was admitted to hospital for something else. The doctor couldn’t get blood form my left arm (no reason other than he wasn’t very good at taking blood - my veins are really good!
I had a bit of a row with him about taking it from the affected side _NO!!!
Blood can be taken on the OK side not just from the elbow but also the hand, and also form the foot. So they have a few choices before they insist on the affected side.
When I go into hospital the only way i could aviod this was to writ on my arm (the whole length) in big, colourful writing with a marker pen “DO NOT TAKE BLOOD OR BP ON THIS ARM”
Seemed to do the trick !!
Hi
AlexG the Lymphoedema Support Network sells wrist bands-they have a website, and I think an online shop. My lymphoedema clinic also gave me a medical card, just one you can put name on and keep in a purse, detailing the routine procedures that may exacerbate lymphoedema. I had one before getting lymphoedema that said ‘at risk of’ (Although as Lulu advised sometimes its the lesser of two evils if access has to be got immediately-my lymph nurse said in an emergency they just find a way in and deal with the swelling after.)
I have never actually had to show the card to anyone to get them not to use the arm, but you could if needed.
C
I’ve had 7 nodes out on left side 7 years ago, and 3 out on right side this year. I was told after 5 years it was Ok to use the left arm again, but then my onc said it was better to use my right freshly operated arm as I had had less nodes out on that side. But I have no good veins left in right arm due to chemo last time. Thank goodness they put me in a portacath last week. But not all places have the equipment to take blood from the portacath, and you need an arm for blood pressure anyway, so as Lulu says better lymph oedema than dead.
When I had my WLE (previous Mx and axillary sampling) ,my anaesthetist put my venflon (canula) in my good arm and the BP cuff on my leg.I have also had blood taken from my foot following my Mx.(ouch!)
xxx