It’s ok Jo - just found the link
Ha ha! I wish that WAS my wig. It’s an old pic. My wig IS OK but I can’t bear wearing it.
Thank you for the nice comments about my blog Jan. It helps LOADS writing it. I’m not completely honest in it because colleages and friends read it and some things are TOO personal but most of it’s in there.
I had FEC4 2 1/2 weeks ago and I’ve been fine apart from chemo day. I’m not brave, I HATE it. I can bear the plebitus, I’m just worried I’ll need a line in. I DO have lots of SE but most of them are minor. FEC 2 was the worst. I vomited for 3 days but I think they’ve got the meds right to control the SE now. I hope. In my opinion, chemo is HELL. Only people that have had it know how awful it is.
The advice to do the post surgery exercises was really useful, thanks Eva. I’ve been getting pins and needles in my arm but hopefully the exercise will help.
Jo XX
I have a friend who is 3 years post-surgery and doing fine - but still has completely screwed veins in her arm - there is only one point where she can have bloods drawn, and she told me she still has a fight on her hands to get any nurse to believe her! Knowing this, when I had my dx and found out I’d need chemo - I already had the plan to ask for a PICC - particularly as the first three of my regime contain the E that causes so many probs.
However, without her ‘history’ and without reading info from the fab women on this site, I wouldn’t have had a clue about the potential damage to veins - and as I only have one ‘good’ arm to give/take blood etc from - I wish that the hospitals would be a lot more pro-active in giving us this information and telling us about the options available - whether it’s sticking with the cannula, or opting for PICC/Hickman etc etc.
The chemo nurse was absolutely supportive when I explained my reasoning for wanting a PICC put in - I had all my arguments ‘for it’ ready… and then she took one look at my arm and told me that I’d have needed one anyway as my veins are crap…
I haven’t had it in yet - that’s due next Fri, the same day as my first chemo - so I can’t offer any views on what it’s like to have one in place - but right now I will do anything I can to take care of the ‘crap’ veins that I have!
Sophie x
I have a friend thats a nurse that advised me to go for a PICC but I didn’t want one because I’ve only got 2 chemo left. Last time (chemo 4) I had a shot of hydro cortisone to stop the plebitus developing in the new vein and it seems to have worked. It does worry me in case I need more chemo later tho.
I’ve been doing the exercises as recommended on here.
One question; does anyone have problems with pins and needles from plebitus?
Jo X
Jo, I have minor superficial phlebitis that they look on as the “well, this happens” only I don’t think “this”. Haven’t had pins and needles that associated with it, just pins and needles from lying awkwardly when blood pressure is low.
Funnily enough, the telephone call from the unit re progress, the nurse asked if I had had any more pins and needles and I nearly accused her of having the wrong notes, as ol’Kemo Brane had forgotten.
Confessed to them today.
To my enormous relief they found a good vein today, my nurse had to call in another nurse to do it, as she is left handed and it was a very awkward angle for her.
Like you, I didn’t want to have a PICC for two sessions,hope it goes well for you tomorrow.
Just had last chemo yesterday. Fortunately it was an experienced sister administering the drugs and she took her time choosing a vein so no probs in the end.
Lilac x
Hi, I had my first FEC chemo on 9th December via a canula, and a few days ago started noticing a pain/tenderness in my wrist which has now spread up to my elbow. There is nothing visible on the surface, but my veins are not very visible anyway, they had to warm my hand to find them.
Sounds like I may be starting with the effect that you are talking about, is it normal to start after the 1st? What questions is it worth asking the nurses about, as they didn’t mention this as a side effect.
Thanks
J
Hi J
I was borderline for having a picc line because of poor veins, my only good veins were on op side. Decided to go with cannualas and also had some pain and swelling with first fec, lasted about 10 days. 2nd one, swelling started earlier and had a swelling and bruising from the vein they took prechemo bloods from so decided to go with a picc line before 3rd fec. Rang my chemo unit and it was booked in for day of prechemo bloods and they had trouble finding a vein but got there in the end and I wish I had had this from beginning. So ring your chemo unit and ask their advice. The picc line takes some getting use to but after a while you don’t notice it, bit like wearing a watch or a ring.
There is a thread on the undergoing chemotherapy title about to picc or not so lots of advice and experiences there but give your chemo unit a ring and ask their advice.
Hope it soon gets sorted for you,
Ali.
Gday J,
Sorry that you have joined the ‘club’ so to speak. Each chemo session you have is a step closer to the last one. Good luck with the rest of your treatment matey. Hope you get the advice you need from this website. I have found it very helpful with questions I wanted to ask and support.
In reference to your post, I had a mild problem after my first FEC chemo with the back of my hand being a little swollen and felt very bruised up to just past my wrist. I just assumed it was like that after the cannula. I mean, you don’t really know what to expect do you?
After my second Chemo the swelling and pain went right up to my elbow and I couldn’t straighten my arm. I did see a gp about it, but unfortunately she didn’t know what to do and just said for me to keep an eye on my temp in case the site was infected. It wasn’t.
I spoke to the oncology unit and a Breast care nurse who reccommended that I get seen and advised me about the possibility of getting a picc line. They told me that the picc line needs to be done prior to the chemo as it is a ‘procedure’.
I found the picc or not to picc link very helpful too.
My advice honey would be to get in touch with your oncology ward and get them to look at your arm. Just so you know what you are dealing with. They can give you a pain relieving gel to put on your arm and also advise you about whether you need a picc line or not.
I was going to wait until my next chemo to say something, but glad I went in and had it looked at because they also found 2 blood clots that had formed as a result of the trauma of the chemo. So, I have learnt now to ask for help sooner.
Take care, Hope your side effects are starting to diminish and that you can enjoy xmas.
Lone (Kulakatz) x
I had my PICC put in this morning, and I know I may have been one of the lucky ones, but it went in absolutely no problem at all. I was in and out within half an hour, and straight on to the chemo ward from there for my 1st FEC.
I think I was more anxious about the PICC than the chemo (!), but so far so good. It’s been in situ for eight hours now, and it’s not hurting a bit, and I’m sure it speeded up the whole chemo process. My veins are rubbish to find - they see a white coat coming and what feeble veins there are dive for cover. The chemo nurse was thrilled that I’d had a PICC, esp. once she’d looked at my arms. There was a lady on the ward who was warming up her arm in a bowl of water to try to bring the veins up… it took an hour, poor thing - so right at this point I do not regret the decision to PICC at all.
If it keeps me awake all night, now… lol
Sophie xx
Hi J,
I have pain in areas of my arm where no discolouring is visiable, so my inexperienced opinion is that it probably is plebitus.
I managed 5 yest with a canula so am hoping 6 will be managed too.
Jo X
Hi,
Thanks for your comments, I have also read the PICC or not thread and it is really useful. I tried to get hold of the chemo nurses yesterday, they were supposed to ring back but didn’t so I’ll try again Monday, I think I need to get on top of this sooner rather than later,as each day the pain seems to progress a bit further up my arm. My next session is 30th, so with Christmas and everything may not get sorted before then.
Don’t like the idea of warming your hand in a bowl of water, fortunately for me they gave me a little electric blanket to wrap round my hand for 10 mins.
J
Bumping for Louis