Having IV in arm that had lymphnodes removed?

lexigirl · 11-19-2005, 03:24 PM

Hi Guys,
It's me again.( I am again so excited to have this web site) I was wondering if anyone has had experience with having their Herceptin tx given in their arm where lymphs. were removed. My chemo nurse has mentioned this to me a couple of times now and I'm not to sure what to think of this.

Thanks,
lexigirl

Sheila · 11-19-2005, 03:32 PM

Lexigirl

I was told NEVER NEVER NEVER any B/P or needles in my mastectomy side due to the lack of lymph nodes..no shots, no IV's nothing...as far as I know, this practice has not changed...they worry about infection due to lack of lymph nodes, and lymphadema from blood pressure cuffs...I was told that even a cut or bite that was not well taken care of could cause serious problems...why can't they use your unaffected side? If your veins are no good, I would look into getting a port to avoid the hassle.
Hope this helps.

lexigirl · 11-19-2005, 03:35 PM

Sheila,
Everything I read as well said no bp, Iv's, cuts or any of the sort. I am curious because I am to have Herceptin for a year and my little left arm is pooping out. I was just curious if anyone else had heard or experienced this.

Thanks,
lexi

sassy · 11-19-2005, 04:33 PM

Lexigirl,

You may want to look into getting a portacath, rather than having IV's. I was dx in Feb 05 and my surgeon strongly recommended portacath for chemo, even before we knew I would be having Herceptin. The portacath has made treatment much easier and I strongly recommend it.

Good luck, come here often. It has been a lifeline for me for both knowledge and support.

Sassy
________
HOW TO ROLL A JOINT

lexigirl · 11-19-2005, 05:36 PM

I have been told I may want to have port placed. I am just so stinking scared of more surgery. I need to get tough!
Thanks, lexigirl

11-19-2005, 05:44 PM

lexigir,
Absolutely not should you have Iv's on your affected side, or as others have BP'S, Bld. draws, etc.
Carol

11-19-2005, 05:46 PM

pardon the typo's-- it's late ( for me) and I'm tired !!!
Carol

Lyn · 11-21-2005, 07:23 AM

I am not one to follow the rules, I have been having blood taken from my arm where I had 16 lymphs removed, for about 5 years now, around about the time I had my port put in, I haven't experienced any problems, I can't get the blood drawn out of my port because they never seem to get the result back in time for chemo, the only problem is that with the port I can't have any CT scans done using the port because it can blow it up and send bits through my veins, and a vein has to be found one way or another because my so called good arm is completely fried, I hate it when I get a smug technician who says "I can find a vein" I tell them they get 3 goes and if they don't get one it goes in their arm, they usually run for an aneasethetist or doctor, I had one sitting and there were 9 attempts and even tried an ultra sound, in the end he just stabbed at my wrist, it hurt like hell but he found a tiny vein, it takes a while but we eventually get one or not, I have had one blow out while the nuclear dye is being pushed through for the CT, the stuff went everywhere. I can admit that I did do the wrong thing and have nuclear dye put in my bad arm 2 days in a row and I paid for it, I was lucky I got the lymphoedema to go down in 2 days but now either they find a vein or they do the CT without the dye. I don't know about anyone else but I felt unwell for about a week when I had my port put in, I was conscious and didn't feel a thing, but I had to lay on my back for 4 hours and not even get up for the toilet because the port is placed in the jugular vein, that was a bummer, but I don't regret it for one minute, except when it comes to wearing clothes that hide it and as I am a lifer for Herceptin I guess it will be there for a long while yet.

Love & Hugs Lyn

lexigirl · 11-21-2005, 09:17 AM

Thanks for your input Lyn. I'm not sure where my chemo nurse has gotten her information on the whole IV in the affected arm. I had 5 or 6 lymphs removed (they were swollen and clusterd, not a good thing I guess) so I don't know if that makes any difference at all.

Lexi

StephN · 11-21-2005, 02:38 PM

Hi Lexi -
A port placement is not nearly as big a deal as the other surgeries you have undergone. I had it done before my first chemo and am glad I did as it has saved my left (good) arm for the draws that can't be done through my port (which does require a chemo-certified nurse to do). As well as the inserts for dyes/contrast when having scans.
I figured I was in this cancer game for the rest of my life and wanted to be able to minimize the scar tissue to my good veins over the long haul.

You can also get a Hickman put in on the underside of your good arm, which is an even easier procedure and will not leave a scar on your chest area.

Please, under NO circumstances let the nurses start using your surgery side arm. I now have a slight case of lymphedema and it is bothersome and takes time to deal with EVERY day! I followed as well as I could all the precautions about taking care of my surgery side arm, and still have the fluid retention after FIVE years of avoiding this side-effect.

CLTann · 11-21-2005, 03:19 PM

Hi all,

Although I had no positive node and only 3 nodes were taken out during the SNB, I was advised that forever I should not get BP, injection, etc. on the bad arm. I am wondering for those who had both sides mastec, how do they cope with all the necessary procedures? Just curious.

Ann

Becky · 11-21-2005, 03:23 PM

Lexi

You should NEVER, EVER,FOREVER let anyone take blood pressure or put in an IV/needle in your affected arm. Twenty or thirty years from now, you could get lymphedema in your affected arm by letting someone do that. You must always baby that side forever.

Love and Peace

Becky

Sandy H · 11-21-2005, 06:16 PM

I have all my blood work done through my port. I go to oncology and they do it all right there and even take it to the lab for me. When I have scans done I again go to oncology they put the needle in the port and off I go to nuclear medicine for my scans. Some times I have a finger pick and then I go to the lab. I figure if I save my veins in my good arm and for some reason there is not a certified chemo nurse available then they can do my vein. I also wear an ID bracelet on my lymhedema arm so everyone knows I have a dead arm. hugs, Sandy

Ginagce · 11-23-2005, 04:22 PM

Hello Lexi. I've had bilateral mastectomies and bilateral sentinel node biopsies so what I did for chemo was use left side that only had 1 node removed.

When herceptin came along, I opted for portocath. Much easier than using any veins and given the length of most herceptin treatment....1 year....probably safest.

As the others have said, the standard protocol is no needles/IV's in arms having lymph nodes removed.

If I wasn't so stubborn and determined to not feel like a "sick person" I would have had the portocath put in for chemo too!

Best wishes to you.

Gina

mary c · 11-28-2005, 12:38 PM

Hi Lexi!

I was terrified to get a port too, however, it was actually a pretty easy procedure - you feel sore for a few days after, but you can tolerate it.
I always have numbing cream (I think it is called embola (probably not the correct spelling) put on the port area, about 1/2 hour before it is used and the only thing I feel is pressure when they insert a needle.
Hope this helps...
Mary