Topic: Heplock/IV Question, Very hard to push med in
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
I am on IV Rocephin by using a heplock right now. It gets changed weekly.
Yesterday and today I am having a very hard time getting the meds to go in. I have had to push with all my might, but have ultimately been able to get them in.
This heplock is not due to be changed until Thursday. I'm sure this obviously isn't how it is supposed to be....any ideas or experiences?
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
That happened to me. It had to be adjusted a bit. I was pushing with all my might also.
I jimmied it a bit, that helped until the nurse came and changed it.
Posts: 322 | From Venice, CA | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Hi Tracy,
Are you getting a blood return at all? Is there any pain when putting the med in? Does the site flush white when you put it in????
It could have infiltrated. I'm an RN and have had this happen with patients. Do a search online for IV infiltration and see if this could be it. If so, you'll have to get it changed asap.
posted
Yes, by the way, I had NO pain when I did it. It was just difficult.
When the nurse adjusted it (she didn't change it that day), it DID hurt when it flowed in, and swelled up some. THEN it needed changed.
Posts: 322 | From Venice, CA | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Well it doesn't hurt, but usually it burns like heck when the Rocephin goes in. Today it did not hurt at all.
I dont' see any blood in the tubing, usually I do see a little.
I was able to flush it, but again pushing the plunger in with all my might.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Thanks Ocean, I looked it up and I think that is exactly what it is.
My skin is all very white and pale around the heplock, I thought that was kind of weird but didn't mention it.
It isn't painful but the skin looks very taut and pulled. It doesn't look swollen, but the dressing did get wet when I infused. Of course I wasn't sure if something was leaking or I'd dripped from my water glass.
My biggest concern would be anything related to my darned blood clot....I was supposed to have gotten an ultrasound of my upper arm/chest yesterday but didn't have it in me to go to the ER.
So what should I do? Should I pull this thing out or am I okay until tomorrow?
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
The signs and symptoms of infiltration include:
Inflammation at or near the insertion site with swollen taut skin with pain - not swollen or painful but skin is taut and looks pulled
Blanching and coolness of skin around IV site- yes
Damp or wet dressing - yes
Slowed or stopped infusion - yes
No backflow of blood into IV tubing on lowering the solution container. - yes, I see no blood at all and I usually do.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Hi Tracy,
I just read your post. It seems like it probably has infiltrated (meaning it is no longer infusing into the vein, but into the tissue).
I would call and ask what they want you to do, if they will have you pull it or come in to do it.
As long as it isn't too swollen, they shouldn't have to do anything for it. Since you aren't on continuous IV, I'm sure it will be just fine.
You poor thing, I don't blame you for worrying with the whole blood clot thing and all!
posted
Tracy - what did we talk about yesterday??? Are you at the doctor's now? I sure hope so. I am on my way to drag you there if not! Please keep us posted!
Posts: 588 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
LOL, Luvvys....you are so funny!!!
Thank you so much for giving me the answer, Ocean. I called the oncall IV nurse and told her what you said, and she had me pull it immediately.
Since I'm having a bit of a herx, I didn't wake up until 2 pm today, so I scheduled a new heplock to be placed tomorrow at 2 pm. I'll miss my Rocephin tonight.
AND LUVVY DEAR I scheduled my ultrasound of my arm for tomorrow at 1 pm. They did kind of freak a little when I read them the diagnosis when they asked...."deep vein thrombosis" but I'm thinking if I lived these last three weeks I'll make it till tomorrow.
I have been measuring my arm each night; it is still 3 cm bigger but has not gotten any larger. The pain is about the same. If anything worsens, don't worry, I won't hesitate to go to the ER.
AND I got my thyroid ultrasound scheduled for Friday and my hematologist appt for next Wed, so hopefully they will get all this blood clotting crap figured out and I can get a line placed again.
AND I got Blake scheduled for his PICC on Monday and got his Rocephin and nursing set up too.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Only for 1/2 hour and then BACK to the corner for you!
Posts: 588 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Oh good Tracy, glad I could help!
I worked in a NICU (inbetween relapses!) and it was bad sometimes when the iv infiltrated. We checked them every hour, but when it is a continuous infusion, the site can get very large fast (on tiny babies). Sometimes too, depending on the med, it can do damage to the skin.
Glad you found it early and that they had you pull it, good job!!!
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Hmmm...they should probably teach the patient to check for infiltration signs. Maybe they will now that this happened to you? Glad it all worked out OK, I hope that the blood clot issue resolves for you sooner rather than later. Make sure you keep us updated on that!
posted
wow,,caught this thread and ocean gave you all the info to help you out..i did not need to post anything...nice having some nurses on here i gues huh??
but do keep your eye on the iv site, rocephin can be toxic to the tissue but sounds like not much made it there before you caught it. hope you can get line placed soon, peripheral lines are the biggest pain!!! im into week 4 of IV rocephin myself, but via port a cath
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
| IP: Logged |
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
I am so incredibly thankful that we have nurses on here! I would have been totally lost last night without Ocean.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
tracy - any update??? How are you?
Posts: 588 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
The new heplock I had put in on Tuesday is okay; but some blood is leaking out. I checked and they said it was fine even though some leaked all the way through to the stretchy sock like arm cover thingy.
Oh well....keeping at it. Have appt with hematologist next Wednesday for blood clotting disorder work up and his recommendations on lines/meds I may need.
I had my arm ultrasound today. The blood clot is still there, has not changed at all. They said it does not present an acute problem and to follow up with the hematologist on how to treat it.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
that is me smooshing the clot in your arm. Glad they are keeping an eye on it.
I am glad you are still able to get the rocephin in you despite this all! You are determined little one....
Posts: 588 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[bonk]](graemlins/bonk.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic