Anyone had phlebitis in surgical arm?

kimber3006

Saturday my arm started getting red, sore and swollen.  Sunday is was worse.  So I thought, oh great, cellulitis again (had a mild bout months ago when still in chemo).  I had treatment Monday anyway.  PA said looks like phlebitis so put me on prescription naproxen sodium and onc said there could be infection, so put me on an antibiotic for 2 weeks, too, to be safe.  Today I can FEEL 2 serious lumps along the vein in my upper arm and it's still really red and swollen along it, especially over the lumps.  The thought of blood clots of that size in my body is kind of freaking me out.  Anyone else have this happen?  At first I didn't think it could be phlebitis, since I read it had to do with inactivity and I work out most days, but I did just sit in a car and drive over 500 miles a couple days before this started, so I guess that could do it.

KerryMac

Oh, I am so sorry! I haven't had this happen, but I can imagine how distressing it would be.

Hope the antibiotic stops any infection, and the clots resolve. Let us know how it goes.

MsSherryInFL

I have had this happen and almost always happens when I have an IV.  It will eventually go away and it is ok.  You won't throw a clot from it.  I have had some PEs and so I am always on the look out and one time a phlebitis was so large (looked like a cherry) under my skin and the Dr told me hot to cold compress and anti-inflamattory drugs.  It took 2 months to go away completely.  I still have a small pea sized lump from my SGAP IV that was done May 12.  I have super crappy veins.  They usually have to go for my neck.

kimber3006

Thanks all!  I put a call into the onc anyway, as I promised my husband I would.  He's usually so cool and collected, but this freaked him out.  I'm just hoping I don't end up with LE issues from all this swelling. 

kimber3006

Hello!  Just following up - saw my rad onc on Thursday and she took a good look at it and said as long the redness stays gone (since it is completely gone now) and the swelling continues to go down, no worries.  Hoping this darn thing heals up soon.  At least now I know it's a vein.  It's been giving me trouble since my mx.  I had a horrible time regaining full range of motion just because of this one "muscle" that I couldn't get to stretch back out.  It's this same vein, and not a muscle after all - argh!  I'm heading into the "meet with plastic surgeons" phase, so I'll be able to get some follow up opinions on the pesky thing.

MsSherry - What a pain to get these darn things all the time!  Do you stay on the anti-inflammatories until it goes away completely?  That could make for an awful lot of Aleve.