Needles and blood pressure cuffs after full Lymph node clearance

Delly

Hi Everyone,

I'm a newbie here, but am looking to hear from other fellow double mastectomy with both axillary lymph node clearance.

Mine were 2006 and 2007. I'm part way through recon with expanders, installed March 2014. Loooong overdue with silicone replacements due to severe falling off the recon horse following the surgeons cancellation, followed by severe depression.

For my inflator installation op, I had to have an anaesthetic cannula placed into my ankle, Medial Tibial vein.

I've ALWAYS been extra careful to insist any blood samples, blood pressure cuffs and said cannula's AREN'T used on my arms, due to the EXTRA risk of infection and lymphoedema.

So bloods have been taken from the top of my foot. For a recent knee arthroscopy op, I had an anaesthetic cannula placed into the top of my foot, March this year.

I've also recently been having to undergo scans for possible secondaries, especially liver due to initial problems having been detected from other tests and more superficial scans.

Had a major problem when I attended appointment for a more detailed scan, requiring a cartridge of contrast medium.A senior radiographer couldn't access a vein on top of my feet in EITHER. Was extremely uncomfortable, and had to book me back in for another appointment, PROMISING me to flag my requirements, and to have a "doctor" or anaesthetist to carry out the cannulation.

This unfortunately didn't occur. I was faced with a JUNIOR radiographer instead, who was most confident that she could carry out hte procedure.

Afraid, I went bolistic, got dressed and walked out, complaining that BOTH of my feet were STILL sore from a SENIOR radiographers attempts 3 days before, and been PROMISED someone more specialised to do the job. The result has been that I still haven't had the more detailed scan,which needs to be done, all due to what I would call bad management from my local hospital.

My question really is - has anyone had cannula needles or blood tests taken from elsewhere on their body. I'm now having problems with the circulation in my right foot and ankle which I feel are very much to do with having to have it's smaller, more superficial veins accessed with needles and/or cannula's having caused damage.

Anyone else had the same prob and/or can offer advice would be very much appreciated.

My Thanks in advance and hope you're all doing well, or as well as can be.

Much love to you all

Delly xxxx

barbe1958

Delly, I don't let anyone put blood pressure cuffs on my left side, but they would need to know a regular reading on your ankle to know if your BP is normal "down there" as it's not reflected the same way as your arm. Frustrating for sure!

As for blood work, I obviously tell them right arm only, but woke up in the hospital once with a tech about to insert a needle into my left arm. Was furious! I even had a bright pink band on my left wrist that said NO STICKS.

Having said that, before a recent CT scan they were having trouble getting a vein in my right arm and I got to the point where I said, okay use my left arm, this is killing me!! I usually allow 3 attempts, they promised only one more and she got it in finally. I'd reached a point where I knew I needed the CT and the risk of not finding what was wrong was higher than the risk of infection. After all, I've never had an infection from a stick before. I do have mild truncal LE that is exacerbated with arm work - gardening etc.

BP can easily be done somewhere else, but blood work not so much. They might want to try a vein in your neck if it doesn't work next time as I've heard people using that successfully.