BP cuff applied to BC arm?

I assume you've told the hospital staff about this pain.........just in case it's heart related.

  I can barely imagine your horror, RebeccaDiane, when you woke up to find the bp cuff on the wrong arm.  So very sorry this happened,and I sure hope no permanent damage has been done.
Ladies, the anesthesiologist always comes in for a chat before you're given any meds.  As it is s/he who monitors your bp, perhaps making absolutely sure s/he knows where not to put the cuff, and writes it in her notes, is a good idea.  Also, a surgical nurse comes by for a brief visit.  This is the nurse who really has to know which arm needs to be pronounced verboten.  As for me, I always refuse premedication if the procedure allows.  That way I am awake and aware while they prep me in the OR and can make sure the cuff is on the correct arm and nobody has had a senior moment concerning issues important to me.  And yes, I did need a minor procedure after my lumpectomy and was very, very happy to be "present" in the OR to monitor the placing of the bp cuff.

I'm so SO irritated when I hear stories like this. Really. Rebecca Dianne I'm so sorry you had put up with the ignoramus treatment. I too hope there's no damage done to you. I'm another one who faced the scenario of having to stand up to the medical fraternity literally, both pre/procedure and post procedure and of all the things we like to put behind us, that's likely to be one of the last. It's simply unacceptable to be on the receiving end of this sort of treatment. Nobody should have to be put in a position of having to argue about what they've clearly stated before, much less pre op/procedure.  I actually wonder how many people have had to defend their decisions.

Just to clarify on the pre-printed arm sleeves for surgery, Lymphedivas makes an alert sleeve that is a regular day-wear gradient-compression sleeve but printed with warnings. It should NOT be worn if you're going to be unconscious, as it's not a sleep sleeve. It's a great sleeve to use for wide-awake procedures and makes your statement loud and clear, but definitely not when you're going to be asleep or even just inactive. It's here:

https://www.lymphedivas.com/en/product/hospital

G-Sleeve makes one you can wear in the hospital for any procedure--it's not a compression garment, just an over-sleeve, so it's safe to wear during surgery or when you're drugged or drowsy. It's here:

http://www.g-sleeve.com/index.htm

I use a G-sleeve over my wrapped arm for anesthesia procedures, and I write directly on my arm with a permanent marker under all that--one of our gals awhile back woke up from a minor surgery to find all her wrappings removed and stuffed into a bag under her bed and an automatic BP cuff pumping away on her arm, so always best to cover all your bases.

It is a shame that the place where we're at the most risk for mistreatment of our LE arms is in the hospital, no?

Be well!
Binney

i thought about getting one of those G-sleeves, but I think I'll just write on my arm.  It can't get removed so easily!!

edit:  Binney, thanks for letting us know NOT to wear compression sleeve while unconscious for surgery.  I was wondering about that. Was going to ask my GYN, but wasn't sure she would know. 

12$ sounds like a good investment in security!

Talk to your doctor about it beforehand, but yes, that's what it's made for (as long as it's not your arm that's being operated on!)

Some of the women here have wrapped their arms before surgery and it was allowed--the non-sterile areas are draped.