Swollen armpit ... yuck.

clarrn
clarrn Member Posts: 557
edited August 2015 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

I am thinking that is probably an infection, but I could feel an enlarged hard lymph node this morning that I couldn't move. Tonight my armpit is too swollen and painful to find it. Slight redness to the area. It's on the side that just finished healing a month ago from an explant due to infection (108 days of packing). So as much as I really don't want more surgery/IV meds/antibiotics, I am praying for that and not recurrence. Of course it is holiday Monday today. And I am trying to not worry but I do. And the 14 tries it took to get the last IV in is also terrifying me. YUCK!

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Comments

  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited August 2015

    Big Huggers ((((((((())))))))))))))). Hoping it is nothing serious for you. You have had a rough go of it & deserve a big long break from this crap.

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  • Tinkerbells
    Tinkerbells Member Posts: 211
    edited August 2015

    hang in there girlie and keep us posted

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited August 2015

    Hopefully you got on an antibiotic by now and are getting better. Chemobrain makes it hard for me to recall what holiday was this week, perhaps in Canada? I know Thanksgiving there is in early October...

    Next time you need an IV or blood draw, be sure to drink lots of water beforehand so those veins are easier to access. If the first person with the needle is unsuccessful after a few attempts, don't be shy about asking for someone else to try. No need to feel like a pin cushion and/or end up with a huge bruise!

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited August 2015

    Thanks vlnrph! Civic Holiday. Oral antibiotic seems to be doing the trick this time. *whew* And last time I had the 14 IV attempts I drank 3 litres of water 2 hours prior to the first try. I am a nurse so I know the tricks ;) It was just my veins, with experienced ER nurses ( 5 of the attempts were doctors using ultrasound! )

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited August 2015

    Good news on the RX taking effect! Also, congratulations on choosing nursing as a career.

    If your veins have always been so problematic, I imagine that you would have had a port for chemo (especially since your regimen included Adriamycin/the red devil) - I asked for one in order to protect my "good" arm even though I only had TC. Another Canadian shared recently on one of the forums here about the doctor declining her request. He said they were just for long term use. Are the protocols different up north?

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited August 2015

    Nope I had 2 lines and clotted both times (second time on bloodthinners) so I can't get them anymore. I actually had beautiful veins before chemo. :(

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited August 2015

    And all my clotting factors came back normal!

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited August 2015

    I can't imagine any doctor refusing to do at least a PICC. Definitely not the Canadian norm.

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