Shortage of Saline bags for IV Chemo

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Southernsurvivor
Southernsurvivor Member Posts: 632
edited December 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I went in for Halaven chemo today and was told that due to shortage of saline bags***, I would be getting a saline flush after each pre-med which would be given in a concentrated push shot in my port and then a saline flush too after the Halaven push shot. Normally, my premeds of Pepcid, Kytril, and Dexamethasone are mixed in a saline bag (Pepcid in a separate bag and then Kytril and Dexamethasone together in a bag.) Then, my Halaven is given in a push shot over a few minutes and mixed with the saline drip. Not thrilled with this new method of infusion but not sure if it really is a problem giving pre-meds & chemo this way. The nurse said it's not a problem but I wonder.

The only issue I noted during the Dexamethasone push shot, was all of a sudden my crotch was on fire. I started squirming in the chemo chair and then the nurse said it was due to the pre-med and they call it "ants in the pants." Really? No warning? Never had this happen and I bet this is due to the very concentrated method the pre-Med was given.

I'll see if I notice any other SE issues this week. This was the beginning of my cycle #7 (infusion #13 as treatment is 2 weeks on and one week off.)

Has anyone had this happen at their chemo center? My nurse said they are expecting the saline bag shortage to last until April. Ugh!


Thanks all,

Southern


*** apparently Puerto Rico produces the major volume of saline bags and the hurricane that devastated PR has caused a tremendous shortage throughout the US.

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  • Mucki1991
    Mucki1991 Member Posts: 294
    edited November 2017

    I can only speak on the bag shortage my center had the shortage 4 weeks ago due the situation in Puerto Rico as that's where our bags come from.


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  • LoriCA
    LoriCA Member Posts: 923
    edited December 2017

    Two weeks ago I heard the Oncology nurses explaining to several patients about the shortage of IV bags and that they were on back order. It didn't affect my infusion that week, but it probably will when I go back Tuesday.

    Baxter has been rationing the number of bags they are sending to hospitals,etc. because they are still at limited production levels. Braun was slapped with a warning letter about moldy/contaminated bags earlier this year, so reliance is almost entirely on Baxter to supply the bags. Apparently there are so many pharmaceutical companies with plants in P.R. (48+) that shortages of several drugs are expected too.

    It is unbelievable that we (the U.S.) aren't putting more focus on getting Puerto Rico back on their feet.

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  • riley702
    riley702 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited December 2017

    I got the flush instead of a bag with my last 2 Abraxane treatments, and am now having problems with my nails lifting and my fingertips being sore. I may be stopping chemo to do rads, so this issue may be moot for me, but I'm not happy about my nails.

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