Blood Pressure Checks

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Veeder14
Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
edited January 2018 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I know that blood pressures can't be taken on the arm that the lymph nodes are taken out of so that would be my left arm coming up after the lumpectomy. I also had a benign tumor taken out of my right arm (radial nerve) years ago and still have pain if anything tight is wrapped around my upper arm. Also had lymph nodes taken out of my left upper leg.I wonder how my blood pressure can be checked during the surgery and after since neither arm can be used? Has anyone been in this situation?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2018

    Hi Veeder,

    We're sure others from this very helpful forum will be by shortly to offer some words of advice, but we wanted to share with you this page from the main Breastcancer.org site, Reducing Lymphedema and Flare-Up Risk: Things to Avoid, which says if you have had nodes removed from both sides, you should "ask if you can have any [...] blood pressure measurements taken on another area of the body."

    We hope this helps!

    --The Mods


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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited January 2018

    Thank you for the information

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited January 2018

    veeder - I have had nodes removed bi-laterally so neither arm should really be used, and I do have lymphedema in the arm with more nodes removed - I don't let anyone touch that arm. I have successfully opted to use the arm with fewer nodes for both blood draws and blood pressure checks and I have had a lot of surgery after BMX and had no problems. It is possible to have blood pressure taken on the ankle so you may be able to use the uncompromised leg for this. Another option is to use a manual cuff as they are not as tight, or possibly a wrist cuff on your right arm. One issue during surgery is that many docs like to use the IPC devices to reduce the possibility for blood clots - these are inflatable leg sleeves that would preclude being able to take an ankle pressure. I would discuss all of this in advance with your surgeon so that everyone is aware of your limitations - they may also have suggestions, and reinforce this with any pre-admissions personnel so that it gets in your chart and again in pre-op with both the nurses and anesthesia personnel.

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited January 2018

    Hi SpecialK,

    Thanks for the information and suggestions. I definitely will make sure that staff know and there an alert in my chart about this. I've never heard about the leg devices used for surgery, I'll ask about that. I do have a manual cuff for at home I just won't be able to use the blood pressure machine at the gym anymore.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited January 2018

    I had nodes out on both sides. I got an Omron Intellisense wrist blood pressure monitor for home use, recommended by my LE-trained physical therapist.

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited January 2018

    Hi ksusan,

    Thanks for the link for the wrist blood pressure monitor.

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  • Peregrinelady
    Peregrinelady Member Posts: 1,019
    edited January 2018
    When I was in the hospital for reconstruction they had the IPC device on my legs and would stop it while they took my blood pressure above my ankle, then put the IPC back on. The only problem was a couple of times the nurse’s aide forgot to turn the IPC back on and I had to alert them. At first I didn’t like the IPC, but once I got used to it, the rhythmic inflating was calming.
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