Infiltration and IVIG

I was diagnosed with CVID in 2010. Since then I have been on monthly IVIG treatment for my CVID. I have had my share of problems with IVIG since then. This month something new happened though.

When I first began getting my IVIG, I was getting them at an infusion center. The nurse would usually be able to find a vein in my lower arm. After a time those veins began to get scarred and would roll and be difficult to stick. I would sit in a recliner and watch tv while infusing and sometimes knitting or coloring.

Then I began getting treatment at home. These nurses however had a lot of difficulty sticking me. One time a nurse had to stick my six or seven times. She was trying stick me in my hands and wrist. One time she stuck the needle in and it hurt so bad that my dogs, who were out on the back porch, burst open the door, ran to the bedroom, jumped on the bed and ran over to nip my nurse. The all happened in a flash and by the way, this dog named Lill Rottwhieler, is a small chihuahua. So it was all the more suprising that they were able to open the door at all. My other dog is a little terrier named Rockystar. Together they are good dogs who take good care of their mommy. (I don't recommend your dog nipping your nurse though).

I had another nurse one time who stuck me about 4 times without getting a good vien. He finally gave up and called he supervisor to come and stick me. We waiting for two hours for his supervisor and in the end he just used my elbow area. Needless to say, that was the last time that nurse came to my house.

Then my insurance changed and I had to get

my infusions at the hosptal. Now that was not very good. I was in a unit that was the old emergency room for the hospital. So there were bays all around a central nursing station. This unit in this hospital was now used by people that were having out patient proceedures done. The person in the bay next to me could be sick or having a colonoscopy for all I knew and I was there during a time when my immune system was at it's weakest. To make matters worse, I was being treated by a nurse who sometimes was helping up to nine patients at a time.

Thankfully I was able to get approved for the Medicare IVIG Access Act and begin getting my infusions at home again. My nurses that now come to my house are great. I am not arround other people who are sick. I am in my normal environment. I have the comfort of home and one to one nursing. It is great.

Which brings me to this month. This month my IV was going just fine. My excellent nurse had found a vein that had never been used before and stuck me at her first attempt. About four hours into the infusion I notice my arm was puffing up like Popeye's arm. Now it was a cold day so I had several layers of wooly clothes on that was covering my IV site. My nurse had regular checked my IV and everything had been fine... up till now. She immediatlley stopped my infusion and took out my IV. She stated that I had an infiltration. Apparently, instead of going directly into my bloodstream, the needle had poked through the vein and was infusion my medication directly into the muscle tissue near the IV site. She covered the area with coban with just a bit of tension to apply even pressure onto the infiltration site. Then she got me a hot pack and put that onto my arm. She said the heat and presure would help the medication to absorb better into my system and the swelling to go down.

Now my IV she put into my other arm and continued it. So I did get all my medication and everything. While I was resting, infusing and had a hot pack on my swollen arm, my nurse called and reported the incident to my doctor, the pharmacy and her nursing company and did a bunch of paperwork. I was fine.

After years of infusion and lots of good and bad experiences, there is always something new that can happen. This was my first infiltration like this. I was very happy that I had a nurse that was available to immediately assist me and resolve the problem quickly.

After about a week I am fine. The swelling is gone and most of the bruise is healed up too. THis experience shows how important nursing is when you are getting your infusions. I don't know how those who do SubQ on their own handle it. I personally feel that monthly IVIG with home nursing is best for my situation at this time. But Zebras out there.... we are all strong and it's amazing what we go through, but we can handle what ever comes our way.

Many hug and lots of love to all those in my Dazzle!!