Hi there,
I've always had a little bit of a problem with my veins as they're quite small. However, I've got into a good routine each time by using a heated beanbag on my hands in advance to bring the veins up, and now the cannula insertion hasn't proved too difficult.
However, I have a bruise on my left hand, and the vein feels a little swollen and sore - this from a cannula about 6 or 7 weeks ago and it doesn't seem to be improving much. It's meant that my last three treatments have all been done with a cannula in my right hand. However, my last treatment resulted in a large bruise on my right hand and now that is really tender also.
The same treatment two weeks ago also resulted in some pain further up my arm and I now have a small bruise and a tender vein on the inside of my elbow (where they'd normally take blood from).
So my questions are, has any one suffered with similar and the slow time for it to heal up?
Any advice on how to improve the situation? My chemo nurse suggested applying a gentle heat pack to aid healing.
I was wondering about trying something like arnica gel/cream - has anyone tried this before?
I'd be really interested for any opinions,
thank you
Kairen
Hi Kairen, sorry to hear the issues you are having.
My main Chemo and Stem Cell Transplants were all done using PICCs and Hickman Lines so it removed all these issues.
But following all my treatment during my months of blood transfusion and weeks getting iV antibiotics it was cannulas. My veins are not great and I do have some bad bruising and some pain - I was also told to use heat pads.
Lets see if anyone comes back with more advice.
Gental ((hugs))
