Iv reaction

[Chriskw68]

My husband is getting ready to start his 5th round of BR. After the last one he got a large bump and redness where the iv was placed. They said this was a normal thing that can happen. They put him on an antibiotic for 3 days and had to apply emu oil everyday. Anyone ever deal with something like this?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Given your husband hasn't experienced this reaction with previous infusions and he has been started on antibiotics, it seems there's a suspicion he has a bacterial infection from the IV. While that can happen, it does indicate a lack of attention to sterile procedures and has put your husband at risk, even more so if he is neutropenic from the chemotherapy. Your husband should have been informed of what to look for that indicate that the infection is not being controlled by the antibiotic.

I'm not medically trained, but in your husband's position, I'd be monitoring the bump by drawing a pen line around it so it is easy to see if it is worsening, check for any increasing redness, pain, or heat from the bump, a red line travelling up the arm under the skin and keeping an eye on body temperature. If any of these occur, ring the contact line you've been given immediately and arrange for it to be checked out by a doctor promptly.

Neil

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

Did this start during the infusion, or after? If it started during the infusion another possibility is that he blew a vein. I've had that happen twice. I would think that with Bendamustine there would be more of a reaction if it was leaking, but just throwing out the possibility

[Chriskw68 in reply to MsLockYourPosts]

This started about week after he was done.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Chriskw68]

Why such a short course of antibiotics... usually they run a week or longer and who said to use emu oil...?

If it is still swollen you should be seeing our doctor... it is unlikely a blown vein at this point...

[Chriskw68 in reply to Cllcanada]

It is strange but the doctor did this and it works. We were not sure this was going to work, but it did

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Chriskw68]

So if it is a week and still swollen, go see your GP... it needs a second diagnosis at this point...

[walkingspirit33]

I agree with both responses.The timing seems would tell you more about what may be going on.During or almost immediately following the infusion would tend to indicate a blow out of the vein .yet it is a wise choice to monitor it.I haven't had a blow out last more than a few hours,until the my body adsorbed the fluid.

[romarin]

During my last infusion a woman on the ward had a problem with the IV - I think it had slipped out? and her arm swelled enormously and she had be taken (after waiting with packs of ice on it for hours) to another hospital for it to be drained. The chemo ward had no facilities to do this... someone else said they had complained about some sensation after cannula inserted and was told at the end of the session that it had not been put in correctly. Lesson for me be very aware how it is inserted. Oh yes and my nurse complained about the new cannulas they worked less well but they were cheaper....