Bruise from a Cannula

[Dan30cr]

I'm not a fan of needles anyway but I dislike cannulas even more! I was in hospital last Monday with breathing problems and had a cannula in and as you can see by the photo, over a week later I still have a bruise that covers most of my hand. Has anyone else had this kind of bruising from a cannula?

[Tigerlily4]

Oh yes ... in fact most of my hand and lower arm black, blue and purple, fading to delicate shades of green and yellow! In Feb 14 I was in hospital for 8 days and needed the cannula re-inserted 5 times. It's nothing to worry about. You should expect this if taking NSAIDs or steroids.

[Crusee]

Hi Dan 30 cr.

I was in hospital for a week in November and had several cannulas in several places.Like you I am not a cannula fan,but of all the ones they put in me my hands were the worst,especially my right hand.I was left bruised and it took over 2 weeks for the bruising to go but I still felt discomfort in the spot for nearly a month.

I think my problem is that the very sight of the cannula and I tense up ,and as a result they have difficulty inserting it which causes bruising. Plus of course it was pulling in my hand.On the occasions I managed to drop off to sleep I would forget about it and turn in my sleep .

I am also on long term warfarin which can sometimes make me bruise more easily.

If you are concerned about it in any way or it goes on for much longer then speak to your gp,so he can reassure you that it is nothing more sinister.

Hope it settles down soon.

Regards

Crusee

[HazelW]

Yes - all the time - after my blood tests I look like a drug addict!!! Lol.

[EOLHPC]

Yes...every time...

[Dan30cr]

Thanks for all your replies. Lol.... I'm a relative newbie to this in and out of hospital as only recently diagnosed. Before I was rarely Ill. So this is a whole new world for me. Now I'm rarely without some complaint or other. Feel like the doctors are gonna get fed up of seeing me at the surgery. Lol

[creaky]

Many times, and caused them when siting candles whenI was working, can't always be avoided depending on the patients veins.

[creaky]

Lol, that should be siting cannulas!

I'm pretty good with candles 😂

[Cann]

I get bad bruises from blood tests. That is why I stopped having them and do my best to manage my symptoms. I get various symptoms with blood tests - actually passed out a couple of years ago, not with the pain but with the blood being withdrawn and was so tired after for a couple of weeks.

With getting nowhere with tests, I just gave up.

Another time, I was fine and thought may be I could have more tests to get to the bottom of all my symptoms, but then a week later I had terrible pain and bruising and couldn't use my arm for a few days. It was like my body suddenly remembered it had had the needle the week before - very odd, but I know I have to be careful not to abuse my body as let's face it any invasive treatment is abusive and I just can't tolerate it any more.

[Tubamags]

I find they always try to insert the cannula in my left arm or hand but, from past experience, my left arm or hand is no good! When I was in the anaesthetic room before an operation they didn't like it because I threw all their carefully planned procedures out because they had to move stuff around. I suppose they always work that way. One working one side setting up the cannula etc. and the other setting up the BP monitor etc. They had to change it all around. What a shame!! We know our own bodies and usually they respond to what I say but occasionally they don't and spend ages trying to work on my left arm and ending up using my right! If they had listened to me they wouldn't have wasted so much time!

The reason was that the veins are really prominent on my right arm and hand but have gone into hiding on my left! Yes, I bruise badly every time and it takes weeks for the bruise to go. Also I react to the dressing that holds the cannula in place so I have a rash as well. The bruising is unavoidable really and not really anything to worry about. I suppose it is inevitable with connective tissue disorders.

[Lupiknits]

Another yes from me!