Apparently my veins in my hands are rubbish so at every chemo session we go through the tutt tutt rolling eyes joking routine with nurses. However one nurse Maz manages to find a suitable vein at first attempt so why can’t anyone else?
I was put off having a PICC Line with stories of infections and the weekly wash out issue.
Does anyone else have rubbish veins and is it a case of the veins or the nurses lack of confidence in canulating? It took 30 mins yesterday to be wired up and then the machine had to pump slower because MY vein couldn’t take it , not that the nurse selected the wrong vein!
Sorry to hear about your troubles. That sounds painful.
The answer is both. Some people have harder veins to canulate and some are more visible.
Nurses also vary in confidence and skill. If you have already experienced problems or pain, I suggest that you have a quiet word with someone on duty next time and ask for the more confident nurse. It will save you anxiety too, as it will remove the worry. Likewise your muscles will be more relaxed.
Although I have mega-veins, some of the new chemo nurses struggled to do it. I even had one nurse being trained on me!
They have to start somewhere and for some that have not been going it for years, it’s still daunting.
I hope that helps.
Nicky
I had a nurse who got it painfully wrong, I was screaming with the pain, and lifted up out of the chair, she just kept pushing until I insisted she stop. Another nurse came in and tried my other arm, straight in first time in about 30 seconds, the nurse can really make a big difference. Lyn x
This morning I pulled off the 4 sticky plasters from yesterday's blood test letting - I’ve terrible veins and dread going for scans as the radiographers struggle the most - yesterday I had three oncology nurses have a go - I’m on Warfarin too so each attempt leaves me bleeding and bruised - at least the PICC line has its uses x
It’s the same as the blood taking. The doctors and nurses at my GP surgery can’t get it from me, so I get sent to the hospital 15 miles away, but they get it first time, no problem. Be firm and tell them straight away it’s too painful for you to cope with. I do feel for you. “Gentle Hug” God bless you.
Think its both I always avail of the arm blanket warmer to raise up the veins but still have a few collapsed veins, does it help if you are more hydrated
My veins are tiny and go into hiding. However I have found arnica cream great to reduce the bruising, this is available in most chemists
I too have rubbish veins, or so they tell me. I personally think it’s a mixture of things. Poor training, inexperience, habit, lack of understanding. If the nurse is blaming you or your veins then that is poor customer care. Especially when someone else can do it
I used to get this at each chemo and sometimes it was just so painful. I think I also suffered at their impatience. However there were two nurses who took their time and succeeded at first hit. In the end I complained and ended up in their bay for each visit. I really think you should do the same and insist on having the nurse you are happy with.
Being well hydrated and asking for a hand warmer helps bring them to the surface. As it’s for chemo they only need a short vein and a paediatric needle.
My veins used to be fine but finding a longer one even with a scanner to help is difficult for antibiotics or clot scans
You could also ask your CNS. I asked mine for back up when I complained about leaving the suite with lots of white patches of lint and tape lol
I too resisted the PICC Line, but it has turned out to be amazing.
It doesn’t hurt going in, the procedure is undertaken by a specialist in radiography. First under ultra sound, then X-ray to make certain it is perfect.
After that, the infusions go in easily and painlessly and makes infusion day so much quicker.
A District Nurse visits weekly to keep it clean and infection free. She can also take blood samples from the line if need be.
It does make it harder or near impossible to shower, so I spongebathe.
Hi Laura. I was given a prescription for a LimbO which is a plastic sleeve that keeps the area around the Picc watertight which solves the shower problem. They are available on Amazon too. Jo xx
I resisted a PICC line in 2016 until a chemo session where over 2 hours were spent trying to get a vein without success. I was very upset at the time - it seemed to me just one more 'thing' stuck in me (I'd ended up with a stoma and kidney stent after surgery), but it wasn't too bad at all, and made chemo sessions much more bearable. And when I had a recurrence last year, I had a line put in straight away. I had no infections or problems with the weekly flush apart from the chemo making my skin very delicate and sensitive to the adhesive on the dressing. This was resolved with a special type of dressing and using medical adhesive remover to avoid any pulling on the skin during removal. Because of the recurrence I had the line when my daughter got married - I just got a jacket with slightly wider sleeves and no one was any the wiser. Best of luck with your treatment.
I had a port fitted and have had no problems with it. I can swim ( when not too ill from chemo) and have had no infections. It's much preferable over the painful trying to get a vein fiasco ( better for the nurses too). Easy procedure to fit and needs flushing once a month. I would definitely recommend.
I have very good prominent veins, yet still some nurses struggle to identify a suitable vein and get the canula in. Having it done so many times now, sometimes I can sense whether or not it will be a success even before she starts. Combination of attitude, confidence and training/skill, I think.
Have any of you had a port installed (as distinct from PICC line)?
I found that some nurses were definately better than others at cannulating but I think dehydration may play a part as well- also warmth. I was in such a terrible state over the cannulas that eventually I refused treatment and the doctor agreed to let me have a port. Why I couldn't have had this to start with I just don't know. Highly recommend it.
Yes I too have rubbish veins, I have been under Oncology for nearly 19 years (different cancer) and my veins packed up long ago. After 9 attempts to canulate me in the CT department, they said never again and I now have to go to the chemo suite 2 hours before a CT to try and have this done. Whilst having chemo, I had a picc line fitted and did not find this too much of a problem - did not have any infections. The needles they have to get in before the CT's are much larger than normal and even in the chemo suite they struggle with me. I am always told to shout out if it is too much when having the scan, which it often is, but I count to ten and try to tolerate it as the thought of them trying to re-canulate me is worse. A doctor surrounded by students tried to do my last one, and he failed and I had to wait for 2 hours for a Chinese nurse to come on duty as "she gets it done every time" and she did.
Scotty I was the same - I have had a port fitted into my chest and although weird it’s been a huge relief especially as I know more treatment is looming and I would be in tears as the human pincushion. Ask re the port - it needs to be flushed after treatment (every 3-4 weeks) but it’s a breeze so far xxxxx
Hi - yep every time. Straight blood test with good nurse and butterfly needle tedious but okay with patience. Mind you recently I did my normal, leave coat on (any sign of cold and shush the veins take deep cover). So the nurse calls the Technician and explains why I still have my coat on where upon his comment is ‘well how am I suppose to take your blood 😂 with which I promptly took off my coat, warm gloves and cardigan and sat bare armed. Told him to go for it .... yep his eyes rolled at me and he struggled! Ah shame. This was one and the same Technician who was called to put a cannula in and had to give up! The patient Doctor took half an hour and succeeded. 👏
Next CT scan I have asked for my cannula to be put in by one of the Oncology Nurses - I find that there’s always more patience and accuracy so 🤞and no bruises.
Sadly we are in the minority and very often staff are under pressure too. So keep smiling - take care.
Hi Scotty - I'm in the US, diagnosed 2.5 years ago. It was just standard practice in our local cancer center to get a port done, and it's been a godsend. I too have "rubbish veins" - they call it being "a hard stick" here. The port makes my treatment much easier. It doesn't completely eliminate needle sticks, because not all nurses/radiographers are trained to use it, but all the chemo nurses are. As others have mentioned, it doesn't need much special care as long as it's being used regularly. No concerns about showering or swimming. I would highly recommend it for anyone undergoing regular infusions. Best wishes to you in your journey! xxx Deb
Yes agree some nurse are more experienced n patient than others with needles. A tip I received - 3-4 days prior to chemo session strengthen your viens by pressing stress balls as a form of exercise for the viens - I would carry the stress balls even for the chemo sessions n excerise the viens prior to nurse injecting me and voila it worked well - it helped nurse to find the healthy viens easily - hope this helps you too 😊
I had the same problem on my 3rd line of chemo so had a port put in my chest. It was wonderful, made the process so much easier and the nurse just flushed it through before each treatment.
I’m a phlebotomist in our local hospital, also do gp surgery’s and home visits and know exactly where my good veins are but the chemo nurses still miss them. I don’t like to sit there telling them their job but sometimes you just have to speak up and say please stop and get someone else to take a look. I dread being canulated for chemo but the worst are when having ct scan with contrast 😢, they usually end up getting doctor come over from a&e. X
Sorry to hear of your problems, it is bad enough having needles stuck in you without it taking 30 mins. I think there is a protocol in that if a nurse has 2 goes and fails then a different nurse has to try. I think if it was me I would smile sweetly and say is (name of nurse) on duty today as she seems to have a good understanding of my veins and that prevents me getting stressed!!!! Worth a try? Love and good wishes Anthea
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