my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

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starbuck30
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my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby starbuck30 » Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:40 am

So I went in for my CT yesterday. As I had my 5FU pump hooked up, and they didn't use a Power Port needle because we didn't know I'd be getting a CT when they placed the needle, they had to stick my arm. Pre-dx this would've upset me to no end, but since dx I've been stuck w/so many needles as long as I don't look and they don't have to move it around, I'm okay. So they tie off my arm, get their kit ready, swab the area, etc. I look away. I feel the needle go in and... "huh, what happened here?" I look up at my friend since I still don't want to see the needle and he shrugs in confusion. The nurse, Russ, again, "hmmm... what on earth...?" I say, "what? What's going on?!" Russ says, "I think your vein exploded." My vein did WHAT? I finally look down and the area is a little puffy, but doesn't look TOO ba- oh God there's blood everywhere! I look up at Russ and say, "Ah, is this something I should be CONCERNED with?" He says he doesn't think so, wiggles the needle around in my arm a bit causing light-headedness and more waves of nausea than I'd been feeling from the combination of fasting and 5FU. Then says, "I THINK I got it, let's see if we can get a blood return and if it flushes okay." It does, so they tape it down. We do the CT (I never had one done during neuropathy and my hands and feet were ON FIRE). They take the needle out which HURT like never before, the other nurse sagely offers, "it must've been up against a nerve". I just want to get far away from these people who, although very nice, have obviously been hired to kill me. My friend and I walked around looking for his car for half an hour since he couldn't remember where he parked and I hadn't come with him (I came with my dad but his car broke down in the lot so he was trying to get that worked out while my friend took me home). Whoo boy, what a day for us all.

My arm hurts today like an S.O.B. but I can more than live with that. The good thing is, in the midst of all the craziness, scanxiety was definitely a distant memory. Just waiting on the results now, and I may be tempting the fates here, but I got a good feeling about them. Come on results, let's do this!
2/26/10 Dx'd colon cancer
3/12 complete colerectomy, temporary ileostomy
3/19 pathology came back Stage IIIC CC
4/2 started FOLFOX
Chemo "precautionary", last CT showed NED PLEASE God let's keep it that way
9/16/10 FOLFOX finished! Woo hah!

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BrownBagger
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby BrownBagger » Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:58 am

starbuck30 wrote:I just want to get far away from these people who, although very nice, have obviously been hired to kill me.


At least you haven't lost your excellent sense of humor, SB.
Eric, 58
Dx: 3/09, Stage 4 RC
Recurrences: (ongoing, lung, bronchial cavity, ribs)
Major Ops: 6/ RFA: 3 /bronchoscopies: 8
Pelvic radiation: 5 wks. Bronchial radiation—brachytheray: 3 treatments
Chemo Rounds (career):136
Current Chemo Cocktail: Xeloda & Erbitux & Irinotecan biweekly
Current Cocktail; On the Wagon (mostly)
Bicycle miles post-dx 10,477
Motto: Live your life like it's going to be a long one, because it just might, and then you'll be glad you did.

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joeyooser
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby joeyooser » Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:11 am

Scary title. This happened to someone else on here, and it took a while for the swelling to go down, but it didn't sound like it was painful for very long. Good luck, and hopefully the CT result was good.
Tim
Stage IIIc - 9/23 lymph nodes, poorly diff, 35yo father of 2.
Lap resection Jul 28 09 resulted in near-deadly leak
Finished chemo Feb '10; Takedown March '10;
Nov 2010 - carcinomatosis
May 2011 - Clinical Trial, failed out of trial, in hospice care

weisssoccermom
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby weisssoccermom » Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:29 am

Starbuck,
That's happened to me. I've had them blow my vein twice and yes, it hurts like HECK! The last time was during my CT. They got the needle in, had trouble, flushed it and thought, ok everything was fine. Part of the problem is that the dye they use during the CT can't go in slowly....it has to go in (at least according to them) rather quickly. Your veins take a beating during chemo...even with a port, so be aware of that. On mine, apparently when they put the dye in at the 'normal' rate, my vein couldn't take it, the dye started going into other places and the pressure blew out not only the vein but this valve thingie and there was blood everywhere. On the floor, on the scanner, on me, on the table....everywhere. I was getting ready to go into the scanner, had my eyes closed so I had no idea what was all over my face....honestly, I thought it was the dye. Freaked me out! I thought that the dye had come out or something....all I know is I was worried that I was going to be blind from the 'dye' (really my blood) that was all over my face/hair. The pain and 'lump' will go away over time but yes, it does hurt a LOT!

Just know that chemo does a job on your veins...they tend to become 'harder', more difficult to access, they tend to 'roll' more, they can get 'lumps' on them, and over all just not as pliable. I truly don't know if this ever dissipates or if its something we just have to live with. I can tell you that for me, my veins are harder to find and only now is it becoming 'slightly' easier but still nothing like it was pre-chemo!

I'm sorry this had to happen to you. It certainly isn't anything I'd wish on anybody! It does go away, though and get better....but the cavalier attitude of the nurse/technician certainly doesn't help.

Jaynee
Dx 6/22/2006 IIA rectal cancer
6 wks rad/Xeloda -finished 9/06
1st attempt transanal excision 11/06
11/17/06 XELOX 1 cycle
5 months Xeloda only Dec '06 - April '07
10+ blood clots, 1 DVT 1/07
transanal excision 4/20/07 path-NO CANCER CELLS!
NED now and forever!
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PGLGreg
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby PGLGreg » Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:58 pm

I have not had such a problem, but of the various technicians that have stuck needles in me, the CT scan crew seemed comparatively clueless: taking several tries, calling someone over to help, causing pain. Maybe CT technical staff don't get as much training as they should in this particular thing.
Greg
stage 2a rectal cancer 11/05 at age 63
LAR 12/05 with adjuvant radiation+5FU,leucovorin 1-2/06
NED for 12 years, cured

SkiFletch
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby SkiFletch » Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:43 pm

I just want to get far away from these people who, although very nice, have obviously been hired to kill me.


Defintely made me laugh right there Starbuck, thanks :) I've heard stories of what you're describing, although mercifully never experienced this myself. Hope it heals quick for you :)
11/13/09 5cm Stage IV 9/25 lymph nodes w/2cm peritoneal met at 29 YoA
12/15/09 LA right hemi-colectomy
6/16/10 Folfox FINISHED
8/10/10 Prophylactic HIPEC
10/9/10 got Married :D
Still NED and living life to the fullest

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life."

ams5796
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby ams5796 » Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:47 pm

Ugh, Starbuck, you had a tough day! But you gave me a laugh.

Ann
Stage 3C (or 4?) Rectal Cancer 01/07
2/10 lung mets
3/11 VATS
6/11 VATS
7/13 lung met
2/14 SBRT
NED 8/14
5/17 scan and MRI found treated spine met

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tmm903
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby tmm903 » Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:52 pm

Hey Starbuck!

I have had my veins collapse when I was in the hospital post surgery. Not a fun thing because my veins were a mess from all the poking and prodding for bloodwork.

Best of luck for CT scan results--here's to hoping for good news--prayers and thoughts your way!
Tracy
DX 12/28/09 Stage 4 CC w/mets to liver
Sigmoid colon resection 1/11/10
FOLFOX Chemo FINISHED 8/27/10
Ileostomy reversed 10/11/10
FOLFIRI chemo FINISHED 5/6/11
married to Mike and mom to Austyn, age 6

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CRguy
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby CRguy » Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:57 pm

starbuck30 wrote: Come on results, let's do this!

I am gonna go with "Come on results, let's do this!" 'cos that's the warrior spirit !

However, from "Top Gun" I would like to add " come on Mav, don't you think we've had enough fun for one day ?"
Damn, sounds like a mini gong show and you keep your wits about you !

Cheers and best wishes for less "fun" and good scannin' to come !
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

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beccab1
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby beccab1 » Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:02 pm

What a day!!! Hope you get those good results quickly! :D

Becca
My husband, Eric, dx @ age 35
Stage IIIb RC (T3N1M0), 3/10
Finished 6 weeks rad/xeloda 5/10
Surgery 7/10, Lap LAR, Colonic J Pouch, Temp. Ileostomy
ypT2N0M0
Xelox (5 rounds)
Takedown 12/13/10
Clear CT - 2011-2015

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Fanatik
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby Fanatik » Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:36 pm

That is an awful experience... I've had several CT scans over the last 9 months (not all cancer related) and during my last one the vein "blew" during the dye injection stage, all the while they're telling me to "hold still now"... My vein didn't actually blow outwardly, but I had a golf ball size lump under the skin, and boy was it painful... makes me cringe just thinking about your experience... I just retired from the fire department, but I was a paramedic for many years and I was always very aware of IV's I started to avoid that very thing... I've never actually seen one explode outwardly like you're describing.. just unbeleivable!
DX Rectal Cancer T1N0M0 1-22-2010
TEM (transanal endoscopic microsurgery) 2-19-2010
Pathology shows clear margins, no vascular involvment 2-24-2010
No immediate need for Chemo/Radiation
Close watch for now
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karin
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby karin » Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:51 pm

hahaha :lol: ....too funny! Oh not really, sorry that happened :cry: !

I wish you great scan results!!

Luv and hugs,
Karin
Karin
BFF dx'd June09 w CRC & peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis @ age 40
She beat cancer for 20 months!

nebraskamel
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby nebraskamel » Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:47 pm

Don't you love how they very casually blow your mind with these comments? One of my nurses was trying to access my port and was having trouble. She very casually said, "I think your port flipped." My whuh did huh? Can they do that? Yes, indeed, they can. Mine hadn't that time, but it did later. I think it heard her make the suggestion and decided to try it the next time. Jeez. Sometimes their brain filters that keep them from making those comments out loud are turned off so all comments come out of their mouth before their brain even registers what the mouth is saying.
dx Stage III Dec 2006 at age 41
resection Dec 2006
FOLFOX Jan-Jul 2007
Pregnant Nov 2007
Baby Dominic born Aug 2008
(Big Brother Vincent born May 2005)

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garbovatwin
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby garbovatwin » Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:56 pm

Yikes.
Take care of all that my dear.

Hope the madness has ended and you are on the mend.

Fab that you can have a sense of humour after all of that.

Watch for infection....don't need that.

j
OUR world is worth saving
Question everything. Become your own Advocate.
When we find a cure for one cancer it will lead to a cure for ALL cancer
Crohn's Colitis
Rectal Mucosa Resection - Oct 2010
Rectal Surgery - Sep 2011
Stroke Sep 2012

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HollyID
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Re: my VEIN EXPLODED?!?!

Postby HollyID » Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:16 pm

OH girl, you made me laugh.

Take care, please. Watch for infection or red, hot skin. OK?

Love and Hugs,

Holly
Holly, 47
11/17/09 colonoscopy;
11/23/09 dx with adenocarcinoma;
12/03/09 LAR
Stage IIIB T3N1M0 1/11 LN
1/12/09 CT NED
1/19/09 Start Folfox
6/24/10 Done with chemo!!!
7/7/10 CT scan. I'm in NED'sville.
9/11/12 colonoscopy for bleeding (staple from anastomotic site)
7/31/15 New tumor discovered near rectum. Biopsied. Adenocarcinoma. CEA 3.5 Lynch negative
8-10/2015 Radiation
12/14/2015 Revision of LAR with new permanent colostomy


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