Any Dr's in the House?

[NOG]

When I was in hospital the other day they tried to cannulate me in the wrist. Not in the back of the hand but in the wrist where the thumb joins the arm.

They tried both arms and I don't know if it was painfull cos I was screaming too much to notice.

Then they gave up and tried the back of each hand then each elbow.

I have been attacked by needle welding nurses for ages but this is the first time they have attempted the wrist.

[Rabidbun]

Seems to be doctor preference as far as I can work out - the crook of the elbow is a doozy as well isn't it *shudders*. The docs that put them in the wrist/elbow have claimed (on occasion when asked if I came out of foetal position with only minimal whimpering) that this was to allow me greater freedom of movement, not sure if that was actually true or whether it is just to stop them tissuing as much (the back of the hand was always the worst for this with the ones I had)? Just glad that so far *runs to hug a tree for luck* I haven't had to have one in the neck! :O

Weirdly they are the medical procedure I ended up with a phobia of rather than operations or anything else hugely painful.

*extends sympathies for your attacks by insane needle wielders*

[kirsty b]

A cannula on a joint is a pain in the bum (crook of elbow particularly) Can be pretty temperamental and if you move/breathe/flex elbow, fluids will stop and drip alarms go off. Great fun at 2 in the morning when the pumps are bing-bonging like mad and patients grumble -and rightly so- about the noise.

As for wrist - ouch!! Never understood why docs like putting them there. Probably cos vein is nice and visible?

[doc]

Like Kirsty B says a cannula in the elbow is easy to put in (larger veins) but is a pain to look after because the tubing kinks easily. The back of the wrist is a good place because the bones of the hand splint the cannula (if that makes sense)

[lainey lou]

A cannula on a joint is a pain in the bum (crook of elbow particularly) Can be pretty temperamental and if you move/breathe/flex elbow, fluids will stop and drip alarms go off. Great fun at 2 in the morning when the pumps are bing-bonging like mad and patients grumble -and rightly so- about the noise.

As for wrist - ouch!! Never understood why docs like putting them there. Probably cos vein is nice and visible?

LOL!! Don't you just get sick of that bing bong?
We used to be able to splint joints but not any more!

[janeyo]

I usually have mine in my wrist as the veins in my hand are too small and deep to find. Not nice. Best done when already under! I have been known to refuse them to put one in when they accidentally removed it and then decided to put it back in 24hours later. I said NO thankyou very much.

[janeyo]

I have scars on my insides of the elbows and up my legs and on my hands from when the veins kept collapsing (undiagnosed ectopic, lost 5 pints of blood and am 'lucky' to be here) and they had to keep finding smaller and smaller ones in stranger places. I like to think of them as my war wounds

[Two_Sheds]

I had a canula in my wrist (chemo) after my elbow vein said "no more".
I had one in the foot too, cos they eventually ran out of veins in my upper body

[dexterdoglancashire]

I can honestly say this is the first thread I've ever read with my eyes shut! I'm totally squeemish and cant cope with needles. Hope that everything has worked out/is working out for you who've put posts on here.
Bernie

[basketcase]

What's a canu... cannu... one of them?!

Sounds painful and you have my serious sympathy!

[NOG]

Its a big needle with a lastic sleeve round it. They stick both the needle and the sleeve in o a vain then remove the needle leaving the hollow sleve in. Then they plug it,

If they need to put fluid in or drugs in a hurry...they already have a vain.

If they are put in properly they do not hurt.....if not OUCH.

[piskieinboots]

*faints

thud

[doc]

The other advantage of a cannula is that it can stay in for 3 days (or more) - this prevents unnecessary pricks all the time

[Comfreyfan]

Is it all designed to be so awful that it takes your mind off what's really wrong with you?

Piskie, piskie, can you hear us? Pass the smelling salts.

[bramble]

Never thought of that, but now that you mention it.................