Friday, March 18, 2011

IV Bruise, Part Deux

So the bruise is still there, still totally noticeable and, if anything, more sore now than before – how that is possible, god only knows.

So let's take a moment and do a little calculating.

We're coming up to the two-week mark. If I have a bruise like this each time I get an Actemra (tocilizumab) infusion, ie. once a month, each month, one half of each month, I will have a noticeable bruise on one of my arms.

Therefore, I will be essentially "walking around looking like a junkie*" most of the time.

Nice.

P.S. A note of thanks to Pony for the junkie* reference. :)

5 comments:

  1. Bwa ha ha! Thanks for the shout-out :) I certainly never wanted to imply that YOU look like a junkie :) Junkies don't have bruises down around their wrists! No, no, no, it's when you get bloodwork/IVs done in the crook of your arm and they have "trouble" finding your veins that you end up looking like a junkie :) You, my dear, are sporting some fashionable wrist cuffs :D

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  2. Mwahahaahaha! No implications taken. Just a riff on it...

    We are starting a fashion trend! Albeit a freakish one, but whatevs!!

    :) L

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  3. Well, we have to have fun with the crap, right? Everyone who is anyone will be rocking various coloured bruises this spring :)

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  4. you could get a really dark sleeve tattoo, then you won't be able to see the bruise! simple! :)

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  5. A suggestion: after the next infusion is finished and the IV needle is removed, put a bit of pressure on the site, leave your arm out and don't bend it at the elbow and stay like that for 4-5 minutes. If your platelet count is down like mine, it may take that long for the clotting process to close off the hole in your vein where you had the IV needle inserted. Of course, this is assuming the infusion is in the crook of your elbow. If it's on the back side of your hand, same process, but elevate your hand above the level of your heart for the same time period. Hope this helps you.

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