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AllyJay's avatar
AllyJay
Member
5 years ago

Wasn't sure whether to laugh or run.

I'm afraid this will be a somewhat convoluted post, but here goes. I've been on Warfarin (blood thinner) for over twenty years now, which means either weekly or fortnightly blood tests. Needless to say, even before catching a ride on Stephen King's Cancer Bus, my veins are somewhat buggered. After having a bilateral mastectomy in 2017, with total node clearance on the left and sentinel node on the right, my left arm is now out of bounds for blood tests. I went in to my usual pathology rooms to get my bloods taken, to find both of the usual ladies absent...one lady day off and the other off sick. A casual Dracula's Bride took me through and I extended my right arm so she could take a look. She wasn't impressed by the shitty veins on offer and started sussing out my left arm. I told her that the left side was not to be used and pointed out the usually used, very scarred veins on the right side. She wasn't having a bar of it, and her eyes kept swiveling to the other one (much like my five year old grandson's eyes as they fix on Granny's bag just before I leave...he knows full well there be sweeties hiding there). I explained to her that I'd had a total axillary clearance on the left side and therefor that arm was off limits. She had no idea what I was referring to and asked me to explain what the significance of the axillary clearance was and indeed, where exactly the axilla is. I explained that these were a bunch of lymph nodes, much like a bunch of grapes, situated in the armpit. She then patted my hand and said...."Ooooh never mind dearie...I won't be poking the needle into your armpit....I'll do it here....on your wrist." Between the patronising patting...the "dearie" and the sheer ignorance, I think I should receive a gold star for not slapping her. I did leave and returned today for my regular lady to do the job. Sheeshh....
tests
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    5 years ago
    Ah, @AllyJay I relish your posts, even when they describe the fuckuppery that we have to endure.
    Can you go the frankenportenfuckingthinginthearmorchest? 
    Honestly, I'm at the stage if I had to have regular bloods, I'd want my port back in. I know, not all facilities have trained staff that can use them but even the most dedicated addicts run out of options. Mxx

  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    5 years ago
    @AllyJay

    I was thankful for anything and while there are some scare stories about Xarelto I’ve been on it for nearly eight years with no problems. Warfarin is incredibly well tested, stable and proven. My heart is healthy just the  electrics are a bit eccentric. Beta blockers keep the rate stable and Xarelto is ‘just in case’, the irregularity might encourage clotting. Also really good for long distance air flights ....if we ever get overseas again! 

  • AllyJay's avatar
    AllyJay
    Member
    5 years ago
    Unfortunately other blood thinners are not suitable for me, although through chemo, and for a year and a half after, I had to do the clexane as my INR would have gone apeshit with the drugs. I have a condition called antiphospholipid antigen syndrome and my INR is kept very high...3.5 - 4.0 to prevent any more pulmonary embolisms or D.V.T.s.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    5 years ago
    Ah, the odd awful stabber! I had a stint on warfarin (I got an arrhythmia as a side effect) and given chemo etc was having 4 blood tests a week at one stage. With an axillary clearance. All fine until I too had a change of staff. My problem was she simply could not get a needle in to do the job. Anywhere!  I walked out looking like a dot painting! I very politely advised after round two that I would prefer to have someone else. And did. Happily I moved onto Xarelto and things quietened down. Most pathology stabbers are excellent. Which is why you should not need to put up with those who are not. 
  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    5 years ago
    Oh dear - I know that not every nurse (or doctor for that matter) knows much about bc but you would at least expect them to know what the axilla is.  You deserve a gold star and a glass of something good to wipe out the memory.