Veins?

Good morning;
I was always an “easy” stick prior to treatment. Not anymore. It is rare for them to get a vein successfully on the first try and then even when they do, the vein sometimes blows up and they have to go somewhere else. It seems to be happen to quite a few people that the veins get worse as your treatment progresses. Hope it doesn’t get worse for you. If it gets really bad, my doctor offered me a port if I have problems with my veins. In the future if I need treatments again I probably will have to have a port.
Happy new year, here’s hoping you become NED!
Ted

Deciding when to have a port placed is a little tricky, in that placing an IV easily with no bruising, persistent soreness, or multiple sticks not only has a lot to do with the condition of ones vein….but A GREAT DEAL to do with the skill of the practitioner!!! Truth be told – some folks are just better at placing them than others!!!!! Additionally, as someone who has not only administered old school chemo – but has also been the recipient of immunotherapy AND old school chemo – chemo is far more caustic than immunotherapy – taking a much bigger toll on your veins. It is far more likely that one can tolerate immunotherapy without the placement of a port than one can tolerate chemo infusions without one. Still, lots of folks on this board and in the process of being treated with immunotherapy generally find that having a port makes their life much easier. Were I in your shoes, I might give my treatments without a port a couple of more tries, but if difficulties persist getting a port may be very helpful. Further, if you discover that one person has persistent problems getting your IV going in one stick….there is no reason you shouldn’t request to be stuck by those who CAN get your IV set more easily!

May things go well hence forth!! celeste