My veins are a mess, how are yours ?

Mine are a hot mess

I have to have an IV put up at least twice a month or more, usually more.
Now my veins are getting so small or lumpy that it takes at least 3-5 tries for the doc or the nurse to get it right :(
I am not afraid of needles but I hate looking like a freaking drug addict with my arms all bruised and poked.
I am very patient with the nurses and usually give them all the time they need but my patient is getting thinner each time.
I just want to say to them get a freaking nurse who can get the job done, these are not student nurses they don't get to touch me.

I was getting my fourth remicade infusion today took 4 tries to get an IV going, and they also took my blood work today and I am way to low in Iron although I just got like 5 bags of iron two months ago :(

And the colonoscopy yesterday did not look to goodl :( I think this will never end but I try to stay as positive as I can, but it is nice venting to you guys, you truly are the best ;)
Especially for a newbie like me.

And to top it all of I have a bad cold and the worst cough ever (I do not have a fever so the doc said I could get the remi today)

I cant tell you how tiered I am, I just want to lie in bed and Cry..

Hope you all are having a better day than me ;)
Big hugs from Iceland..

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24 year old female
Diagnosed with Crohn's disease in December 2008..
Medication - Asacol, Remicade, Entocort, Cipralex and Cerazette.
My wonderful dogs :) ~ www.poodle.is ~

My veins are shot too!!! I don't know if its the disease or heritery as my Mom had bad viens too and she didn't have Crohns. But if I have to have surgery they will usually just put a central or picc line in because my viens are so bad.

Good luck!

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Gail*Nanners* Co-Moderator for Anxiety/Panic Forum
Been living with Crohn's Disease for 33 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain, Zofran, Phenergan, Probiotics, and Calcium and Xanax as needed. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis and Anxiety. Currently my Crohns is in remission.

*Every tomorrow has two handles.  We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith"*

^{*~* https://www.healingwell.com/donate *~*}

There is nothing that makes my day better than a good phlebotomist! ;-) The not-as-experienced people take several tries to get an IV or blood draw. The good ones seem to get it pretty easy. When I was in the hospital the other week I had the 18gauge IV and it went right in. ER are great with IVs. Contrast that with my (now) old GI's office who would have to try 2-3 times with a butterfly to draw blood.

Good suggestion though to look into jenn's idea. It sounds like you get tons of IVs. Now that I'm on Cimzia it's saving my veins more than the Tysabri/Remicade paths.

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--40 year old female, dx as UC in '04 (1st symptoms in '03), switched to Crohn's in '05, 1 fistula, crohn's colitis, limited to large intestine  --rejected (reaction/didn't work): Asacol, AZA, 6-MP, MTX, Remicade, Humira, prednisone, Tysabri

--Prochymal in Phase III study (can't wait til it's approved!)

--currently taking methylprednisolone 40mg-taper.  Started Cimzia first dose 2/10/09.  Dx Osteoporosis 10/08 started Forteo 1/27/09

--single mom to 11-yr-old girl