First SCIG - bad bruise

[floopyjim]

Hi All,

I just had my first Subcut IG - infused into four sites.

They used butterfly needles which didn't hurt at all! (Thankfully!)

Two of the sites are fine, the other two have big bruises where the needles were.  The clear pads that were put over the sites were welded to me and were rather difficult to remove so I guess the needles got moved around a bit.  Is the bruising quite common?

James.

[john]

Hi Jim, bruising is not common and usually means you hit a blood vessel. But two bruises, very unlikely you would hit two at the same time.
As you say you have just had your first session, what did the nurse say?
Also have you slept on it yet, because some folk get quite angry red patches, which disappear overnight and are not bruises!
Those transparent sticky coves do tend to feel like they are super glued on, this is one of the drawbacks of being a man and having a hairy belly!!!
Try to pull them off quickly, or ask the nurse if wetting them with the alcohol soaked pads would help unstick them.
Anyway matey, you've started, and in a few sessions it will all seem like a breeze and you'll be telling me tips that you've picked up yourself!
Well done....John

[floopyjim]

I think its definitely a bruise - it's very dark. The nurse didn't see it as it only appeared after I got back to work. It hasn't got much bigger since I saw it and the needle did get moved around a lot (two nurses helped me today, a very experienced chap called Will who did the first two, and a trainee who the second two).

I have one good tip - clip the hair off before infusion! The first two needles left no bruises and the third is only a small bruise right where the needle went in. Other than that, I was surprised at the size of the bulges on my stomach the infusions left!

[glowing]

Hi Jim.

I tend to bruise quite often when the needles are moved whilst taking off the 'very' sticky cover. Sometimes I bleed more than others. It's momentarily sore but settles quickly. If I accidentally put the needle in a vein it is definitely painful and I have to re-site it. My bruises are usually gone by the next infusion. I think I'm a bit careless when removing the sticky covers.

As John said, some folk, me included, get angry red bulges but they've usually gone by the next day.

Good luck with it.

Glo

[floopyjim]

Thanks Glo and John, it's very much appreciated.

I do feel like I'm carrying around something very precious when I see the lumps! Sad I know but it's been a long time waiting!

[floopyjim]

so...24h after the infusion, I just looked in the mirror - the redness has started and the swelling has increased a little - I thought the redness only happened just after the infusion and went away after a day? I know, I know, I'm worrying for nothing and this is probably normal but you know what they say about a problem shared...

[glowing]

The redness just after infusing is generally what happens with me, but other times it can vary. Sometimes my infusion has been slow and the lumps are not red but quite hard. I think that's because I put the needles too near scar tissue. When that happens they don't tend to go red until the next day and the lumps take longer to go down. When I'm hot the sticky cover makes me itchy and the whole area, including the lumps are itchy until I put a cool flannel on them.

I understand your lumps being precious. Before I was diagnosed I used to use the expression 'get a life' to myself. Now my lumps have given me a new life so I look forward to them every week.

You're absolutely right to share your problems, worries and achievements regarding treatment. That's what we're here for.

Glo

[floopyjim]

Second infusion done and I did it all!

Very proud of myself (apart from when I stabbed my finger with a needle!)

[john]

Good job done Jim....pat yourself on the back, you've joined our club!!!

[floopyjim]

Cheers John!

Time to buy some elasticated waist trousers!

[john]

Haha, that's the spirit!!!

[john]

Two weeks ago when I took out the needles from my tum, one was bleeding.
I put on the four plasters as usual and next day all seemed well.
Over the course of the next two days a bruise appeared where the bleeding needle was, and now there is still a 5 x 3 cm black bruise there.
I have done another infusion in the meantime with no bleeding or bruising.
This shows that there was some internal bleeding, and it's all a matter of luck whether you hit some sort of blood vessel or not as to whether you get bruised!!

[floopyjim]

I was told by the nurse yesterday that unless I am very careful to remove the needle in the same orientation as it went in, it can scrape the inside with the tip of the needle (ugh!).

[john]

At least the bruise doesn't hurt, but I had an ultrasound scan this week, and they probably thought my wife was beating me up when they saw it!!!