Number 2 - home infusion nurses should be MORE than thoroughly trained about administering IVIG....not just getting the catheter IN and chugging stuff into a vein....ASK a nurse HOW many patients they 'do' in any month of IVIG...not just 'pic' lines or the like, but especially IVIG. That is a nurse who's trained, experienced and in tune with the possibilities to that .02% odd chance of what can go wrong. The odds rise far higher and faster due to ignorance. When things go wrong, well ya feel like you've something WORSE than being run over by a garbage truck! Not only to you feel run over, but it makes doing without the IVIG look good?
Things to check for...see what the original prescription was for...if a particular brand...REFUSE any substitute! It is very legal to do so. The 'nurse' has to really be a 'licensed' nurse. You can look this stuff up w/your state medical board licensing commission. AND they have to be licensed in YOUR state, not NJ or CT. It's NY or nothing!
NUMBER 3 and last - let your neuro know ASAP! I'm assuming here that it was the neuro who wrote the script.... The neuro's liability as well and the infusing pharmacy and the nurse's liabilities are on the line here. That the home nursing company told you to 'keep it quiet sends off LOTS of bad vibes to my 'bat-ears', in a way. It's saying to me, that they are cutting corners that are simply NOT ALLOWED! It has to be your NEURO to either read the 'riot act' to that particular company or get your Alan another company. Let them do the 'he said/she said' stuff between them. It's gonna be the neuro who decides what to do in the long run.
A 'nice' nurse isn't what is needed-if they don't know the proper procedures or merely follow the company's 'rules', really doesn't do ALAN any good, tho nice helps. A TRULY EXPERIENCED and PROFESSIONAL NURSE is what is really what you NEED and nice is a pure bonus.
In closing, what I find a true sign of a good nurse is when they constantly say 'I'm sorry', when trying to get an IV line in...I've been poked enuf that it's like a disreputable junkie? and thus hard to get what's called a 'good line' or needle into me..AND I've got good veins, they're just scarred from it all. THAT is a nurse who knows it can HURT and cares that the whole thing is DONE RIGHT!
Give Alan a hug from me [if you're not jealous] I know he mite be feeling like a warm dog poop pile for a bit, but that sort of caffiene high that comes with infusions should kick in tomorrow?
Wishing you both pain free thoughts for the immediate and long term future! - j