Blood draws are not needed when you have outpatient. Today I had #50, and I've never needed one prior. I have been sent for routine blood work on a regular basis, but that is done at a lab, not at the office where I get my treatments.

I had a port implanted 3 weeks ago for my infusions. When there are problems accessing veins, ports can be used to make administering infusions easier. there are several patients with ports at my RI doctors' office, they all work well. Mine happens to problematic and may need to come out-it caused a terrible flare and the group that implanted it thinks it could be infected.

My left arm can handle a blood pressure cuff if it's not too tight. the measurements are done every half hour or so. For my lidocaine infusions, the hospital in Boston used to use my left leg and I found that to be much more painful.

Good luck to you and let me know if you have any other questions.

Xoxox Sandy