Well after getting IVIG for over 5 years with pretty much one stick my old faithful vein began to scar a few months ago so I can no longer use it. Now that I have to use other veins, At the most it has taken 3 times to get the needle in but today for some odd reason every vein my home nurse went to today blew! After trying many, many times she gave up and decided to try it again tomorrow.

I've had this nurse for over 4 years and she is usually a one stick wonder but for some reason today my veins just didn't cooperate with her.

Never had that happen before. My body is telling me that it's time for my IVIG but luckily I can hold off another day.

All I can say is My veins better cooperate tomorrow. I can't take many more sticks. I feel like a human pin cushion right now!

Well at the infusion center where I go they always wrap my arm with a heating pad for about 15 minutes. They also told me to drink LOTS of water the night before and in the morning. NO COFFEE!! Good luck tomorrow I know what you are feeling, I always take 3-4 sticks and it hurts. Plus you walk around looking like a drug addict.
Mike

That is so true pingpongman! My arms hurt, have bruises all over them and look pretty bad. If anybody asks me, I'll have to tell them that My drug of choice is Immunoglobulin! It's my "go-go juice".

Successful infusion today. It took 4 sticks but the tiniest vein was the mightiest. Just like David and Goliath... It reminded us to never underestimate the power of the little guys!

4 sticks all I can say is OUCH! I get my last infusion on Tues this being my second round with zero results. I think this will be my last IVIG treatment. So glad it works for you.
Mike

Awww, so sorry that IVIG hasn't worked for you. What is your infusion protocol? I recieved 4 days of IVIG the first time when I started it five years ago. Now I'm getting one IVIG infusion every 5 weeks.

When did you have your first round of IVIG?

My first round was in Feb I am now on the second round with 4 done and one more to go Tue. What my doctor does is schedule 5 infusions over 3 week peroid. 2 treatments one week, 2 treatments the next week and one treatment the 3rd week. This is done this way because of my age (70). My wife and I now think I have refractory(?) MG. Meaning it is resistive to all treatments. My Neuro said plasmapheresis would be the next treatment he was going to try.
Mike

I just had a port put in. Now my veins just relax when I have my IVIG.

Believe me Sunshine06330, that thought crossed my mind NUMEROUS times during this last ordeal. As I said in my initial post, it has NEVER been this difficult getting my IV started. I'll see how it goes with my infusion next month. If it's a repeat of this last one, I'll be giving my Neuro a call ASAP!

These bruises on my arms look like they're gonna be here for a while.