Shunt Installed?

[rbp3072]

Hola folks. Long time no see, (seems I only pop in when I have questions/concerns...lol).

Anyways, here's the scoop. My doc can't seem to get my enzyme levels right w/out adversly affecting my liver, and getting those pesky toxicity levels too high, (currently on 6mp, already went the Imuran route).

Sooo, she is adjsuted my dose again, and is giving it 4 weeks before the next blood draw. If it is still out of whack, then she said she wants to move me over to Remicade. Thus, my question.....

If Remicade ends up working for me, and becoming a 'regular' part of my life every 6 weeks or so, what's the skiny on constantly having a bruised up arm. Has anyone gotten a shunt put in? Either an external for temporary, or full on hard core fistula style underneath the skin?

I honestly don't even know if it would be an option, due to potential infection issues. But as someone who has rolling viens, deep viens, and veins that like to collapse on nurses, anything that might save me pain/aggrovation in the long run would be useful....haha

Anyway, talk to ya'll a little later on.

-Rob

 

[saidinstouch]

I never had bruises from my infusions and I was getting them once a month so a shunt isn't necessary. They are normally only used for patients on chemo or getting iv/blood tests multiple times over a short period of time. The infusion lasts all of 2-3 hours and aside from going slightly dehydrated once or twice I rarely had any issues with even the slightest amount of pain from the infusion (minus the benadryl shot which stung for 10-15 seconds).