Hi Pat,
I go to Carolina Cancer Care in Huntersville.
I have a fantastic RN that takes care of me. With my small veins I was incouraged to get a port. I see Dr Fisher, she seems to be quite knowledgable about HH.
Sandra

Sandra,
My doctor is doctor Fisher as well, but I haven't seen her yet. My first doctor's appt. was in Harrisburg. That was too far for me to drive so they are sending me to Dr. Fisher next. The phlebotomist tells me she trained with the Hemochromatosis Expert in med school! I had an appointment for this week and they called and rescheduled it at the end of November. The phlebotomist is supposed to be getting an answer from her as to whether I should get a port. Maybe I should try another phlebotomy after taking asprin. Does your RN go to other Carolina Cancer sites. What is her name? It might be worth a drive to Huntersville.
Many thanks,
Pat

Hey Pat,
When I first saw Dr. Fisher I told her how hard I was to stick and that my internist had said he thought I would need a port for the Phlebs. She had one of the Chemo nurses come in and look at my arms real good and she said my veins were so small that she definately recommended that I get a port. They actually tried to do a regular Phleb 3 times and my veins just blew and this is kinds gross but when they took the needle out my blood was so thick that it looked like a red string.
Anyway my nurse is Suzie she is great. She does not travel to the other offices. I wish
you lots of luck with your Phlebs.
Keep in touch,
Sandra

Sandra,
Did you end up getting a port?
Pat

Yes, I had one put in in July and it worked 1 time. Somehow it developed a loop in the line. I had that one taken out and replaced with a different one in Sept it has worked perfectly. If you do have one put in I have the very latest type it is a Bard Power Port with Groshong Catheter. My surgeon is Dr Bhasin he is the Chief of Surgery at Presbyterian Hospital in Huntersville.
Sandra

I take a baby aspirin one the night before my phleb and one the morning of... So far, it's been working like a charm. I hope you have luck with yours pat. Keep us informed.

HAPPY DAY! I just had my first successful phleb. I took advice from Debbie and several others and used baby asprin the day before and the day of my phlebotomy. No problems at all. Thanks to all. Lets just hope my luck continues.
Pat

Pat, so happy to hear you had a successful phleb. I hope it continues for you.:)

Congradulations Pat ,hope the rest are successful also ,this group is so great ,such simple solutions sometimes make a world of differance ,in my case it was just a matter of changing the phelbotomest ,after 3 or 4 trial and errors .

The staff where I go use a 14 gauge needle and I only have a couple veins that are big enough to handle it. So far the thickness of the blood has not been a problem, but I guess anything would go through a needle that big. The staff take turns drawing my phleb and 1/2 the time they get it first try. I figured everyone would use the same size needle, but it doesn't sound like they do. I am still learning after 6 phlebs so far.