Hey there..Good luck and Im hoping all goes well for you..I will be thinking of you and keep us posted...Hugs and I know things will be fine!! Jacki

My son went through plasmapheresis with no complications. If your anxious, ask for a Xanax prior to the treatment. Good luck and hugs.

Good luck you can do it. I originally was to get vortex ports but at x of surgery they only had one said I could reschedule of get the bard I said give me the bard,

Annette

I had plex without a port. Took forever because my veins were sluggish. I took mestinon before the third session and it went much better. Good luck.

I've always had my plex via the veins except for when I'd have to be admitted to the hospital and than a port would be put in. I agree with Maureen on the Xanax as it can and will take the edge off if you will .

Good luck and hope you feel better soon :)

Cj

Well, it was a no go. Apparently floppy veins goes along with floppy body, because when the machine tried to pull my blood, the vein collapsed. He tried every trick he knew, switching lines applying more pressure, repositioning needles. He finally gave up and I had to get another tunneled catheter installed which is very painful right now. The doctor told me I am out of veins now because all my major neck veins are occluded. I don't know if this means I will not be able to get the vortex now or not. I remain hopeful.

Forgot to say, thank you everybody for the encouragement.

My plasma exchange, 3 over 5 days, before my thymectomy, was through my femoral artery. Placement was "unpleasant" but not painful. Hoping your pain is short-lived!
Lisa

Yes, I've gone the femoral route before,too. It was placed after he botched my subclavian in my neck. But it was a temporary line while I was in the hospital. Not nearly as painful as a tunneled cath.

Hey so sorry to hear about all your troubles! I'm am sooooo scared of anything like due to all the procedures I've had done so now I just go into the hospital and have them put all the stuff in under anesthesia. You can request that. Now how your insurance works I'm not sure. Even when it comes to the iv since I have horrible veins, quiet literally the worst, i make them numb the area they are gonna put the iv in with this cream and a hot pack to make the vein come up. Also don't forget to drink tons of water to plump up your veins and although I'm too weak usually try lifting small weights to build them up. I'm doing ivig every month so I worry as well. We go through so much with this disorder it's your right to make your self as comfortable as possible! And trust me they have ways. Hope this help and you feel better!

This is the most painful catheter I have had placed so far. I can control the pain with ibuprophen, but when it wears off, I can barely move! If it doesn't ease off soon, I'm going to start getting worried.

But, on a more positive note, I had my first treatment for this round yesterday, and I am much stronger today!