Thank you, Lisa and Diane, for your advice. I have annual check-ups with the
oncologist and they always draw blood for tests; maybe I can forego that part of
it. In any event, I'll be sure to request (demand) pediatric supplies and
pediatric nurses for any future bloodwork.
Diane, your experience certainly was a nightmare; it reminded me a bit of
when I woke up after the first surgery on my wrist, when they inserted the
interior pins and exterior rod. The pain in my arm was incredible; they gave me
morphine and I had an allergic reaction to that...I thought the top of my head
was going to blow off; they thought I was having a stroke.
I have so much to learn about this disorder and how to work with and around
the medical system. Your words of experience help more than you know. You may
have saved me from another rsd disaster...linda

rsdsupport1@yahoogroups.com wrote:

There are 3 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Re: bloodwork
From: Lisa Stoker

2. Virus info.... important
From: Lisa Stoker

3. Re: Digest Number 406
From: diane hotaling


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 06:45:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Lisa Stoker

Subject: Re: bloodwork

Bloodwork can be done from your foot.... and it really
isn't all that bad, as long as u have someone who
KNOWS what they are doing. Make sure that u are not
going somewhere where its a 'newer' person that
doesn't have much experience in it.....

personally, i really would say to avoid bloodwork from
the effected areas if u can. Since u do still have
other options, i believe they are something that u
should consider. My thought is, everyone is always
saying how they don't really know much about RSD and
everything... but those of us who ARE effected w/ it
know 2 things for sure... the unpredictibility of it
and most importantly... THE PAIN!!! Don't put urself
thru any more pain then u have to!!!

Best of luck!!

--- lindahomeagain
wrote:


---------------------------------
Hi,
New year, new question: How essential is it to
avoid bloodwork on
the RSD limb? Will it aggravate the RSD? Seventeen
years ago half the
lymph nodes under my right arm were removed following
surgery for
breast cancer, and I was told to avoid blood work in
that arm because
of the risk of infection. Now the other arm is RSD
affected. I'm
running out of limbs. Has anyone dealt with this
situation? Is blood
work done on the legs?





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________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 06:56:03 -0800 (PST)
From: Lisa Stoker

Subject: Virus info.... important


Hey everyone....

Maybe its just me that didn't really realize this....
but I figured I would share it w/ all of you
anyway....

The dreaded 'Stomache Virus' has been going around a
lot recently... especially in my area... and
unfortunately, last week was my turn to catch it. As
some of you may lready know.... its symptoms are quite
ugly (vomiting, etc) and they have a sudden onset
(trust me, this I learned the hard way!!!)

Anyway.... I was so sick for the rest of the day when
I got home, I tried to sleep it off. My body began to
be in a lot of pain (which 'aches' are also said to be
sometimes associated w/ it). Well, by 11pm all I kept
asking myself was the question we all hear all the
time... "ok, on a scale of 1-10" and all I kept
comming up w/ was 10!!!!

I was in SO much pain.... I was screaming and crying.
When I called the Dr. he told me that this was a
risidual effect of the virus effecting my RSD. It was
awful!!!

I wanted to let all of you know about this ahead of
time... it was the scariest thing ever... I thought my
RSD had spread or worsened or I don't even know
what.... the pain was making me even sicker.... and it
was a viscious circle.

I hope that none of you get the virus..... but if you
do.. the main thing is to try and hydrate yourself (as
usual) but it is important to take ur meds....
(although its not the easiest thing to do!!!) try to
stay away from any pain meds u might be on b/c they
will upset ur stomach. (I am only on Topamax
anymore... although I sometimes wish I were on
more!!!)

Best of luck to all of you!!! And heres to all of us
having a pain reduced NEW year!!!



________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 13:05:31 -0800 (PST)
From: diane hotaling
Subject: Re: Digest Number 406

hi,happy new years to you too! Im not sure exactly what to do or what the
oitcome will be, but I can tell you of the experience I had and what happened
and hopefully it would help you in some way. First of all do not risk it unless
its important and secondly see if theres anyother way to obtain the results or
answers they want from the bloodwork without piercing the skin. Also ask your
doctor treating the RSD his opinion and you can do some asking of health advice
of other professionals on the internet. Then finaly if you find you must do the
bloodwork ALWAYS USE A PEDIATRIC NEEDLE,DEMAND IT AND DONT TAKE NO FOR AN
ANSWER!!! onto my story I had RSD in my left arm in the beginning and I had gone
into convulsions as a reaction to neurontin at the hospitol getting x-rats and
they admited me. Of course I was to out of it to tell them to becareful and so
they used regular needles and iv in my right arm. I awoke in terrible agony in
the right arm the intense burnimg and I gave them the
info on not leaving an iv in my arm unless needed at the time and no unneccesary
bloodwork and to only use pediatric supplies(the smaller and gentler the incisin
the less chance of aggrivating the nerves causing a new location for the monster
to line in. To make a long story short they ignored me even after I awoke they
ignored my directions and within 2 days I had a hugr infection that I came real
close to having surgery on and RSD did spread. So my advice to you is to ask as
amny questions as you want its your body and your results you will have to live
with so always make sure that you take the safest, least damaging route you can,
secondly, always carry every instruction you think you may ever need anyone
anywhere in any situation to need and always keep copies on you in your purse,
car and anywhere else that a stranger would look in the case of an emergancy
because you never know what can happen and where and if you will be awake to
tell them, also always on your lists have
atleast one person on there they can call that knows everything about your
health so they may be able to assist in emergency advice, also do your research
this is a disease that is so misunderstood and they are learning more and more
each day and doctors may know what they are taught and by what they see but
every patients different and so they havent seen it all so sometimes you can
learn more from others than you can from them and if you ever hear that line of
i have never seen that as a result of rsd that does not mean its not it just
means they think its not but no one knows you better than you, i also suggest
you get a book and keep checking up on all different information about this and
join the rsd foundation they will give you help with questions and send you
alerts of new important findins along with other things and dont forget always
make sure that its necessary and if you must get a second opinion, theres no
other route and as for needles ALWAYS DEMAND PEDIATRIC and
dont ever feel bad or like a nusense like i used to because all i did is hurt
myself and now i have to deal with it meanwhile the dr or nurse just had a
little easier of a day always stick up for youself and make sure whatever they
want you to do is more beneficial for you not easier for them or the insurance
company quota they are trying to work with. Good luck i hope my info not only
helped you with this but future things that may come up, never be afraid to ask
or ask for more than one opinion and remember your not alone theres a lot of us
out there that face the same crazy things everyday that other people would never
think twice about just look at this group and this is one in a million theres
support everywhere and the best thing is to use it.

rsdsupport1@yahoogroups.com wrote:

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. bloodwork
From: "lindahomeagain"



________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 01:47:18 -0000
From: "lindahomeagain"

Subject: bloodwork

Hi,
New year, new question: How essential is it to avoid bloodwork on
the RSD limb? Will it aggravate the RSD? Seventeen years ago half the
lymph nodes under my right arm were removed following surgery for
breast cancer, and I was told to avoid blood work in that arm because
of the risk of infection. Now the other arm is RSD affected. I'm
running out of limbs. Has anyone dealt with this situation? Is blood
work done on the legs?





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________________________________________________________________________



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