New meds and new therapies...any words of wisdom!!!

[Icrad1]

Luckily, I have super veins...still nervous....6 minutes and counting until nurse arrives....I have basically figured out that I will be on my couch infront of the tv, plus I have a mobile IV pole, so she said I can move around and do basically whatever I want/feel like...they are saying only 2 1/2 hours for infusion....not sure about that. It seems quick...directions on product read (40 ml per hour/for 1st 30 minutes, increase to 90ml/hr for the next 30 minutes, then increase to 170ml/hour for the next 30 min....may increase to 250 ml/hour as tolerated...Infusion time to be 2 1/2 The total visit is not to exceed 3 1/2 hours....That scares me a little!!!

Darci

Originally Posted by pingpongman

Oh I was very nervous my first one, so you are normal. After the first one the rest were a piece of cake. Only problem I have is finding a vein in this old body. Usually takes 3-4 sticks. If I'm getting 2-3 treatments in that week they leave the IV in and just wrap it real good then next treatment they just plug in. Have a good book to read or your laptop handy because otherwise it gets boring.
Mike

[pingpongman]

Treatment time sounds right. Mine takes 2 hours. They check my temp and blood pressure every rate change. DO NOT hesitate to tell the nurse if you don't feel right or think something may not be right.
Mike

[4-eyes]

That sounds a little fast. The "as tolerated" part is the kicker, as we often don't know we didn't tolerate it until the next morning or even later. It is rare that you actually feel something bad DURING it.

How many mls of fluid total are they infusing? Personally I never go over 100 an hour.

Good luck.

[Icrad1]

I have completed the first of two days of my IVIg...and it went fine...I got cold and tired...slept the last two hours or so...will go back on couch here in a minute...we will see how the rest of the night goes!!!

[pingpongman]

Oh that sounds good. Be sure to drink liquids for rest of the evening. When I'm done I feel sorta light headed and weak but it passes quickly.
Mike

[kimmyF]

I get Benadryl and solu cortef 30 minutes prior to the infussion, the IVIG was giving me a very tight chest like when you get a bad cold, and my veins would turn red, my rate will go upto 300 and I haven't had a reaction since.