How long could soreness from donating blood last? :(

[NeoPTLD]

I donated blood when the Red Cross came to our school a week before Thanksgiving. It was my second time. The first time went smoothly, but this time I got a big ass bruise on my arm and it stayed for over two weeks and it was very sore the whole time. The bruise is gone, pain is diminished, but after a month, but my forearm, 2 or 3 inches away from the needlepoint is still sore to touch. How long could it last? Anyone had it longer?

Please don't tell me to call them or go to the doctor. I have already called them and all they've got to say is it will get better. I'm not going to the doctor and pay the co-pay just to have him tell me the same thing.

 

[911paramedic]

The reason you get a bruise is that they either went all the way through your vein, or the pressure was not applied long enough after the catheter was removed. Pain near the site a month afterwards is not normal at all.

Do you have redness/swelling in the area? If so you may have something called cellulitis. That is the only real thing I can think of rather than an infection, but that probably would be quite severe by now, so its probably not that.

The fact that is not over the site itself is a bit strange... Is it closer to your body or towards your hand from the actual puncture? (distal or proximal)

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic
The reason you get a bruise is that they either went all the way through your vein, or the pressure was not applied long enough after the catheter was removed. Pain near the site a month afterwards is not normal at all.

Do you have redness/swelling in the area? If so you may have something called cellulitis. That is the only real thing I can think of rather than an infection, but that probably would be quite severe by now, so its probably not that.

The fact that is not over the site itself is a bit strange... Is it closer to your body or towards your hand from the actual puncture? (distal or proximal)

The needle point was right at the elbow joint area on my forearm. The soreness is in 2-3" long area about an inch toward my hand from the needlepoint.

 

[optoman]

I would call your doctor and get his advice. You might need to go to the ER because it almost sounds like you might have an infection. Just give the doc a call and see what he says.

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD

Originally posted by: 911paramedic
The reason you get a bruise is that they either went all the way through your vein, or the pressure was not applied long enough after the catheter was removed. Pain near the site a month afterwards is not normal at all.

Do you have redness/swelling in the area? If so you may have something called cellulitis. That is the only real thing I can think of rather than an infection, but that probably would be quite severe by now, so its probably not that.

The fact that is not over the site itself is a bit strange... Is it closer to your body or towards your hand from the actual puncture? (distal or proximal)

The needle point was right at the elbow joint area on my forearm. The soreness is in 2-3" long area about an inch toward my hand from the needlepoint.

If it is indeed a "long" area like you said you need to see a doctor. You could have an infection or thrombophlebitis. I would highly recommend seeing a doctor about this and more than likely whoever drew the blood will end up paying.

If they don't want to pay for it, just say "well the local news would really love to hear how I got an infection from donating blood.." They will pay. (they carry insurance for this stuff too...)

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD

Originally posted by: 911paramedic
The reason you get a bruise is that they either went all the way through your vein, or the pressure was not applied long enough after the catheter was removed. Pain near the site a month afterwards is not normal at all.

Do you have redness/swelling in the area? If so you may have something called cellulitis. That is the only real thing I can think of rather than an infection, but that probably would be quite severe by now, so its probably not that.

The fact that is not over the site itself is a bit strange... Is it closer to your body or towards your hand from the actual puncture? (distal or proximal)

The needle point was right at the elbow joint area on my forearm. The soreness is in 2-3" long area about an inch toward my hand from the needlepoint.

If it is indeed a "long" area like you said you need to see a doctor. You could have an infection or thrombophlebitis. I would highly recommend seeing a doctor about this and more than likely whoever drew the blood will end up paying.

If they don't want to pay for it, just say "well the local news would really love to hear how I got an infection from donating blood.." They will pay. (they carry insurance for this stuff too...)

Ouch

There's no longer a visible sign by the way.

 

[optoman]

Or it could be what happened to me. First time giving blood and the girl calls over to another person saying it was terminated. I was like what, whats terminated. The girl was in the process of removing the rubber around my arm and didn't have a good grip on the needle. The needle yanked out when the blood pressure came back and it hurt like a mother. So they decide to do the other arm. I did get out of a half day of school because I slept at the nurse's office.

 

[Ime]

I agree, you should see a doctor.

Let me give you another piece of advice from my blood-giving advice. I've been giving blood for years, and I found out a secret to ensuring I have few problems.

Go for the oldest person there drawing blood. If you can ask if he/she is a nurse. Old nurses really know how to stick in a needle nice and easy. They've done it more times than can be counted, and it really even hurts when they do it.

A few times I have gone for the young, cute girls. One time I did that the girl had to stick me 3 times to get it right, and it burned like mad!

Since that time I've been going with the old nurses when I give blood. I haven't had any problems since.

When it comes to needles, experience matters.

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: Ime
I agree, you should see a doctor.

Let me give you another piece of advice from my blood-giving advice. I've been giving blood for years, and I found out a secret to ensuring I have few problems.

Go for the oldest person there drawing blood. If you can ask if he/she is a nurse. Old nurses really know how to stick in a needle nice and easy. They've done it more times than can be counted, and it really even hurts when they do it.

A few times I have gone for the young, cute girls. One time I did that the girl had to stick me 3 times to get it right, and it burned like mad!

Since that time I've been going with the old nurses when I give blood. I haven't had any problems since.

When it comes to needles, experience matters.

I agree in part. Many nurses couldn't hit the ground with their shoes. "Floor" nurses don't even start iv's. If it is an ER, or ICU type nurse, they know what they are doing. If it is a medic, have them do it as well. We start many more iv's than most nurses, and that is in a bumpy ambulance or helo. Heck, I even start them left handed if I have to.

Doctors are your last resort, they never start them because the nurses or medics do, so keep them away LOL.

 

[m2kewl]

good googly - just reading this is bad

good thing i don't give blood anywhere but at the hospital! *whew*

hope you get it checked out and fixed.

 

[heartsurgeon]

I would highly recommend seeing a doctor about this and more than likely whoever drew the blood will end up paying.

give me a break...

do you have some reason not to believe the physician who told you it will get better with time?

wait two months.. start a new post if it still hurts then

 

[Yossarian]

You need a CBC, chem-20, tox screen, lytes, and have them dip a urine. Sorry, I've been watching a lot of ER lately.