United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I remember reading how "not to have blood drawn" from your erbs arm. I esp remember Kath saying something about this. I don't recall reading why!! I had labs done the other day, and like always, the only vein they can tap is from my erbs arm in the spot where the arm bends. (my veins have a tendency to run off and hide once they are tapped) They usually want to try the hand, but I tell them only as a last resort.
Kath, can you or someone tell my why??
Thanks, Sharon from Michigan

Hi sharon, I am the mother of a 21 year old born severe LOBPI

http://ubpn.org/awareness/A2002linkmedical.html

Click on Medical Emergency cards. Read them all there is 4 pages of cards.

Please check out the info at this thread. How I got to is it is go to HOME and look in the lower right corner, AWARNESS box. A lot of info can be found there.

Hi Sharon

My family doctor told me that I was never allowed to have needle or blood pressure on the right arm. I have never had a shot in that arm. They gave us shots in school for something and he had a fit with the school nurse for giving it in my right arm...

The nerves are way to sensitive on my right arm and I have poor circulation and prone to infection. I have very small veins and cannot supinate so that would make it difficult. I worry about blowing a vein that is nourishing a muscle that is already fragile and has poor function to begin with...
Whenever I have a blood test the tech almost cries because I have so much scare tissue in my left arm and my veins are so tiny. They use a butterfly and still have problems... I could never take it on the OBPI side.
Kath

Kath
I cannot supinate very well either, but they manage unless they try and look for a vein further down toward the hand, then there is no way to turn the arm. They also use a butterfly. I guess I never thought about blowing a vein, duh. I know it doesn't hurt much when they use that arm, in fact, last week I burnt the "fleshy" part of my arm on a cookie sheet. It stung for about 30 seconds and then quit hurting. Freaked my dau out even tho she is aware of my problem and has seen a lot of my limitations, and she knows of my pain issues, but it never really dawned on her about sensations. Now she tells me to be careful if I am not aware of burns and understands how I can do dishes in hot water. Crazy kids...
I have never been prone to infections, (knock on wood) As for the blood pressure, I never let them take it on my erbs arm, the pressure hurts too much and I start squirming around. None of my muscles can take pressure, not even a light massage.
Thanks for the info, guess now my right arm will have to be a pin cushin. I give the tech two stabs, then I tell them to find someone else.