Saline flush issues

[paddbear0000]

I have been getting saline flushes for the last few months instead of the heparin. I started that because I was getting a lot of leaking at my needle sites and bruising all over my body. I would get a 0.5ml bolus of heparin at the beginning, then 3 100ml saline flushes during my session. I few weeks ago, however, every time I would get a flush, I couldn't catch my breath and i would get chest pains. It was getting worse and worse until last Wednesday, when I also got an instant headache and the chest and breathing issues were so bad, i was actually afraid I might die! Has anyone else experienced this with saline flushes? I told them flat out I was no longer doing the flushes. i had been telling several nurses what I was feeling over since it started happening, but they would just tell me it wasn't the flushes, but rather I was crashing. Wrong!!! It only happened during the flushes, plus half of the time my bp was high when it happened. What would cause this too?

[staceyand joe92]

I get a bolus of saline 400ml at the beginning of my treatment to prevent dehydration. I get a weird feeling in my chest too. It doesn't hurt I just feel a little out of breath and light headed. No one has ever been able to explain to me why this happens.

[paddbear0000]

I wish my nurses had at least said they didn't know. Instead they would completely disregard what I told them and tried to convince me it was something else when I knew full well it wasn't!! I hate when medical professionals do that. I would rather they just said they don't know.

[willowtreewren]

And even more frustration when they try to make you feel like it is "just in your head"!!!

After all, no one knows better what is going on in you body than YOU!

Thinking about you.

[kitkatz]

The nurse butt kicking needs to begin soon. Anyone who will not listen to you needs a good  !

[paddbear0000]

I normally have a problem standing up for myself, but the last flush I received that scared me to death, really pushed my buttons and I got an attitude with the nurse. She was the one who kept telling me it was something else. I told them I flat out refuse anymore saline flushes. And would you know it, another nurse didn't read my chart and came over and proceeded to give me a flush!! I was talking to my doc at the time, so I didn't see her do it. I sure felt it though and boy did I lose it!

[Zach]

When they give you a flush, ask them to turn down the blood pump to about 200 ml/m.  Just make sure they turn it back up to the correct pump speed before they forget and leave.

[paddbear0000]

They were running it at 200. I run at only 250 the rest of the time (due to a whole other set of issues).

[Zach]

They were running it at 200. I run at only 250 the rest of the time (due to a whole other set of issues).

Perhaps you should ask them to reduce the speed to 100 for the flush.