POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Blixer on February 11, 2008, 04:30:16 pm
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I had my 96 week trials visit today. This is officially classified as 2 years as far as the study is concerned. And maybe agreeing to a main study and two sub-studies wasn't the best idea. My studies nurse walked in with 19 empty vials that had to be filled with my blood. And then she announces, "we are going to use the big needle today if that's okay." Like, no, it's not okay but do I have much of a choice in this???? Anyway, she was actually very good with the "big" needle. When she pulled it out I though "you mean that whole thing goes into my arm? And yes, it did, about 2" long. but she was good and I actually only felt a slight stick when she inserted it into the vein. At 48 weeks we did 13 tubes (the previous record for me) and the vein collapsed before they got done. That was why she wanted a bigger needle this time. And it worked. We got all the blood and no collapsed vein. Some of the blood is for stored plasma for future research. And then they were running lots of other tests too. So now the wait begins. Hopefully I'll have the CD4 results by the end of the week. I did drink LOTS of water over the past few days at the suggestion of Nico to keep myself hydrated for this draw.
I did see my ID doctor and basically it was a 3 minute visit where he said "looks like we are doing great with the HIV, now let's work on getting the allergies under control". I have a great doctor and the folks at the Washington University Trial Unit and at the ID clinic are so great! They have been amazing over the past two years since my diagnosis.
My study continues for 2 years after the final patient enrolled. They enrolled the last patient three months ago. So I'll end up with just over 3 1/2 years in the study for myself. Free meds and lots of very close monitoring. I'm happy with that.
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David are you sure that nurse isn't a vampire?
:-*
Dan
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Maybe there is a black market for blood for vampires.... hummmm.... LOL
Hope you are doing okay Dan. Glad the bad weather didn't get you last week. Hopefully this winter storm won't be bad for you either.
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90 mls of blood sounds a lot doesn't it..you will get all that back within a day..great to hear the trails are going well.
Hugs
Jan :-*
(who is an ex vampire and has used "Big" needles on many occasions.. ;))
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90 mls of blood sounds a lot doesn't it..you will get all that back within a day..great to hear the trails are going well.
Hugs
Jan :-*
(who is an ex vampire and has used "Big" needles on many occasions.. ;))
Yes Jan, I bet you are totally familiar with all of the "options." I was expecting 13 vials, but not 19... oh well, I know it will replinish fast. And actually, the needle stick from the 'big" needle wasn't as bad as the smaller ones. Maybe I just got lucky. After just over 2 years of all of the tests and blood draws, etc. I can finally watch the blood filling the tubes without it bothering me. But I still haven't been willing to watch the nurse stick the needle into the vein. I couldn't believe that the entire 2" of that needle was going into that vein today. They did use a "double" bandaid when they got done.
And yes, the trials have been going great. I do like all of the extra tests and scans I get. Not that the data makes any real difference to me but at least it provides some data to know how these meds really do impact various aspects of your body.
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Hey David, I just got drawn today, and I can't watch them stick the needle in either, the rest is fine~
Here's hoping I never get "the big one'!
BTW, I saw the pics of your house at your site. Very nice job you're doing. I love old houses! I'd ask you to come help with mine when you finish (are they ever really finished?), but I've seen your responses to others, so I won't even ask.........
Good luck with everything.
Paul
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If they find something that works for your allergies let me know. Mine seem way worse since getting HIV.
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your arm got abused...
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19 tubes? Ouch. They'd probably have to stick me multiple times to get that much out of me.
Hugs,
Henry
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19? And here I am thinking when they take their 8 or so vials from me that they are taking a lot.
I'm glad though you are doing well.
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I had my 96 week trials visit today. This is officially classified as 2 years as far as the study is concerned. And maybe agreeing to a main study and two sub-studies wasn't the best idea. My studies nurse walked in with 19 empty vials that had to be filled with my blood. And then she announces, "we are going to use the big needle today if that's okay." Like, no, it's not okay but do I have much of a choice in this???? Anyway, she was actually very good with the "big" needle. When she pulled it out I though "you mean that whole thing goes into my arm? And yes, it did, about 2" long.
If anyone tried to stick 2" of needle in my arm it would actually come out the other side. LOL. I think the most I have had taken is 12 vials in so far, and I'm not in any study. But I have been checking for various levels of vitamins, minerals, and STDs, fairly frequently. I used to faint every single time I would get blood drawn as a kid. Then I moved to the US as a teen and gained about 50% body weight. I haven't been fainting in any of the blood draws since.
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Paul, I am getting better at looking. At least I can look at it after they get the needle in. And in a sense it was considerate of the nurse to try to make sure she could do the entire draw with only one needle stick. I agree with you that I hope you never get "the big one". Thanks for the comments on the floors. I'm happy with them. I did post some additional pics of the upstairs hallway and the other bedroom last night. So now I've shown off my work in all three bedrooms and the hallway.
Northernguy, maybe there is a connection there. I always had allergies, but I actually went to the doctor to begin with when I was diagnosed because of them. So maybe the HIV does something that lets the allergies bother us worse. I've been working on finding a solution for 2 years. I'm taking way more stuff than ever before. Maybe it's helping. I'll let you know if the new approach has any dramatic results.
Hey next2u -- my arm didn't feel abused on Monday, but it was somewhat sore yesterday and today. So yes, a bit of abuse there.
Henry, at 48 weeks they did 13 tubes and by the time we got to #12 things were going really really really slowly. They had to stick me again for #13. So this time I drank lots of water and was ready on my side and the nurse decided that the big needle would keep the vein open and keep us from having to do multiple sticks. She was right! Although I don't complain too much about just a second stick. Now, more than that and I'm probably not going to be too happy.
Iggy, I thought 13 was a lot. That's what I was expecting this time. When they walked in with all of the tubes and laid them down I quickly started counting. I knew it looked like more than 13. Originally there were only 18, but when the nurse got ready to do the blood draw she was explaining what all of the tubes were for and said... oh, we are one short... so that took it to 19.
madbrain, I was truly concerned that the needle was going to either come right back out the same side of my arm or that it was going to go all the way through. But I guess my nurse knew what she was doing. And it wasn't all that bad in the end. I do wonder if they really need all of that blood that they take or if they just want to make sure they have enough in case they have to redo the test. I signed a consent form that said they could store any extra for future research. I wonder if they use the bigger tube just to make sure they have extra. I wondered if I was going to faint before they got done. Sounds like your body weight gain was good for you. Glad you aren't fainting any more.
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I was gonna post a pic but I guess I won't..
google "bloody nurse", make sure you have the safe search off. First result :)
;D
Milker.