phlebitis from phenergan given in the hospital

[SCHARLA]

I HAD GALLBLADDER REMOVAL AND DEVELOPED SEVERE PHLEBITIS, YES I WAS GIVEN PHENERGAN THROUGH THE IV. I HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK AS A NURSE, FOR 6 WEEKS, AND NOW IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 MONTHS AND MY ARM IS STILL HURTING BADLY. THE VASCULAR DOCTOR IS SENDING ME TO A PAIN CONTROLL DOCTOR. I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY. I HAVE NEVER FILE A SUIT AGAINST ANYONE, BUT I AM FEELING LIKE I MIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS RIGHT ARM WILL EVER BE ANY BETTER. IT IS PAINFUL TO WORK, AND I HAVE TO TAKE LORTAB AS SOON AS I GET HOME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS WORTH MY TIME TO FILE A LAWSUIT. ANY INPUT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS,SCHARLA

[Angel]

I wanted to let you know that I was given Phenergan IV push when I had the flu. As a result I ended up with a blood clot in vein. After 6 weeks of blood thinners the clot did not improve, nor did the pain. I went to see a Vascular doctor and he ended up removing the vein. It has been three years since my injury and the pain has never gotten better. I do have some days that are better than others, but nothing that I wish I didn't have to ever deal with. I hope that whatever you decide to do that you think about living with this pain for the rest of your life. Every doctor I have gone to has told me that the pain will be lifelong, and unfortunately so will the medication.

[Angel]

I wanted to let you know that I was given Phenergan IV push when I had the flu. As a result I ended up with a blood clot in the vein. After 6 weeks of blood thinners the clot did not improve, nor did the pain. I went to see a Vascular doctor and he ended up removing the vein. It has been three years since my injury and the pain has never gotten better. I do have some days that are better than others, but nothing that I wish I didn't have to ever deal with. I hope that whatever you decide to do that you think about living with this pain for the rest of your life. Every doctor I have gone to has told me that the pain will be lifelong, and unfortunately so will the medication.

[Lynn RN]

SCHARLA wrote:

I HAD GALLBLADDER REMOVAL AND DEVELOPED SEVERE PHLEBITIS, YES I WAS GIVEN PHENERGAN THROUGH THE IV. I HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK AS A NURSE, FOR 6 WEEKS, AND NOW IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 MONTHS AND MY ARM IS STILL HURTING BADLY. THE VASCULAR DOCTOR IS SENDING ME TO A PAIN CONTROLL DOCTOR. I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY. I HAVE NEVER FILE A SUIT AGAINST ANYONE, BUT I AM FEELING LIKE I MIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS RIGHT ARM WILL EVER BE ANY BETTER. IT IS PAINFUL TO WORK, AND I HAVE TO TAKE LORTAB AS SOON AS I GET HOME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS WORTH MY TIME TO FILE A LAWSUIT. ANY INPUT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS,SCHARLA

It might be worth pursuing especially now that there has been a lawsuit settled AGAINST Wyeth (maker of Phenergan)for not having stronger warnings about giving it IV. You can google the decision to get the details. Best of luck and I hope your arm gets better.

[Megs Mom]

I am in need of information about Pheneragn IV. It was given to my daughter through a hep lock in the elbow area on Jan 2009. She was never the same after the injection. She died Mar 2009 due to a blood clot. I believe after reading the hospital papers and nursing notes (that her Regular DR was kind enough to get me) that the nurse administered it WRONG and the blood clot was the result. I am heartbroken. Please Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Kayties mom]

My daughter age 15 had all her wisdom teeth removed at once early Feb. She then had abscess after abscess that had to be surgically drained. She was put under IV sedation 4 times in a row, and administered Phenergan each time. After the last surgery she complained about the arm the IV was in being sore. After 3 days her whole forearm was swollen,there was a knot, and it hurt to touch or straighten her arm. The Dr. said she had Phlebitis and prescribed antibiotics. Now months later she has a knot in her wrist (a different site from the first one)and after physical activity her wrist swells and has pain all the way up her forearm. I took her to the ER last night, the Dr. said that it couldn't be from the Phlebitis.(that phlebitis does not reoccur)
He acted like she had injured her arm and took just an xray which of course revealed no injury. I am still very worried about the knot in her wrist, and the fact that it is causing her pain. She is an extremely active girl,in dance and now cheer leading. I don't know where to turn. We don't have insurance either...Is this something I do need to be worried about? Thank you! Any info is much appreciated.

[Megs Mom]

I would be scared to death honestly. While I am not a DR or a nurse it sounds like a clot to me and I would have her checked immediately.

[Megs Mom]

Phlebitis is a blood clot and yes they move. And IF this clot is moving it can kill her. A clot needs to be treated with a blood thinner NOT antibiots.