BEWARE: BP Cuff from H*LL and Lovenox

[ALCapshaw2]

WARNING for Patients on 'Blood Thinners'

BEWARE of those Automated Blood Pressure Machines if you are anti-coagulated!

I recently had a BAD experience with an automated Blood Pressure Machine while taking LOVENOX Bridging therapy for an invasive procedure.

The BP Cuff was NOT wrapped tightly and the machine did not register a good number at the first test level. Then it ramped up to MAXIMUM PRESSURE (OUCH!) and I foolishly waited for it to work it's way down.

My upper (and lower) arm are seriously swollen with an ugly shade of purple. The arm resembles a Weight Lifter's Arm colored to match an Eggplant.

My Cardiologist told me to elevate my arm as much as possible to facilitate draining the arm muscles.

Sould you ever have an automated BP machine Max out on you, I recommend shutting the machine down or pulling the BP Cuff OFF your arm before it squeezes blood into your muscles and skin.

A word to the wise.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Nancy]

Yes, they can malfunction and can cause lots of pain, not to mention bruising.

When Joe was in the ICU last time, he had a split screen monitor in his room. The other patient was a woman. The nursing care was abysmal and there were long periods of time when no medical personnel looked in on anybody. I watched in horror as this woman's BP cuff malfunction registered and then listened to the woman scream for help. I put on Joe's call light and searched the hall for anyone to help. It was a good 15 minutes of Hell for that woman before someone went into her room to help her.

I would suggest that people in the ICU or any other hospital situation bring a whistle with them, since screaming for help doesn't seem to get much help, and the nursing staff have become inured to any of the equipment alarms.

Maybe it should be an air horn!

 

[Susan BAV]

I've, unhappily, been in a couple of nursing homes rather frequently recently, visiting several older relatives and friends and

I'm Disgusted!

with how the nurses and orderlies and such ignore these poor old people! When I've gone to get a nurse -- several times -- the first thing out of their mouths is a question to me regarding my relationship with the patient (the point they are making is whether or not I am paying the bill and thus that amounts to whether or not my complaint matters to them). Just makes me boil.

 

[Georgia]

Oh, geesh Al - one more thing to worry about! The Attack of the Demented BP Cuff!!!!

Seriously, thanks for the heads up - this wouldn't have ever crossed my mind. You'd think there'd be an auto turn-off when it reached a certain pressure . . .

 

[Guest]

There is an auto turn-off. Unfortunately it is too high to prevent this from happening.

 

[Lorraine]

Al Capshaw!

I'm so lad Susan replied to my post about my ER visit Friday. One other time when my valves were going down hill before I had surgery ,I was in ER and had the same problem. Then I wasn't on Coumadin. All my research to find out about Automated Blood Prssure machines malfunctioning showed no results. The ER ignored my call for help this time and I was in tears. My cardio when he came in, ripped the thing off my arm this time when I showed him the brusing and said enough is enough. I experience the same thing where you said "The BP Cuff was NOT wrapped tightly and the machine did not register a good number at the first test level. Then it ramped up to MAXIMUM PRESSURE (OUCH!) and I foolishly waited for it to work it's way down. I waited too. I should have ripped it off then. Why does the staff ignore you when you're screaming in pain!!? The RN wanted to move the cuff to the other arm where my pict line was, when he eventually came in. I said "NO WAY!" I plan to bring this thread to my cardios' office and ask them about this. The first time I was in ER when this happened in 2000, I did rip the cuff off and made them take my blood pressure manually! I should have done it this time! I even have little red marks on my hands from the malfunction. Should I tell them they can only manually test me from now on for my blood pressure? The first ER room I was in earlier during the day, didn't do that. Some of my readings were high but most of them were pretty normal! The cuff never pressed into my arm cutting off circulation. My whole arm would turn beat red when it would automatically start the pressure. When they released me the ER wanted to take my blood pressure one more time. I adamantly told them "NO"! Now how do we get these folks to listen? I thought I was going crazy!