Tough skin -- not an ACT candidate?

[catwoman]

Just wondering:

My husband has really thick, rough skin on his hands. Would that preclude being a candidate for a mechanical valve (& INR testing)?
Yeah, I know you can get lab draws, but that's a pain literally and figuratively.

I'm probably putting the cart before the horse, but I'm trying to cover all the bases for my husband. (See my post under Heart Talk.)
I'm praying that what our PCP heard today was just in his head and not a valve (probabaly aortic).
I'd like to explore all options for when he gets results of an upcoming echo and after his visit with my cardiologist.

 

[Ross]

Shouldn't matter. Right gauge needle should penetrate the skin anyhow, so I don't think it's going to be too bothersome.

 

[catwoman]

Ross:

John's hands feel like lobsters, though!

I'm preparing to be my husband's patient advocate when he has to deal with these doctors. I had to do it with his dad's doctors & a nursing home 17 years ago...

 

[Lynlw]

Ross:

John's hands feel like lobsters, though!

I'm preparing to be my husband's patient advocate when he has to deal with these doctors. I had to do it with his dad's doctors & a nursing home 17 years ago...

maybe when you find out IF he def needs a valve, you could just try a finger stick to see how it goes, Lyn

 

[doyo]

Marsha,

My wife still has residual circulation problem in her arms.
We just began home testing and, initally we had a tough time getting enough blood from the finger stick.

Then we found something that works well.
Right before we use the lancing device to make the tiny hole, we wrap her target finger with a rubber band right above the target location to trap blood and that works everytime getting blood easily.

The lancing device we use is adjustable for 11 different lancing depth.
Her setting is actually higher than my setting.

So with right guage needle, adjustable lancing depth and maybe rubber band might work.
If you already have a lancing device, you can try the lancing device on him.



EJ

 

[Karlynn]

My lancet pen has settings from 1-6. I have it set on 2 for me. I told my husband that I got the feeling that 6 would go right through my finger. I bet it would work on your husband.

But yes, lets just hope this is all just speculation.

 

[Nancy]

Why not get him to use some hand cream with alpha hydroxy in it. Vaseline has one of those hand creams. It works really well. It might take a month or so to get off the calluses and rough skin. It does not smell too girlie

 

[catwoman]

I told a friend this afternoon that I'm too detail-oriented, thus my need to explore everything with my husband's health. I have cooked for 40-50 at cat shows (judges, stewards, club members, hangers-on), and had lists of serving utensils, what time to start which food, etc., etc. Anally retentive, I guess.

Nancy:
Thanks. Will tell John to get some of that. His skin cracks and splits at times.
And, thank you, Nancy, for taking time to post while standing watch over Joe.

 

[Guest]

I test a lot of guys who handled hot metal in the steel mill. Their hands are like a leather saddle. I always manage to get blood. The hardes to get blood from are the people whose fingers are spongy. The blood finds lots of little places to hide.

I alsoi have 5 or 6 women with scleroderma. Now those are tough.

 

[catwoman]

Al:

That's great information. I'm sure it would help people dropping in here who are pre-op.

 

[aussigal]

Another good cream that definately doesnt smell girlie is the ones with 'urea' in them for tough cracked heals, it works brilliantly on hands and fingertips that are cracked.