Can I give myself IV fluids at home?

[FannyWisdom]

Just that really. I suffer from severe abdominal migraine (all the fun of migraine head with added stomachs issues) I can't, literally can boot get any fluids in.
My stomachs stops working as my migraine starts so anything I take orally comes back violently, also void bowels and bladder.
And I sweat. I have to wear towels (bath sheets) to wick up the sweat my body gets rid of all fluid.

I can manage the pain for a short time, I get two nasal doses prescribed per month (really need the injections but GP said to manage on spray) but dehydration killing me.
I've been blue lighted (both GP calls not me) twice to a+e but while the need to be sure it's migraine and check for other stuff I'm being tortured by the noise and light.
Eventually after they rule out other stuff they stick me a bag of paracetamol, give the Tristan injection and anti hermetic and I can start to sleep it off.

This happens every 11 weeks and I'm so scared of being sent to a+e I can't call the GP (my practise is closed so we use the co op service) I'm desperate.


Can I buy a bag of fluids and I've paracetamol and administer myself? Even if I have to be shady (needs to be a legit source) I've tried enemas and they are currently my only option.
I can't even take oral melt tablets because they don't melt I'm too dehydrated.

Any suggestions on what I can try without hospital?

[FannyWisdom]

My spelling is atrocious.
Apologies, I've a bad head.

[newtlover]

even if you knew how to cannulate, you need 2 hands to do it, so no, I don't think so

[FannyWisdom]

Thanks Newt that was my fear. It's my DF who is in his seventies who has to care for me and he couldn't do it.
I swear I'm ready to ram the hosepipe up my jacksie

[UniversalTruth]

Are you under a migraine consultant? Two things come to mind - one is to max out the migraine treatments including ruling out food triggers (under Dr supervision) and using things like acupuncture, Botox maybe? Secondly, they could advise on a care plan for you if you get a migraine - eg. Paramedics might be able to give you IVs at home? Or similar.

Sounds awful, sorry this happens to you.

[newtlover]

rectal paracetamol should be OK and GP could prescribe

[FannyWisdom]

Thanks Universal it's such a fucking liability I can't do anything without pissing or vomiting it's ridiculous!

I've tried botox privately, I looked better but no relief and acupuncture bizarrely gave me wind.

I've only access to locums or extremely harried GP from another practise so I did those privately.

A care plan sounds like just the thing I need. It's terrifying going ae as well as mortifying knowing I have a headache. People whizzing past having been in accidents make me feel such a fraud.
I cry (dry sobs I run out of tears) and shout for my Dad.....at my age.
Not that I blame them but a young porter asking my DF has she always been a Daddy's girl makes me feel more of a twat.

[buckingfrolicks]

God that sounds awful. Probably not helpful, but you do absorb water by being in it. A bath? Sorry, given your pain that's such a trite solution, but possibly might ease things?

[Cantchooseaname]

That sounds fucking awful!
Can you get referral to consultant for care plan? This by pass none existent gp ‘service’.

[FrostyPopThePenguinLord]

Your veins will get crappy if you are dehydrated even if you could cannulate yourself, so I imagine that wouldn't work very well.
It sounds like your doctor doesn't really get how miserable you are so this may be of limited use as advice but I have a friend who has a chronic condition called POTS and she needs IV fluids to stay stable and it would be both inconvenient and painful for her to go in 3 times a week for infusions, so she has a port in her chest which she can do herself to set up her own fluids.
As I said this might be extreme and not the direction your doctor is thinking of, but there are solutions.

[smurfy2015]

@FannyWisdom handhold from me, i know how awful migraine can be sadly cant set up ivs at home unless it has been organised by drs and usually overseen by them.

When you do see your gp / and or neurologist would you consider asking them about organising for a link up with the "local domicillary nursing acute intensive team" who are different than district nurses who usually co-ordinate with local gps.

They are a team of nurses who follow the prescriptions written by the dr and they report directly back to the ward dr on your symptoms and they (nurses) come to your house with portable drip stand and all the paraphenelia and set up what the dr has written you up for.

(they basically do their drugs round for you in your home as its complex and needs IVs and being in hospital isnt going to benefit you as you know what it is and the noise and light is pure torture)

So in this case, im guessing like above tripan injection, anti emetic and start IV paracetamol for better pain relief cover and possibly a bag of fluids. They may visit a couple of times a day to administer IVs and monitor situation.

Hold on in there, could you tolerate to suck Mr Freeze type ice lollies to get small amounts of fluid in

Any idea why this happens every 11 weeks? No need to answer now

If you do end up going to hospital, eyemask, earplugs, note book, pen, - put earplugs in to block noise, put eyemask on, put note on pillow to say you are wearing earplugs or they will "observe" you are sleeping when you are not.

[FannyWisdom]

Thanks guys you are making me feel less of a lingered!

It's shocking how fast it comes and the way I handle the pain is no surprise they need to check for stuff.
Last time they wouldn't proceed until I had a lumbar puncture. My eyes wouldn't dilate when they checked for response so it was the right call but I could I would have crapped myself.
The CT scan alone feels like the labours of Hercules.
It must cost them a bomb and be irritating.
I'm going to e-mail the GP at our covering practise tomorrow and insist we try for a care plan.

And get me some suppositions.

It seems to help Bucking when I've sweated for a few hours I'm freezing because I'm wet but a warm bath stops me shivering so maybe I am sponging some up.

Thank you again, I'm truly grateful.

[smurfy2015]

@FannyWisdom if you would like to have a look at my protocol for migraine which i wrote in conjuction with my neuro who is based at the area hospital but i often end up being taken to the local smaller hospital so cos i got so sick of all the going around in circles i now have a protocol that helps if needed

i have a lot of strategies first, including a tank of oxygen to help, suppositories, cold packs, heat packs but the protocol has medication suggestions which may help for consulting with drs

[Efrig]

Subcutaneous fluids are easy to administer rather than iv. Less chance of infection or messing up as well.

I don’t know where you would obtain the saline though as it has to be the normal iv bags.

You administer via a butterfly inserted into the subcutaneous fat, usually in the abdomen.

[expatinscotland]

If it's so hard to do, how do heroin addicts manage to hit off so often?

[UniversalTruth]

Is that a genuine question Expat? Heroin users aren't putting a cannula in to run fluids through, they are injecting into a vein. If they miss it doesn't really matter. And they don't tend to care about things like clean technique. Also, they do it every day, not once every 2 months with migraine symptoms.

[MissBlueesteyes]

Although not as common, you can actually give IVs through veins. It is common practice in hospitals to allow drug addicts to canulate themselves if the medical staff can't place a drip due to the heroin use collapsing the blood vessels. Also, addicts will canulate in arteries too. It's basically put in whichever blood vessel is easiest, not just veins. Even addicts who started off using their veins will move to the arteries when all the veins have collapsed with the prolonged drug use.

[Greybeardy]

@MissBlueesteyes you absolutely cannot cannulate arteries instead of veins for this sort of thing...just because drug addicts do it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea (it’s actually quite a good way to lose fingers /toes/worse).

[AlexaAmbidextra]

Although not as common, you can actually give IVs through veins.

What? You always give IVs into veins. The clue is in the word
intravenous. And please tell me you aren’t seriously suggesting the OP might consider cannulating an artery. 😱

[Shanntannn]

Hi, I’m not sure if you will see this or if it is even relevant now but what you have described sounds exactly like me please look into cyclical vomiting syndrome and abdominal migraines they are very real and there is treatment it’s took me 7 years to get a diagnosis but I’m finally on some medication now and getting the treatment that I need. Hope it helps you x

[Torvean]

Not sure if it would work but have you ever been given info about Kiegel treatment. Its very effective for the the right condiitions.

[Tropicaliyes]

Have you looked into Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome? I have it along with others and this sounds familiar