Hard Lump in my IV vein, but i'm six weeks post op!!

My surgery was April 10th and my main IV was in my right forearm. I know that the potasium they pushed can burn (and it did burn a little) and left bruises on my skin that actually followed the line of the vein on my skin. I'm pale so you could clearly see the bruise in a line trailing where the vein is. So now its six, almost seven weeks post op and this same bruise is still there, except now it spread out a little (and I mean only a veery little bit where it got more red than bruisy looking) and there is a hard lump under it. Like a knot. it hurts to the touch, but doesn't hurt if I don't touch it. I know about phlebitis but so long after surgery? Could the lump be a clot? I really would feel like a dummy going to the ER for a bruise. I tried calling my surgeon but there's no one in the office right now but a secretary and she said someone would call tomorrow morning. Anyone had this happen to them?

sounds similar to scar tissue like i had when i had stents inserted in my groin area. if so gently rub the area a few times a day in a circle motion .. the scar tissue eventually dissolves and goes away.be persistant . takes a few months.. it worked for me. i had pain to the touch and couldnt walk without a limp when the scar tissue was a large lump.. its tottally gone now.. my surgeons nurse showed me this..I'm not a doctor so just my opinion here..

Thanks very much for the feedback!

I have the same thing, only on my hand.  A hard lump in the vein about two inches from where my skin was pierced. They had such a hard time getting an IV in before surgery; literally they tried several locations before deciding on my hand and then they dug in my hand for over 15 minutes before they finally got it started.  

I showed my hand to my surgeon at my six-weeks post-op visit the other day.  It's a thrombus (blood clot).  He advised me to use warm compresses and to take ibuprofen.  He understands that there is a risk for ulcer with the ibuprofen with my RNY, but he wants me to get rid of the clot.  I have not taken the ibuprofen, but I have begun the hot compresses and I am seeing a little improvement there.  (I'm too chicken to take the ibuprofen, but I will if it doesn't clear up soon.)

I don't think you need to go to the ER, but I would definitely tell your surgeon.

I had the same thing...  at my one week visit I noted that I had a knot where the IV was.  Doc said not to worry and that it would dissolve.  At 5 weeks out I woke up and noticed the thing had moved about an inch and a half !!!  So, I went back and showed them...  it was smaller, but felt like a little stone and did hurt a little.  Doc said again, not to worry...  but, he did allow me to take Ecotrin 88mg to help it dissolve more quickly.  It is a low dose aspirin...  and, for whatever reason I rubbed it even though it was kind of sore.  It's gone now...  my surgery was April 23.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it !!! 

I'm an RN who used to be an IV specialist. It is very common for people to get lumps, soreness, reddness, streaks, where the IV was especially after a lot of medication has been given through it, such as during surgery. It can last anywhere from weeks, months, to a year. It is caused from irritation to the vein  and is not life threatening or a blood clot, but can be annoying/painful. Try warm moist compresses to the area for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times a day or whenever you think about it. It should help. A good way to do the compress is to wet a hand towel with as warm temp water that is tolerable (not hot, don't want burns), wring it out so it's not dripping, place it on the spot or wrap it around your arm, then wrap with plastic wrap or a small trash bag around it to hold in the temp and not drip. Take it off when it gets cold. PS. I have heard some call it a blood clot because that is common terminology that most people understand. Hope this helps.