Wondering if anyone has any experience with IV poles used with HPN. My mom is currently using a model by Sharp, that is very cheap, and can't be moved very easily on rugs. I need to get her a good pole that she can move easily around the house from one room to another. When I called Sharp, they told me that they only made a table top IV pole and another one that is stationary without wheels. I need a reliable company that I can call that will have several choices available, but more importantly a pole that works for her. She is on a fixed income with very little funds coming in, so the cheaper the better. I see several poles on the Oley web site that people are donating but don't know much about their specs.
Thanks
Daughterhelpingmom
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POLES FOR USE WITH HPN
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 7, 2009 at 12:43 pm · 16 replies
- In Home IV feeding (HPN, parenteral nutrition)
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- By randynoguts
- Posted October 8, 2009 at 4:24 am
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ive got a couple i have found over the years. its best to get one with larger wheels for carpet. and you have to clean the wheel regularly. i mean carpet fibers etc.. get wound up in the axles and bearings.. the best one i have is an older unit from a swap meet. you would be amazed what you can find. also try estate sales where older folks have passed on they usually have some type of medical equipment. there is no brand name on mine so sorry there. the nicest one i ever saw in a hospital had inline skate wheels. it was great! especially on hard floors. was completely silent! good luck looking. i also have a collapsable one for trips. we use it every year and it has lasted great too. trail and error i think. if your looking for stability, try a 5 leg my main is a4 leg and works good for me on hardwood.. anything should work ok as long as its not shag carpet or that hi-low type.
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 8, 2009 at 10:41 am
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Thank you for responding. I work in a hospital and can get my hands on a very old pole with 5 or 6 legs and bigger wheels than the Sharp IV pole, so we may just try that. It's rusty, but it's free!
Good luck to you.
- By Oleyfriend2
- Posted October 8, 2009 at 5:01 pm
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If you want to find out more about the poles (or any supplies) that are listed in our Equipment-Supply Exchange program, drop an e-mail to the volunteers who are managing the exchange at Oleyequipment@aol.com. They might have the specs; if they don't, they could get them with a quick call to the donor.
If you have a home care company, have you asked them if they have something else available?
Good luck!
Lisa
Oley Foundation Staff
(800) 776-6539
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 9, 2009 at 9:27 am
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thank you. I just dropped them a line.
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 9, 2009 at 10:43 am
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Hi Lisa,
Yes, I've asked coram and they say that what she has is all that the company makes. I called Sharp and they said that's the only model they make. It's like a pole that you would take travelling. I went back on the equipment site at Oley and asked for help with this.
Thank you for your reply.
- By prettykitty
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 1:19 am
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I have an IV pole that's made by Medline that I like, because it rolls over carpet very well and adjusts easily. I got mine through the infusion pharmacy I get my feeding pump supplies and formula through. I know they sell these in most online medical supply stores and on Ebay, so you might look on there.
I also have a travel folding IV pole by Lifecare (that's what the sticker says on the side of the pole) that goes over carpet and tile floor easily. Its harder to adjust, though.
Jessie
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 4:28 pm
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Thank you Jessie for replying. You wouldn't happen to know the model number of the Medline pole that you are currently using? I have seen lots of poles online, but you really need to see the pole and how it operates to get a better sense on whether it's going to work. I hate to keep buying one pole after another and returning it if it doesn't work. Do you have thick carpeting that you're rolling it over? They have pretty heavy carpeting, so would need pretty solid wheels not just those castor wheels.
Thanks!
- By JenD
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 5:26 pm
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Would it be easier to use a backpack and a small portable pump. I find that it is. I just lay it next to me on the floor or the couch and it easily goes on my back when I need to be out and about and hooked up to TPN. I would think that this would be the best way to go.
Good luck,
Jen
- By daviandsteve
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 5:40 pm
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Following up on what Jen said: she can place the TPN backpack inside a rolling back pack that is very easy to pull (it has a retractable handle). I got mine at one of the office supply stores. It's come in really handy when I've had surgery and could not carry the TPN on my back.
Is there any reason your mom's TPN has to be hung on a pole? Mine did years ago, and I still occasionaly have to infuse something, such as IV antibiotic, that is not attached to a pump and therefore has to be hung on a pole so it can flow by gravity. But for the most part, my pole is merely decorative - I've hung all of the good luck charms people have given me over the years on it!
Davi
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 10:44 am
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Hi JenD,
I think that the backpack is very heavy when the bag is completely full. There is no way that she could carry this on her back when it's full. When it gets lower, though, yes, she could do that. She's very active for 74, so she wants to move around when she first gets hooked up.
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 10:46 am
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Hi Davi,
I don't know whether the HPN can be hung high. I just thought that it had to be above the heart to flow properly. Noone has ever said that it can be put on the floor or on a smaller stand. Do you know if the height matters?
- By daviandsteve
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 9:14 pm
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Height shouldn't matter if it's being pumped in, and TPN is ALWAYS pumped in! In fact, the original IV pumps were developed FOR TPN. Lipids used to have to go separately, and flow by gravity, so they had to be high. But that was a long time ago. As long as your mom has an ambulatory pump , such as the Curlin or CADD, she should be able to place the carrying backpack that comes with the pump on the floor by her bed, or wherever. And since that's too heavy for her to carry around, a rolling backpack will come in handy. As I said above, I was able to pull/push the rolling pack around after major abdominal surgery!
Check with her infusion nurse though.
Davi
- By prettykitty
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 2:11 pm
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I'll see where the serial number is on the pole and get back to you.
Jessie
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 9:57 am
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Thank you Davi. I will check with the infusion company about this. I think that a rolling back pack sounds like a great idea. As I said, I was just afraid that the height made a difference.
- By Daughterhelpingmom
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 9:59 am
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Thank you Jessie. Appreciate any help you can give.
Good luck!
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