Imagine awaking to find yourself unable to move or speak, in an operating room. You hear the clinician’s voices, the music playing, and the pain of what is happening suddenly. When Barby awoke, she was in immense pain and the fear of what was happening was unimaginable. All because her IV was leaking, the anesthesia intended for her vein was only being partially administered. The sole reason the surgical team knew to stop was because an OR nurse noticed the tears streaming down Barby’s face.
Several years ago, we shared the story of Barby Ingle, an Arizona woman who experienced a terrifying moment when she woke up on the operating table during what was supposed to be a routine procedure. In her interview, Barby discusses the challenges of her chronic illness and how IV infiltrations impact her life.
Barby’s struggle with IV infiltrations didn’t end with that incident. As her chronic conditions continued to call for procedures under anesthesia, her terror of once again waking up due to a bad IV grew ever more acute.
Her chronic conditions often necessitated frequent IV insertions for various treatments, including pain management therapies. Each time, there was a risk of infiltration which had led in the past to painful swelling, bruising, and sensations of coldness or burning with pins and needles.
What happened to Barby is heartbreaking and terrifying. The psychological toll that an experience like this takes is often greater than the physical injury. IV infiltration and extravasation are often overlooked and commonly accepted as a part of healthcare occurrences, but it shouldn’t be. What happened to Barby is preventable, and by sharing her story she can help educate patients and clinicians about the dangers of non-monitored IV therapy.
Barby has spoken about the emotional toll of these experiences, from the fear of pain to overcoming distrust in healthcare providers. She talks about difficult IV access and continued infiltrations, sometimes leading to shared moments of frustration and even tears with the clinical staff who are doing their best to provide her care. These experiences have driven her advocacy for better training and monitoring technology in IV management.
In the 20 years since her first ordeal, Barby has become a vocal advocate for improving IV insertion and monitoring techniques, working to make sure others don’t suffer as she did.
Through her books, blogs, and speaking engagements, Barby educates patients and medical professionals about chronic illness, the risks and management of IV infiltrations, and how to learn to advocate for yourself. Her work aims to empower patients to be their own advocates and push for systemic healthcare delivery improvements.
Her involvement with groups like the International Pain Foundation (iPain) and speaking appearances at medical conferences have helped raise awareness about patient rights, access to care, and the importance of quality in IV administration. She is the editor of iPain Living Magazine, a member of the Steering Committee of Arizona Chronic Care Together Coalition, a member of the HHS Injury and Prevention Board, and a writer for Pain News Network.
When Barby discovered ivWatch, she immediately recognized its potential to alleviate the pain and suffering she’d endured for so long. She believes that their technology has the power to prevent others from experiencing what she went through, and she has become a passionate supporter. She always asks the clinicians treating her if they use ivWatch – and if not, why.
“Unfortunately, so many other patients experience my story,” noted Barby. “I had to learn the hard way, and now I want to pass on my knowledge to give hope and answers to all patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. I hope speaking out about my journey stops it from happening to anyone else.”
It is so important to understand how IVs can infiltrate and what to monitor to help protect patients like Barby. Some IV infiltrations happened very quickly, with a rapid onset of symptoms making it easier to diagnose that there is a problem. Some IV infiltrations happen very slowly, this insidious leaking can lead to serious complications for patients before signs and symptoms are visible to the human eye.
Download The Causes Tool to better understand how these injuries occur, this is a great resource to use in your nursing stations and share with others.
Learn more about ivWatch, and how continuous monitoring for IV infiltration and extravasation can help to protect patients like Barby.