Problems at IV Site?

I had surgery 11 days ago and had an IV that was used to administer general anesthesia. My veins are hard to find and the first IV the nurse tried didn't take. So she tried higher up on my arm the second time and it worked. I bruised at the two sites and a few days after surgery it looked all better. Then all of the sudden about a week after surgery the bruises are back and it's sore on both spots. In a follow up appointment the doctor asked if I had any problems at the IV site and I said no because I didn't at the time. Is it unusual for bruises/pain to come back at an IV site like this? What kind of problem(s) could it be if any?

Thanks everyone, I'll let my doctor know if it persists until my next appointment January 8th.

Barberry- Yes, I am taking lots of prescription strength NSAIDS like IB Profen, Ponstel, and Naproxen. Now that I think of it, the bruising came back after I started taking these medications! I had to take them though due to menstrual cramps. Should I stop?

Are the bruises old looking, as in green and brownish? If so, it's just old blood that leaked into your tissue coming up to the surface. If the areas are red, swollen, and warm, it may be an infection and your doctor should be called.

Are you on any medication that might cause you to bleed a bit more than usual? NSAIDs like Ibuprofen or aspirin?

I would hold a warm washcloth on the areas 4 times a day, for 10 minutes at a time. See if that doesn't ease the discomfort and help the old blood to disperse a bit more quickly. If you think it's infected (see above), or if the soreness increases or doesn't improve over the next few days, give the doc a call.

I'm betting you have nothing to worry about, but without actually seeing the sites, no one can say for sure. :)

Even though in your doctor appt. you didn't say anything- it doesn't mean the doctors duty is over. Give him a call and tell them about it and see if they think you need to come back in for a follow up appt. And no not that i know of - the bruises wouldn't have just went away and came back days later- unless you were say lifting something day and day again the areas would be pre-exposed to soreness, etc and would come back maybe.

Well, it would be rare, but your vein could be not healing right and allowing blood to leak...

My suggestion...ice on the IV site and a call to the doctor.

What it feels like to me is that this is simply more bruising that is just showing up from a deep vein stick...I have very hard to stick veins, too...but, with it coming back, it could be as minor as what I've suggested to a blood clot...so make that call to your doctor.

It sounds like your IV filtrated. Aka: it came out of the vein and instead of the fluid going into the vein, it went under the skin. Mine did that before.

Those veins should have been OK after 11 days. Were you given any anticoagulants when you had the surgery?