Although it’s a very common ocurrence, visiting a hospital to get an IV might be very scary for many people. Luckily, there are some alternatives to including IV therapy. Keep reading to find out how to get IV fluids at home and skip the trip to the hospital.
Mobile IV services are growing in popularity due to the convenience they provide. Obtaining IV fluids for home use is safe and easy if you choose the right IV provider. With the help of these services, you can request an at-home IV infusion without a doctor’s recommendation.
Getting IV fluids at home is a great way to receive more fluids in your body that you can’t get by drinking. Also, they are known as natural energy boosters that are distributed through your system directly and very fast.
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How to Get IV Fluids at Home
When learning how to get IV fluids at home, you have to remember that there are two available options. At-home IV administration doesn’t always mean you have to do it alone. Instead, you can pay for a visit from an experienced healthcare provider to perform the home infusion.
Doctors don’t recommend self-administering IV fluids. But if you, a close family member, or a friend has some experience and knowledge in administering intravenous fluids at home, the process may go smoothly without risk.
To determine the best way of getting IV fluids at home, consider the below-mentioned methods:
Mobile IV nurses
Some states around the US offer mobile IV services. You can request an IV fluid blend, and it will arrive at your home. A certified nurse or a physician will administer the infusion by placing a needle in your vein.
Good mobile IV providers offer the option of creating your own IV blend by including the vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes your body needs. To DIY a blend of IV fluids, you can visit the provider’s website and select the necessary ingredients according to your symptoms.
Nurses have the knowledge and experience to perform the at-home IV administration properly. They are trained in patient homecare and know how to approach the situation by making you feel safe and relaxed during the process.
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Self-administration
It’s now possible for patients to try self-administered IV instead of relying on nurses to visit their homes every time they need an energy or hydration boost. However, this method is not proven safe because most patients are not professionally trained to administer IV fluids.
Although some people use this technique effectively, many things might go wrong during the self-administration of IV fluids. The most common problem is infection at the injection site due to improper use of the materials.
Administering IV Fluids at Home
Nurses may show patients exactly how to self-administer IV fluids at home while focusing on safety and avoiding possible complications. To help you better understand the process of doing it yourself, follow the below-mentioned points involved in at-home IV administration.
Get your materials ready
Before anything, you have to ensure you have all the materials needed for administering IV fluids by yourself at home. Being prepared in advance ensures the self-administration process will go smoothly.
The most important materials for this purpose include an IV bag, sterile gloves, gauze, alcohol, medical tape, a needle, and a catheter.
Keep your hands clean
One of the most important things you should do before handling an IV bag and materials is to wash your hands thoroughly and ensure they are completely clean. Keeping your hands and materials clean might minimize the possibility of infections.
Prepare the tube
You need to prime the tube to prevent bubbles from forming and air from getting into the bag. You could easily do this by holding the bag over your bathroom sink. Skipping this step might cause air to get stuck in the line, causing air embolism with fatal consequence.
Find a vein
Before you start searching for a vein, put your sterile gloves on. Then, look for a vein where you may insert the needle but avoid previous injection sites and infected or swollen areas on your arm. Nurses often recommend patients insert the IV infusion needle in a vein on their non-dominant arm.
Insert the IV
Once you find a prominent vein to insert the needle, it’s important to clean the area with alcohol to disinfect it and prevent bacteria from getting near it. Place the catheter and needle on a sterile surface before it’s time to use it.
Hold the catheter with your dominant hand and slowly insert the needle. If you see blood in the catheter hub, you might know if hitting the vein was successful. If you missed the vein, don’t poke around until you find one since this causing bruising and painful swelling.
Instead, give your arm some time to rest and try again after a few minutes. Once you have successfully completed the self-administration, secure the injected area with medical tape, hang the IV bag on a pole above your head, and let your body relax.
Monitor the fluid flow
After you administer IV fluids by yourself, it’s important to monitor the flow of the fluids depending on the position of the bag and catheter. Ensure the line is not tangled since this may cause irregular fluid flow in your system.
IV Fluid Delivery
Some people would rather get IV fluid delivery and have a nurse administer it for them instead of doing it alone. They don’t want to risk making a mistake during the self-administration process, because they know that mobile IV nurses might do it better.
Self-administering IV fluids is very stressful for some patients. Thankfully, you can reach out to a reputable IV provider to send a nurse straight to your location and take care of your well-being.
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Book an appointment
The first step in getting an IV blend delivered to your home, office, or any location is to book an appointment on the IV provider’s website. Fill in the application with your personal information, and a team member will contact you shortly.
Choose an IV drip
We offer a rich menu of IV blends patients can choose from. Whether you struggle with dehydration, low energy levels, or morning sickness, we have something for everybody. Take a look at our most popular and frequently requested IV drips.
The Classic Myers IV Cocktail is perfect for rehydration and overall rejuvenation. It contains vitamin C, B12, B-complex, zinc, glutathione, and magnesium which are necessary vitamins and minerals that promote rapid recovery.
The Hangover Helper is your best choice if you spent the previous night partying. It includes all ingredients of the Classic Myers, with the addition of pepcid, zofran, and toradol to ease the pain of your headache.
If you are looking for a way to boost your immune system, try The Total Prevention IV Cocktail. It offers a maximum dose of vitamins to keep you energized and physically prepared for any adventures and challenges life throws at you.
Are you an expecting mother struggling with common pregnancy symptoms like nausea and vomiting? The Mama Bear IV blend is the perfect morning sickness relief for you. The inclusion of pyridoxine might offer your body the ultimate relaxation.
High-achieving people are always on the go. Therefore, they might need a frequent energy boost to reach their top performance. Many athletes use The GOAT IV blend because it pushes their bodies beyond the limits.
At-home IV therapy
Our nurses aim to provide the patients with the most comfortable experience during at-home IV therapy administration. They may ensure that the IV is properly working and there are no possible infection risks.
After receiving IV fluids at home, the nurses may wait for some time to see how your body reacts to the therapy. They may also advise the patients to dispose of any materials used during the IV administration in the trash.
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Can I Start an IV at Home?
Many IV providers are qualified to administer IV therapy. But that doesn’t mean they can own and create IV blends or start a business administering IV infusions. The rules and regulations of performing IV therapy at home differ by state.
So, is it illegal to start an IV at home? Ensure you check the state’s requirements on who can do what to avoid legal problems.
Legal terms
IV therapy has become a very popular and desirable business model by healthcare providers all over the United States. But many services are unaware of the legal terms of starting an IV at home.
Review the laws in your state to determine who can own an IV practice.
For example, in the state of Arizona, opening an IV practice requires the service to have a professional on their team. Nurses, doctors, and emergency technicians are regarded as the only ones allowed to administer IV therapy in this area.
Safety
Safety should always be a priority for IV providers during home infusion therapy. The process of administering IV fluids in a home setting is usually regarded as safe. But nurses must monitor the patients’ reactions after they receive the IV.
The nurses administering IV infusions need to be highly skilled and trained in dealing with potential complications. The competency of a mobile IV service provider is measured by their patient approach, material sterilization, and the nurses’ education, knowledge, and experience.
Searching for Mobile IV Therapy in Central Arizona?
We are aware of how uncomfortable it is for patients to visit hospitals often. For this reason, our team offers patients the IV treatment they need from the comfort of their own homes or any other convenient location.
By trying our vitamin blends, you might get back on your feet in no time. We focus on including nourishing ingredients in our IV cocktails to provide patients with relaxation and pain relief. Also, we follow strict rules to ensure the safety of our patients when it comes to sterilizing materials.
So, can you get IV fluids at home? Whether you feel sick, exhausted, or uncomfortable and need something to boost your energy and promote better health, The Drip IV Infusion is here for you. We will come to you as soon as you need us.
Our business has expanded throughout many areas in Central Arizona, including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek Scottsdale, Tempe, SanTan Valley, and Phoenix. If you reside in any of these cities, don’t hesitate to contact us for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink water instead of getting an IV?
Getting IV fluids is not the only way of getting hydrated, but the effects may be visible faster than by drinking a lot of fluids. Also, some people’s digestive systems can’t tolerate high water intake, which is why they choose to get an IV instead.
How long do IV effects last?
After receiving the IV infusion, you might be able to feel the effects for a few hours. Some people have reported feeling the effects of an IV for a few days. After some time, the IV fluids will leave your body, but you might feel more replenished due to the vitamins and minerals your system has absorbed.
How to discover if I need an IV?
Extreme dehydration is the most common reason why patients get an IV. If you just landed from a long flight, spent a lot of time in the sun without drinking water, or are battling sickness with vomiting and diarrhea, you might need an IV.
Conclusion
We hope we helped you learn how to get IV fluids at home. Learning about mobile IV services and self-administration techniques is important because you never know when you or your loved ones might need them.
Before trying at-home IV therapy, ensure you do it safely, regardless of your chosen method. Prioritize your health and don’t do anything that might put you at risk and cause complications that might escalate to more serious conditions.
