blood tests

[Welsh92]

I usually bruise and come out In positive pathergy after blood tests. But today this one hurt a lot! And it looks like blood pooled under the skin, it’s quite sore and very tender.

Does anyone else get this?

[gillianTS]

Yes and in many instances much worse. It really is up to the person taking the bloods. I have EDS and expect some of this but I have got into the habit now over the last 10 years or more of saying can I have a fine needle please and explain my reasoning thst I bruise easily, to which the reply is usually yes they are all fine needles now. I have had experiences where I had to make a complaint to the head of the department and provide photographs with blood under the skin inches up and down my arm. The person had to get more training. When I go into certain departments for bloods I can guarantee this happening like you have to dome degree and yet others departments there is absolutely no visible sign whatsoever and yet it can be for the same blood tests, it really is I feel sure the person taking it.

My only advice would be to tell them you need a fine needle, regardless of the needles are all now fine. Keep your arm(s) warm and start to flex you hands with slight pressure on the bicep prior to going in for the test. When I have a cannula in my hand I wear gloves before they insert these. An anesthetist got very upset with me on a tolley going into theatre because he could not get a vein in, my cold hands. Afterwards when he had walked away a nice nurse gave me the advice to keep my hands warm if I ever needed this in the future. My hands were left blank afterwards.