Failed venesection

[EleanorPV]

Haematocrit of 47. Hospital failed to get any blood before I fainted. Any tips on how to help veins repair quickly ? I’m using ice packs.

[Aime]

Hi Eleanor, sorry to hear of your experience. When I’m getting ordinary blood tests, I get them taken from the veins on the back of my hand so as to save the veins in my arms. When I’m waiting I drink loads of water and try and keep my arms warm to encourage the veins to appear. Every sympathy, kind regards Aime xx😺😺

[EleanorPV in reply to Aime]

Thanks Aime. Yes that’s my rules too. Didn’t work this time xx

[Hidden]

Poor you

When I was on weekly venisections, I used to swap arms each time but it was still awfully painful.

It's certainly not a pleasant experience, I dread it!

Hope they manage better next time.

Regards, Joyce

[Paul123456]

Sorry to hear about your traumatic day. I find this helpful.

netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/s...

When I have a venesection I ask nurse to tape on a cotton wool pad as tight as possible to compress the ‘wound’. This seems to greatly alleviate bruising. I leave on for 24 hrs.

Then apply arnica or hirudoid cream for a few days.

I use an ultrasound machine after about a week, on a shallow low setting, to help further reduce any hardening. Only once or twice and for 5 mins.

I also start exercising my arms again to build up muscle strength since I figure the more muscle, the more blood flood and the better the veins.

Reckon the above has halved my turnaround time.

[EleanorPV in reply to Paul123456]

Wow Paul. Thanks.

[MPort]

Hi Eleanor,

I sympathise and emphatise. I too have had traumatic experiences with some of the many venesections I have had.

I sometimes think it is the plebotomist's skill that is the problem. Certainly I have had a wide variety of skills level, sometimes I felt very little and it was over - to my great surprise. Others wanted to wiggle the needle in the vein. The pain and subsequent brushing were bad. The very best one was a very chatty girl who set it up and sat on the floor with the bag. The bag was full so quickly she took half too much.

I have had ice packs and warm pads. Feet up, head up, lying flat. This was with the least skillful who I had for 3 years. But I also think it is luck. Sufficient fluids well ahead, being calm and using different vein sites. One of my arms can no longer be used so I think Paul's ideas are worth considering for me.

Hope all the advice you get here helps a little to make those necessary venesections easier.

Mairead

[EleanorPV in reply to MPort]

Thanks Mairead, I think lack of experience but mainly, a Friday afternoon was never going to be an idea time. Nobody on the ward, understood the significance of my high HCT (also all the various symptoms which goes with it

[Aime]

Hi Eleanor, I think one of the clinic nurses told me that if they put a fluid drip in before they take off blood, it makes it easier but that still means they have to find a vein first.

Kind regards Aime xx🙁

[EleanorPV in reply to Aime]

Yip my blood usually flows fine, if I get a nurse who can find a vein 😜

[JSKly]

Hi Eleanor, I am sorry you had a bad venesection experience. When this happens it can make us more tense next time. I've had very many over the years and in different parts of the world including Beijing, NZ, US, Scotland and different places in England. Where I am now is proving to be one of the worst. But I did have a 'good' one this week. I too drink lots of water and I exercise lifting little weights etc as well as standing up and sitting down. Anything to get the heart beating faster beforehand.

I do hope your next experience is a happier one.

[Kari1961]

Hi Eleanor. This happens to me often - I'd say 9 out of 10 regular venections fail. I have very small, fragile, kinky, bendy veins - they are either impossible to find or blow within minutes of a venesection needle being inserted... I've tried everything mentioned above on many occasions without a positive outcome. The only thing which is guaranteed to work for me is a cannula inserted near my wrist. My experience of this procedure is that it's painless and has worked every time, with minimal bruising. It's my understanding that a specialist nurse has to be on hand to insert a cannula, so it may be best to mention it at your next clinic appointment.

[EleanorPV in reply to Kari1961]

Thank you. Yes I’m looking for the most experienced nurse, I can find. No hiccups needed this time. 😜