Infusion and poor veins

[lizzziep]

I’m due to have an iron infusion tomorrow, however, my veins aren’t very good. When having blood taken they take it from my hands, even the most experienced phlebotomist can’t get any from my arms. Apparently my veins are very deep and weak, and often blow when having blood taken out. Will they still be able to do the infusion?

[beetle]

I’m afraid the simple answer to that question is that it depends on the skill level of person trying to insert the cannula. I have very difficult veins that some people can access immediately and my worst experience was at a London hospital where they failed to cannulate me after 18 attempts by 4 different people. I have a portacath now but even that has access issues too. Good luck

[lizzziep in reply to beetle]

thank you. My worst one was a phlebotomist who said he had never failed to get blood from an arm, after a painful (for me) 15 minutes he threw his gloves in a corner, shoved the equipment trolley across the room and walked out, no apology, one of the girls then came in and took it from my hands.

[beetle in reply to lizzziep]

That is outrageous!

[lizzziep in reply to beetle]

It was! Had the infusion yesterday, the nurses on the ward couldn’t find a vein (only pierced the skin once) so they sent for a vascular nurse who got one straight away, then cannula fitted and away we went. So not as bad as I feared, just hope it’s worked.

[beetle in reply to lizzziep]

so glad for you. My London experience included their specialist cannulation team using ultrasound! I remember really upsetting an anaesthetist in Scotland who failed to cannulate me- a first for him but at least he didn’t throw his toys out of the pram😂. A doctor once said that he thought someone with an interesting blood condition like mine would at least give them access to it!

I dread going into A&E because they won’t try to access my port and often really struggle to find a vein.

Best wishes, Jan

[artydutch]

I totally understand. I also have the same problem and aenesthetic struggle to cannula the. My hand and wrist are still very sore and full of lumps and bruises from the last procedure 6 weeks ago. I often wonder why the small vein scanner is not used everywhere. I can dread the cannulation more than the procedure. The behaviour of the phlebotomist was disgraceful..

[lizzziep]

I don’t know whether they’ve got a small vein scanner!