Hello! Anyone else out there have difficult veins? I have been in treatment since 2018 and they always have trouble finding my veins for blood draws and iv's. I try to stay hydrated and use heat packs right before but that doesn't always help. For convenience I have been asking them to draw blood from my right hand because there is a nice, very visible vein there. I have been doing this for years, but after my last blood draw in November, my index finger and knuckle swelled and are still swollen. I was referred to a hand therapist after seeeing an orthopedic hand specialist. Both the doctor and the therapist believe the blood draw is the cause of the swelling and have advised me not to have blood drawn from my hand anymore. If I were getting iv chemo I would definitely ask for a port, but that seems excessive for just blood draws and the occasional iv to inject contrast for scans. Anyone have any suggestions?
Difficult veins: Hello! Anyone else... - SHARE Metastatic ...
Difficult veins
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I absolutely hate being stuck for blood draws and IV’s. My veins are ok but sometimes incompetent people have stuck me 3 times which causes me to about pass out. So I’ve kept my port for almost 10 years even though I’m not on IV chemo. I use my port for blood draws and injections for scans at M D Anderson. For me, it’s been worth it. But I know not everyone will use it for blood draws.
Thanks for your reply. There have been many occasions where I have been stuck multiple times. Glad to hear that the port work well for you!
I agree with you that I think a port is excessive just for draws and scans. Although it’s easier than being stuck with a needle (for us challenging ones) , it adds a much higher risk of infection if they don’t follow proper procedure. I used to get my labs done at Labcorp but there’s no way I’d want them accessing my port for bloodwork.
Interestingly I’m getting a scan done this week , had to choose a location new to me to get an appointment quickly, and they asked for a script from my doc for port access. But the nurse later told me that my doc would prefer they don’t use the port for my scan, I’ve no idea why!
Anyway, so I’ll be getting stuck this week and dread who I might get but , and this is something I forget to do, if you do something like, pushups against the wall, or pump something with your hand it will help plump up your veins. I recently saw a post where the person said she had bought a hand pump gadget that weight trainers use to strengthen their hands, and that it helped her immensely . Or even pump squeezing a small squishy ball might help
That is interesting--thank you for sharing that! I will try that.
Hi Michelangelina; I had lymph nodes removed on my left side so they only have my right arm to draw from. I'm in the same position as you. I always ask for the same person to draw my blood as she teaches at a local college and she is excellent. My veins are small but she says she finds the perfect spot by feel. Someone told me to use a squishy ball to strengthen the muscles but she says no. She said it can cause a build-up of potassium which can cause a host of other problems. Please ask your doctor before trying that. You don't need any other health problems!! Wishing you the best!
Hand grip tool like this one
Thank you! I don’t think I have the strength to grip these but I definitely will try the squishy stress balls! What a great idea!
I'd so often find myself sitting there waiting for the nurse to enter the cubicle and only then start to frantically open and clench my hand in an attempt to get the blood pumping better 😆 Having something to actually squeeze would be more effective, the issue is remembering to take something!
I recently had a colonoscopy and the nurse used ultrasound to locate a vein.., her effort was excruciating..I cried! The next time was about a week ago when I needed an iv for surgery and I spent my prop waiting time to flex my arms repeatedly in the waiting room. (God only knows what the other people thought I was doing)…well, my veins looked great and the nurse put it in without any pain! I think your advice to pump up the veins in excellent! Thank you again!
It’s certainly an issue! I’m coming up on 10 years of only using my left arm. My veins are not easy to find either. Have you asked your facility to use a vein finder? That helped immensely for years. My current facility does not have one, ridiculous in my mind. They can no longer use the run below my elbow to my wrist because they blow out. I’ve been having them use the vein on the inside of my wrist. They don’t like using it, but it works fine. I don’t want a port either. And I’ve found out that they can’t necessarily use a port for everything . Also, don’t be afraid to ask for their most experienced person to do your draw. I do that a lot! It’s your body, you can ask for what or who you need. The goal is comfort while being treated. Good luck!
What is a vein finder? And how does it work?
It is a hand held device, just a bit bigger than a remote control for a tv. It emits some kind of light that allows you to see through the skin and see all the veins inside. Very simple and useful.
Yes, please ask for their most knowledgable person. Last week, I had my CT with contrast. They poked me 3 times to get the IV in. The first nurse tried twice. She caught another nurse who was actually leaving for the day. Now, I know who to ask for. Also, for my monthly draws I find that going to the clinic where the oncology center is at is usually a better bet. One of the guys there said they have more experience with hard sticks than the other local clinics. There is one guy there, I don't know how he does it, but always gets a vein on the first try. I only have one arm to use so we are a bit limited.
I have lymphedema in one arm — the one that has great veins but can’t be used, and the other arm is the one that had chemo 15 years ago and the veins are impossible now. I had a brain MRI and it took them 2 hours of trying to set up an IV until they finally called a picc nurse. Honestly I really wanted to punch someone.
Now when I schedule imaging, I ask that they provide a picc nurse — they use ultrasound to locate veins.
Yes, that’s been my request now if they need a big vein for IV saline infusions…they use a big cannula so it can be painful if they have to hunt for it…
Thanks for the suggestion. They did use ultrasound to find my veins when I had my lumpectomy--perhaps I should request routinely. I get my care at Stanford Cancer Center South Bay in San Jose--I believe you are also in the south SF Bay Area. Do you go to Stanford?
Hiya,
I have had this problem for almost 2 years now. I had blood taken today and was told it is quite likely due to the drugs. However, they had a clever machine they call a "Vein Finder" and it had worked twice now. They don't seem to have them in many places, so try to plan my blood tests when I go to places where they have them. It is some kind of ultrasound machine I believe.
I also don't want to get a port in until absolutely necessary.
Take care, Sissi
I have small veins which roll easily. Fortunately, there is one obvious vein close to the surface in my left arm which has now become enlarged. I usually have a messy-looking bruise after blood work, but I prefer this to a nurse probing me several times trying to input a line elsewhere.
tell me about it… The 3 monthly routine test is now a right ordeal as the only arm available has veins that were used for chemo 3 yrs ago and are all scarred up. They switch technicians after two failed attempts and my heart sinks as I’m then given someone who failed the previous time which doesn’t help. My ulnar artery is also unusable in that arm due to a traumatic cardiac catheterisation despite me saying the pain was intense and now ops are an ordeal because I often need direct arterial pressure monitoring. . That doctor’s name is scarred into my brain and I changed teams after that. I was considering asking the technicians to use the lymphy arm or getting a port but the suggestions on here are great and have given me hope. Thank you to all
Ugh…so sorry you've had this experience…do they care if yiu cry in pain? A bad doctor can ruin future experiences…❤️🩹❤️🩹
I think I screeched with the arterial one and yes it definitely increases the anxiety for a time until i. get a run of good ones. How about you? For the routine bloods was told to ask for a thin needle and will ask re vein finder for the infusions which need the big needles - although bizarrely they are easier and less painful. I think it’s the scarring. The routine ones push it im, get nothing, push a bit further, cone out other side then withdraw a bit. Because I’m on warfarin that can be a !bruising’ experience’ afterwards. One time I had- golf ball size lump which hadn’t clicked tok I got in car to drive off then had to go all way back again to the clinic.
I have difficult veins, too. They can only use one arm because of the mastectomy on my right side, at least that is what I have been told. The vein in my left arm moves and is very close to an artery, so they have to use my hand. Sometimes I get someone who knows what they are doing and they find the vein right away, but many times I get stuck several times, either for an IV for Pet Scan or blood draws. I am meeting with a new doctor and am going to ask her if the arm on the right side could be used since it has been 12 years since my mastectomy and they only removed sentinel nodes. It would give them more options. Also, I am going to try the idea of squeezing a ball or lifting a weight beforehand. Best wishes to you.
My nurse navigator at Stanford told me that research shows that it is safe to use the mastectomy side. I have been using that side for years until this recent problem and I have not developed lymphedema. Like you, I only had sentinel nodes removed. But now I think it may be time for me to switch sides, although that is going to be challenging because there are no good veins on the other side. Best wishe to you as well!
Yes I’d read that it was safe to use the surgeried arm and it’s probably more about how extensive the node surgery was as you say and whether people do preventative activity to reduce/manage that risk and whether they are able to get prompt help were there to be early signs of infection. Mine was total clearance due to extensive positive nodes and I had great help from the clinicians who have looked after/taught me well. Gets to a point when you start to consider that option though…
Thank you for that information. The lab says it should be okay, but the doctor and nurse say no. It would give another option to my left hand being abused!
After many bad experiences,(veins blowing, blood wasn’t coming out, no good veins) I had a port placed. I am receiving Ibrance pills and Faslodex injections for Mets. But I also need frequent fluids for dehydration. When getting a port placed was first mentioned, I was hoping it wouldn’t be necessary. I will say that since having it placed I am not as anxious about sticks.
Thank you so much for asking this question. After almost four years of treatments and blood draws I'm beginning to have trouble with vein access. The replies have provided me with information and hope.
Hi! Yes! I do!! That’s why I have a port. This is my second time around and I also had a port the first time. I love it and couldn’t get through this journey without it. 🩷
Are you still on enhertu? How are you doing ?
Yes!!! I am!! Doing great. Some weeks better than others with the exhaustion, but otherwise good!!! How are you??? I’m sorry time gets away with me and I don’t check in as often as I should!!! I hope you’re doing AWESOME. 🙏🏻🩷🙏🏻
That’s awesome🙌. My mom is the one that’s actually on it. She’s doing good. She started in August . No worries! I think it’s good for you not to check in to often!! Pray it continues working for a long time 🙏
I love having my port, at first I was so resistant but afterwards I was really happy they did it - I had to have chemo and probably need to have more in the future. I had too many lymph nodes removed back in 1998, like 21 of them when I had early breast cancer. So I don't want lymphedema on my left arm as I have neuropathy on my left arm due to a large tumor that was under my armpit went from 6.3 to 3.4 and it's no longer active. I love how I can be in and out with blood work which I am right now getting about every 3 weeks. And if I go to the hospital there's a chemo/PICC line nurse that will set me up each time. My doctor is ok with this since she knows everyone (that deals with cancer or other things related to ports or PICC lines) in the hospital that is just next door to her cancer center. But I really understand the emotional distress that getting stuck multiple times. I tightened up and kinda of stressed out and found myself holding my breath every time.
I had a SMX in 2012 so they couldn't use my right arm at all, then in 2021 SMX to the left side so they started using the right arm again. First year wasn't terrible, usually only 2 o3 sticks to get blood. But after a while, as you said even the veins in the hands start to go. That's when they started using my ankle for blood draws, although IV they still had to get the sonogram out to hope to find a usable vein. When I was hospitalized last fall they had to put the PICC line in my jugular. My Oncologist has finally convinced me that I need a port even though I am not on IV chemo. My suggestion is to have them use a sonogram to find a deeper vein for IVs, and consider blood draws from the ankle (they are a little more painful but to me it was better than numerous sticks to try and find a vein that wouldn't collapse or burst). Best of Luck to you!
had to get an iv today for surgery on I,Ian fracture surgery…did the clenching and pumping while waiting to be admitted…the iv was easy peasy! Shocked st how painless it was without any issues…maybe there’s something to the pumping to prime the veins!
Had a port installed shortly after being diagnosed at Moffitt Cancer Center due to small, bouncing veins that took many sticks to hit one. I am not on any IV 's but I want to keep it. Everyone who has ever tried to access a vein ends up torturing me. Have had no problems with the port and want to keep it forever. Best wishes to all! Hannah
Hi, same problem. Now I have a port, which is eorking fine to take blood but not for MRT/CT contrast stuff. I am not on IV chemo at the moment.
Hi! Thanks for your reply. So they can't use the port to inject contrast? That's a shame!
I think it’s because only a nurse can use the port. That’s the case here anyway. So if you need a blood draw it needs to be by a nurse not a phlebotomist. I decided against a port when I had IV chemo and I did regret that in a way. The doctor suggested it because I’m not a fan of injections but she also pointed out they’re not a total solution as it needs to be checked every six weeks and its usage is limited.
I hear you about blood draws!! I give whoever is drawing blood one chance. After that, I tell them to find someone else. I know I must have a cranky picture by my name in the records...
The techs who do the monthly draws are way better than the Zometa folks or the scan people. Not sure why. I ask then to get a vein light and a warm blanket for my arm. that seems to help.
Not fun for sure!
I love this forum and I love you all. I thank the gods and goddesses for all of you. I learn so much from you all.
And this post here of yours michelangelina, is a perfect example.❤️🙏🏻
Always
I too have limited veins. There is a vein on the backside of your forearm. I had no idea there was a large vein there until some talented nurse “discovered” it. Please ask them to try. Here is a map - this vein is on the BACK of your forearm , sort of on the side
I am sorry this is happening to you but believe me I understand. I am on Ibrance so monthly draws are part of my life. On top of the scans and the IV contrast - yuck. I still have my port which when I have it flushed every three months they will draw my blood at the same time. When having scans I tell them I am a hard stick and they will have the "port team" come and access it. I tell the nurses not to "dig around" if they can't find a vein or I will pass out. If no port team is available, they will have the "head nurse" come and she/he is able to get a vein. I've been going to a labcorp every month at the local hospital and there are a few folks there who are perfect. For a few years I would ONLY go to the infusion center to have my labs done thru my port. It was scheduled in advance so no issues. I chug essential water and walk really fast to the office, this seems to help get my veins ready to go. Another thing I'll share is if you are getting IV contrast for a scan -- ask the tech to push the contrast SLOW. When they have gone too fast, I barf in the machine-- yeah I know. A nurse told me about the slow contrast push and all is good.
Take care
Tara