Blood draw difficulties....

[Milpol]

Morning everyone,

Does anyone have any tips for me re the above.....

Every time I go for a blood test , whether private or NHS , they really struggle to find ANY vein in my arms, and if they do, my blood won’t come out !!!!!! I end up like a pin cushion, bruises that last for at least 2 weeks afterwards, and dreading the next time I have to go through it.

When I have NHS blood draws , and they can’t get any blood out of me, I’m told to go home , drink more and come back another time.

On the private side of things, they are more persistent because they know I’ve bought a kit, but last time it took the nurse 25 minutes to get anything out of me .

I deliberately start drinking litres of water , more than usual, several days before the test, so I know I’m well hydrated.

I have also noticed that the morning draws are the most difficult. I once had an afternoon draw and that was much easier, once the nurse could locate a vein.

Does anyone have any tips that I could use to try to minimise the trauma I seem to experience every time.

Many thanks 🙏

[shaws]

This excerpt may be helpful:-

"As for the small veins, I'm with you there. I always ask for a butterfly needle, the kind they use for babies. In fact, I *insist* on a butterfly needle even when a phlebotomist tells me they've been doing it for years and can get my vein without one. It takes longer to get the blood they need, but everyone ends up saving time in the long run because they aren't stabbing me for 10 minutes with a regular needle.

posted by mibo at 9:33 AM on August 1, 2013 [3 favorites]

Yes, ask for the butterfly needle. Also make sure you're well-hydrated, starting the day before.

posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:35 AM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]

You definitely want to be well hydrated; I've been told to drink a lot of water for at least a day or two in advance.

It helps to be warm, supposedly, although I've never noticed that makes a difference. This time of year it probably doesn't matter, but if it's winter, wear long sleeves that day. I've heard some people will put a heating pad on their arm for a while before the draw."

One person even has to lie down for blood to be drawn. This is the link:-

ask.metafilter.com/245821/M...

[Milpol in reply to shaws]

Thanks so much shaws. That info is really helpful.

I have never heard of a butterfly needle !

I am so ignorant .....

I would read up more but my brain fog is so bad I can’t focus and absorb what I’m reading.

Will definitely ask for this type of needle next time.

Presumably, these needles are available when going for NHS tests ??

[shaws in reply to Milpol]

I haven't either but if you have blood drawn in surgery, enquire whether or not they have a butterfly needle and if not get one from chemist or 100 from Amazon for £8.95.

Excerpt:

Butterfly Touch Lancets (100)

About the product

VARIABLE GAUGE - Its patent-pending tri-beveled angled tip ranges from 30g to 36g, and provides a robust pain-free lancing experience. Those with thicker skin can still get the required amount of blood for their test meter while taking advantage of a thinner gauge to avoid pain.

MINIMIZED VIBRATION - When a conventional lancet punctures the skin, it vibrates, wiggles and buckles. This side-to-side movement causes more pain than if the needle goes vertically in and out. Butterfly Touch Lancets are made with extremely rigid metal, alongside a vibration-dampening plastic base which helps absorb needle movement.

CONSISTENT QUALITY - Lancet length, straightness and thickness are accurate within a 0.01°, ensured by 3 extra manufacturing procedures and quality tests. Butterfly Touch lancets are made with polished, smooth stainless steel with a conformal coating on the safety cap, ensuring quality for years. The smoother the surface, the more the needle glides through the skin without tearing and pulling, reducing pain with any lancing device.

FITS MOST LANCING DEVICES - Butterfly Touch Lancets were designed for use with the new Genteel Lancing Device. They also are compatible with these popular brands: Soft Touch, Soft Touch II, BD Lancet Device, OneTouch UltraSoft, FreeStyle, Microlet, Microlet 2, Vaculance, Auto-Lancet, Penlet Plus, Penlet II, On Call Plus, and many other square-based lancet holders.

amazon.co.uk/Genteel-Butter...

[Milpol in reply to shaws]

That’s brilliant shaws, thanks. Do I need to buy any attachments for these lancets or will they fit to the vacutainers from Medichecks?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I found it improved as dose was slowly increased and became less hypothyroid. Initially always too cold and sluggish, then my blood was in hiding and extremely difficult to extract.

[Milpol in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry to hear you have problems there too SlowDragon, though it does help to know there are others like me.

I find myself always apologising to the nurse as I feel awful it’s never straight forward for them .....

[Clarrisa]

There is often a range of expertise amongst staff on duty for working with challenging veins. Are they using their most seasoned phlebotomist to draw your blood? Explain that there has been much difficulty in the past, you would appreciate their send you their best under the circumstances to draw your blood, you are willing to wait.

The absolutely superb phlebotomists with smaller veins (success rate pushing 100 percent first attempt) where I worked had regular clientele like a hair dresser would. When they called in sick some blood donors would reschedule their appointments! Should you have a choice of locations to sit, choose wherever the natural lighting is best. Keep your shoulder as well as your forearm warm for the draw. Community blood donors are given salty food like pretzels after donations to help get them to drink even more water. Perhaps a bit more salt in your food in advance of a blood draw might help further with hydration(?). Visualize the Amazon river following thru your arm during your draw.

[Milpol in reply to Clarrisa]

Love this Clarrisa ..... I will try.... and will add salt too as I never add salt to food.

Unfortunately here in the U.K. you get whoever is on duty at the time. No way could you choose a phlebotomist! 😩

[Clarrisa in reply to Milpol]

If you can schedule your appointment strategically do so by avoiding crowded days & times. Try to avoid weekends, holidays & days staff are just coming off them (they may have been up late). Friday is the end of the week, staff may be tired or have their mind on other matters. Tuesday's & Wednesday's are perhaps best (if not crowded).

[Milpol in reply to Clarrisa]

Thank Clarrisa , that’s a good idea.

Will bear it in mind next time I’m due a dreaded blood draw 😩

[serenfach]

We used to get patients to "windmill" their arms, if you get my meaning. Flap the whole arm around as if you are trying to get rid of a wasp that is hanging around your nether regions. You may get a few odd looks but it usually worked!

[Milpol in reply to serenfach]

Thanks serenfach for the tip. Will definitely try that. Don’t care 🤷‍♀️ what people think..... anything to make it easier xx

[Maya_83]

Hi Milpol. I'm a phlebotomist myself, you shouldn't have to ask for a blue butterfly needle as that should be used in deep or complicated veins.

Be sure to be warm on those days when you're having a blood test, helps the blood flow quicker.

And yes being hydrated helps a lot too.

X

[Milpol in reply to Maya_83]

Thanks for the tip Maya 83.

Sorry if I’m being thick, ( brain fog), so is a butterfly needle not suitable for me ?

Phlebotomists always have difficulty even finding my veins let alone getting any blood out of them 😞

[Maya_83 in reply to Milpol]

Blue butterfly needle is defo needed for you. So ask for that one next time.

Do they try to draw blood from your hand?

[Milpol in reply to Maya_83]

Yes the nurse managed to finally draw blood from the back of my hand but that was after she had had a try in both my arms first. I will definitely ask for them to take it from the back of my hand next time.

Thank you Maya 83, for your advice. It’s very much appreciated.

[ShinyB]

You have my utter sympathies. My veins run away as soon as I even think about ordering a blood test...

The things I have found to help are:

Drinking plenty of water, starting a few days before a test;

Keeping my arm warm beforehand;

On the day of a test, I start clenching and unclenching my hand as soon as I get up;

Get my blood circulating by moving around as much as I can, beforehand;

When I'm sat waiting for the test, I shake my hand and arm around - yes, you get odd looks lol - and also jiggle my legs;

I also gently rub the skin where the needle will go in, to warm it and apparently it brings the veins to the surface.

Whether some of these things do work or are just ways of keeping my mind occupied, I'm not sure. But they certainly seem to help. I've now got much better at having blood drawn. However, to try to save some money, I got a friend who works at the hospital to take my blood this week via a finger prick method. I was pathetic. Truly. Sobbed. I guess it was the newness of it, as I'd got so much better with needles.

The other big factor for me is to look away and talk rapidly about any nonsense that comes in to my head, as part of my problem with veins disappearing is that I am so squeamish, so distraction is key. It doesn't work for me for the phlebotomist to talk to me, I have to be the one yakking away lol.

I hope you have a better experience next time. The butterfly thing sounds worth asking for.

[Milpol in reply to ShinyB]

Many thanks ShinyB for so many tips. I do employ some of them but there are some tips you’ve mentioned that are new to me, so will try.

You sound a lot like me, using distraction tactics to get through it.

I will pm you when my friend arrives so we can organise a catch up. 😘

[ShinyB in reply to Milpol]

I shall look forward to that