Bad veins and thyroid

[dizzyarmadillo]

After my most recent blood test (thyroid function and short synacthen test) and it taking seven attempts and three members of staff tho take three blood samples, I wondered if anyone else struggles with veinous access for blood draws?

I am always well hydrated in advance and my veins have always been deep, but this never posed an issue when I was euthyroid. It seems as though whenever I have thyroid issues my veins just fall flat (literally, the nurses can barely feel them).

Any advice or similar experiences would be appreciated! I'm sure the phlebotomists all hide when I come in 🙈

[seveneleven]

Don't know if it's a thyroid thing, but I had the same the other week - took 3 goes to get anything out, and then I passed out on the third (successful) attempt. Never had trouble getting blood done. I tend towards dehydration though because of POTs and difficulty holding on to sodium etc - might be some overlap with thyroid flares in terms of being able to get properly hydrated/electrolyte imbalances? Wonder if it's also just everything being really slow when hypo - body just doesn't want to give up any blood sometimes!

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

My sister has this issue, we have connective tissue problems in the family. It was a complete nightmare for her when she was having cancer treatment and they did discuss putting in a port to make it easier but I don't think they did in the end.

All you can do really are the usual measures suggested for doing the finger prick blood tests to get your blood flowing.

Hydrate well.

Take a shower or bath before the blood draw.

Do some light exercise like running up and down the stairs or arm exercises like windmills.

Immerse arm in warm water.

seveneleven

Strangely although I do have hEDS I don't have the blood draw issues. 🤷‍♀️

[seveneleven in reply to Jaydee1507]

Ah, yes, a fellow EDSer. Aye it had never happened to me before - have passed out but never had to try multiple veins. I swear the phlebotomist at this private clinic thought I was lying and had dehydrated myself on purpose and not had breakfast just to be difficult 😂

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to seveneleven]

Oh no, but I do understand. When you aren't believed as routine, I think paranoia does tend to creep in!

[McPammy]

only once this happened when my cortisol was as under range. Has your 9am cortisol been checked ever and have you had a synacthen test at all

[dizzyarmadillo in reply to McPammy]

That's interesting about the cortisol.... I had a 9am cortisol in May (result 183mmol/L - range not given). The blood test yesterday was the short synacthen test, I'll find out the results when I see the endo in August.

[McPammy]

you could check with your GP surgery as to what the range is. The range I was given is 155-650. But labs may vary a bit. 183 seems pretty low though at 9am. Probably why your having a synacthen test. You can always call the Endo’s secretary for the results rather than having to wait until August. I recently had a synacthen test and my results doubled with the false ACTH they give you. I felt marvellous afterwards for over a day then back to normal which I feel pretty well on too. Do you use patients access to check your records, tests results etc. if not then also request this from your Gp administration group. It normally gives you test results with ranges. Also good for checking letters etc.

The thing that brought my cortisol higher and normal was adding liothyronine T3 medication along with my usual T4 levothyroxine medication. I found out privately that I’m a very poor converter of levothyroxine T4 to the most important T3. Do you get your T3 checked. Are you a poor converter?

[arTistapple]

I definitely have a problem. I often have to get blood drawn from the back of my hand and they hate that because it’s much more likely to cause bruising. It takes an experienced individual to get blood out of this stone. I have no idea if it’s a thyroid thing. I was told I had very small arteries and veins. I worried about this because I am very overweight, high cholesterol etc and previous heart attack. With everything I have learned on the forum, I now consider this ‘story’ to be pure gaslighting. I take everything I am told by medics and medical staff (sometimes eventually) with a huge pinch of salt. Even a phlebotomist I guess has professional pride to protect. In the end it’s always somehow the patients fault.

[Batty1]

I never had issues with blood draws until after my thyroidectomy and its gotten so bad …. I come out of the lab looking like I was beaten and dreading the next time.