After having blood numbers run on Tuesday, and a phlebotomy, it took 5 cracks at the “draw” today just to do a simple cholesterol testing! How much blood do they think I have?!?
Sorry, I had promised I wasn’t going to whine … but … darn! I have more holes in my arms (yes, both of them) than a druggie!
OK … all done!
Betty I had blood work done yesterday. They stuck just one needle in my arm then just kept filling different vials from the same needle device thingybobber watchamacallit. You should find a lab that uses that type of thingybobber. Saves having them stick so many holes in your arm. 
PS. I failed my blood test because I didn’t study hard enough. :rolleyes:
Oh, heck no!! They just couldn’t get anything to come out!! One gal took a couple cracks at it … nothing. The other one took a couple cracks at it … nothing. The third one came in and, poof! Right off the bat! I’m just running out of blood!!
When I go in for my annual, for some reason, the tests are run over the course of two days. I try to get them to take all the blood at one time, since I’m already plugged in, but since it takes 2 clinics (in the same hospital) one outlet doesn’t serve all. At the end of the 2 days, I’ve been stuck so many times, mu arms look like a pin cushion. It’s really aggrivating.
I feel your pain!
Chris
Hey there Betty…
My Doc. wants blood tests evey 60 days. The Phlebotomists always have trouble with the veins in my arm being too deep, so they been tappin the back of my hand for the last year or so, and it works pretty dang good. Way less trouble for them, little or no bruise, or soreness, and they hit a vein first stab nearly every time. I’m likin’ that way better…Just my take on the blood draw thing…ModocDan 
I will bring that up to him!! Sounds good. I’ve been on a two week schedule for monitoring and phlebotomies for the last couple months, and just got moved to 30 days! Yippie Skippie!!!
No more liver or spinach for you! And no more chewing up nails, either. (At this point I suppose that I could make a comment about chewing out Brads, but where’s the point of that?..)
Ed
Liver or spinach? Blaaahhhhh! Not on a you-darn-betcha!!! Actually it’s from high doses of White Cheddar Cheez-its!!!:rolleyes:
May not like the process, but it sure beats the alternatives!!!
That is exactly what I have them do to me too. MoDocDan is 100% correct about this. Give it a try, Betty.
I’m also with modocdan and nighthawk. The back of the hand is the only way for me too.
Betty …
I have the same problem. They always want me to fast for 24 hours before the test. Because of this I dehydrate and my veins sort of collapse. Even though I try to drink all kinds of water.
It is usually better for them to pick a vein in the back of you hand when this happens. There is a bit more pain but at least they get it in one shot. (They don?t have to keep moving the needle around trying to pierce the vein. Or trying new spots.)
I have also found that it is easier if you ask them to use a Butterfly needle. It is about 1/3 the size of a regular needle with tape wings attached to it and surgical tubing coming off the end to a collection vial. (Kinda like they use for IVs.) Once they find the vein they just tape the needle in place and can keep filling up vials till they are done.
[COLOR=seagreen]MUCH EASIER.[/COLOR]
Hope this helps,
DickM.
Your Royal Highness;
I don’t know how you’ve managed to combine “Short Pants” and “Blood Tests” together, in the same posting, but I suppose YOU know, why you did it!?
Regardless, why don’t you save your poor arms/veins and low blood supply,(and the docs a lot of trouble) and just take in a box of White Cheddar Cheez-its next time and tell them; “Here! This is the same as my blood, so test these and leave my arms alone!”
I’m also happy, to hear that you’ve moved up to “every 30 days”, since that’s a good indication of how you’re improving!
Hey Betty!
“I feel your pain” My current record is six sticks. The techs are pretty good but I guess everybody has a bad day. I just wish they wouldn’t have them on me (sounds like they had one on you today)!
I’ve also been advised to stay well hydrated before a draw and it does seem to help but I’ve got “shy” veins. The back of the hand is sometimes the only option but it hurts a bit more than in the arm but it’s a lot less painful to get stuck once in the hand than multiple times in the arm! Hope you have better luck next time and I sure hope your numbers come back good!
Have you tried the leeches yet? All you have to do is wet wade in any of the local creeks 
A good phlebotomist will also know that the “top” of the forearm may have a good vein.
Betty, Betty, Betty you are doing it all wrong. this is want I do. Very easy and makes the nurse or whom ever pay attention and get it right the first time. I look them dead in the eye while a low growl starts in my throut, then snarl you have one F*****G time to get it right or I draw your blood the hard way got it. For some reason this works everytime for me. Don’t know why but it does. They aways use a butterfly needle when drawing my blood. Hope this helps
Betty do you feel like a pin cushion? Bless your heart. I have been blessed with good veins, but, I have seen others go threw what you are talking about so I can imagine how ya feel. Glad you are down to once a month…
Betty, I only had trouble 1 time. They placed a hot towel on my arm for a bit and everything came out fine. They also mentioned to me that there was a storm front heading in, and that tends to make blood draws very difficult. Hope this helps. They too mentioned that it helps to drink a lot of water prior to being drawn.
Betty,
I’m with all the back of the hand folks! Been getting mine done that way with a butterfly needle and it works just fine. Also helps to have a really experienced “driller” go after it. Got so now that my daily stick for blood sugar check has about rendered my forearms useless much of the time. The good old veins, like my hairline, have receded to depths unknown now! Used to stick out like ropes; but, have gone the way of the water levels in our streams now. Good luck with the next one.
You guys are great!!! Super ideas that I will certainly try!
The phlebotomy bunch does sooooo many draws and drains that they’ve never had any trouble. Just the GP’s office! Go figure! And they really do try hard … they don’t like it when I check out the pattern of the floor tile up close!! :p:rolleyes: