Do nurses struggle to take your blood? I have the WORST time. I end up getting stuck multiple times. Supposedly I have "thin veins" and "rolling veins".
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Fortunately no. They can find a vein easily. Some days (like today) my blood flow isn't very fast. I get impatient at how long it takes to fill up the tube.
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Ugh. Yes. When I had DD they pricked me eight times for two draws. My veins look good but move.
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Yes. I've found it's worse if I have to have it done first thing in the morning because I'm dehydrated. Once I started chugging water before I went it got a bit easier.
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yes, I dread it.
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Yep. And my arms look terrible after. Bruising everywhere
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Yes. I am easily dehydrated and my veins are awful. For my beta, it took 4 people, both arms and 17 sticks (including 2 butterfly needles in my hands!) to draw my beta.
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I usually don't have a problem getting blood taken, but having IVs put in has been awful. When I was in ante partum they stuck me three times before getting the IV placed and I had huge bruises for weeks.
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No, and thank god for that because I am a total needle phobic. I always warn them beforehand that there is NO second try. If they can't get it in I'm coming back a different day!
Obviously that isn't an option in the hospital, but I did have one nurse who was kind of abrasive and didn't get it in on the first try (and it hurt way worse than when the other nurses had done it!) and I totally refused to let her try again and another nurse, who was much more nice and gentle, did it later.
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@Mrs. Jump Rope: omg! You poor thing!
Yes, but I've learned tricks I can do to help. I drink insane amounts beforehand, keep really warm- crank the heat on the way there, heat packs on my arms before if they're gonna need a lot (one time they took 13 tubes... Whoa), and I have them leave the turner kit on for a bit before starting. Mine are thin & tend to collapse.
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One arm is bad while the other is fine. Now that I know which arm works I don't have any more trouble.
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Yes, and I don't understand why. I have super dark veins so close to the surface!
When I had to get my blood drawn a lot during an ectopic pregnancy, I learned to practically drown myself in drinking water to make it slightly easier.Ugh, one time my blood flow was soooo slow that the phlebotomist was moving the needle around in my arm, in and out, side to side, turning it around - I was about to crawl out of my skin!
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YES! Well, not if they are good at what they do- I get my blood drawn every 4 weeks (!) so I have had some horrible experiences. I had one person stick me three times, poke the needle around while in my arm!, and finally pull out a syringe and try to "suck" out the blood all while making me feel uncomfortable and telling me, "I was giving him a run for his money." I had a lady scratch me with the needle... I now only go to the actual hospital to have it done. I have not had a bad experience there and they are more professional (vs. my clinic).
I am told I have small veins so I have had some nightmare times, but I really do find it depends on who is taking the blood. Once a nurse had to take from my hand (!) but she was calm, knowledge and professional- makes a world of difference!
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Nope. Huge veins
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@Mrs. Jump Rope: OMG!!! No ma'am!!!!!
Fortunately, no.
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Nope...good veins and really pale skin.
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No and I am sooo grateful. I have learned from family though that especially in the hospital you shouldn't hesitate to ask for someone else or to ask for smaller needles. My understanding is that sometimes it is easier with the needles meant for small children.
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Yup. I found that they have a good chance of doing it right if they use a tiny needle so I always ask for the butterfly one, but I think that one is meant for kids!
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They didn't used to, but after a year of fertility treatments and monitoring every month, my veins are shot. Now, nobody can find a good vein and they usually have to take blood from my hand, which sucks.
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Always had an issue with this, my OB even tested me to make sure I didn't have a disorder. Butterfly needles are the only ones that work on me.
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Yes. I hate it every time I need to give blood. They search around forever and often need multiple tries. For my induction with #1, they blew 2 veins before getting it on the 3rd try(and a different nurse). Two tries when they put in my iv for my scheduled csection with #2. And when I went to urgent care they blew a vein and tried 3 more times before finally getting it. It sucks
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No. Instead I usually get compliments on my "beautiful veins." Lol.
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@wonderstruck: haha before IF treatments I was the SAME way. I got up and left more than once after a missed stick. Even now it's the one thing that still gets to me, but luckily I can handle it much better than I used to (which was not at all).
Now I tell them to take all the time they need, check both arms, check wherever they want. Tighten that tourniquet as tight as they can, whatever it takes to get it on the first try, LOL.
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@littlek: try drinking lots of fluid before going in, it increases your blood volume and make it much easier for them.
I don't have very palpable veins apart from one bit which is right on a valve, if they try and get it from there things always go wrong and I end up with blood half way down my arm (I should prob start telling them especially since I need fortnightly blood draws throughout my pregnancy haha).
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Yes. I always just ask for the butterfly now.
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Yup, same here- tiny and rolling veins. I used to be terrified of needles, but I got over it during pregnancy after being stuck so many times. When I did the 3 hour glucose test (4 blood draws), I had to be stuck ELEVEN times! I always ask for the butterfly needle because I know that's what they'll end up using anyway.
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Yes and it is awful. After my 3 hour glucose test i had multiple bruises all over both arms that looked horrific.
@rsmom: what is the butterfly?!?
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Yup! Some people are super good at it but lots of people end up messing up and I end up with bruises. Usually no issues if they use the butterfly needle but sometimes they still mess up with that one too. I was so worried when getting my IV during labor but the nurses were pros and got it in painlessly the first time
@sheskrafty: instead if a needle attached to the plastic thing where the vials go in it's a tiny needle attached to the end of a thin plastic tube and the vials get inserted at the end of the tubing. The needle is so tiny that it has little plastic flaps that the tech holds onto when they insert the needle in your arm
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Hate getting blood work done because of this!
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Yep, I always ask for the butterfly needle immediately, no use trying with something that won't work! It's been much much better since I've been pregnant, I'm guessing it has to do with increased blood volume.
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Nope, Nurses and phlebotomists love me! During IVF I had blood drawn every other day for a month or two and only once they had a problem where they stuck me and no blood came out. She said it was because they had drawn so many times from the same arm. Has been fine ever since though.
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@skeskrafty: It looks like this. It's a smaller needle with a tube that is attached to the vial.
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Yup, until I started asking for the butterfly needle that the do for kids. I also get the child sized blood pressure cuff because adult sized medical items don't work so well for me.
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Nope!
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Yep and I usually end up telling them where to go. Though one time I had this lab tech stick me with a normal needle (no butterfly) and she got it first try! I praised her a LOT.
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Sometimes, but more problems getting an IV in me. Now they just believe me to start with the back of my hand, otherwise I end up a human pin cushion.
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Yep! My veins are thin and roll away from the needle. And I bruise easy, so I always end up looking a mess. One nurse once told me I have thick skin, lol
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My nurse loved taking my blood because it was super easy for her
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37 comments