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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,839
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

Does anyone else have this happen? or have any tips if you do? I don't know I have the weirdest things sometimes lol.

 

Every time I go for blood which is every 3 months, they cant find my veins. They even use a blood pressure cuff to tighten my arm. They've already taken it out of my hand with a little long thin tube thing too.

 

Well anyway I went today (my Dr office), no veins!. 2 nurses poking me and no blood! Not one drop, its like I'm bloodless (lol). And then they can only use my one arm being I had breast cancer on the other side with lymph node removal they cant use that arm!

 

Long story short, they couldn't get blood, and they said drink lots of water and come back tomorrow. Well I drank so much water Im floating..lol.. and I don't see any veins. (Also I'm fasting again for 12 hours so can only have water)

 

If this doesn't work I have to get the lab to see if they can get my blood, (which I might add is 30 or more miles away).

 

So I thought someone may have a tip or an experience with this..

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make~ The Beatles
Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,036
Registered: ‎07-25-2010

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

Shorty I have the same problem.  I know to drink a lot of water before I go....but a lot depends on how talented the person is....if they can find a good vein or not.  I never say anything in advance...don't want to jinx anyone!  But 9 times out of 10 they have trouble.  Once a doctor was waiting to do a back injection....the nurse couldn't get the IV in.  He picked up my arm and got it on the first poke! 

 

Im sorry you have to travel so far to get to the lab...what an inconvenience.  Wish I had words of wisdom...but drinking water is the only pointer I've ever heard.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,749
Registered: ‎03-15-2014

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

I've never had that exact problem but the nurses have always had trouble finding a vein in my arms.  It was exasperating, embarassing, and unpleasant and eventually I stopped donating blood.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,504
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

Other than being well hydrated, it's the skill and more importantly the *experience* of the phlebotomist that counts. It's not you (well it is you bit not anything you can help), it's them.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,758
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

[ Edited ]

Weeeellllllll, sometimes, it's the patient.  For various reasons people aren't good blood draws. Chemo, Antibiotics, dehydration are reasons veins are bad.  Also alcoholism and drug abusers have bad veins

Keep Your Face To The Sunshine and You Will Not See The Shadow
Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,892
Registered: ‎07-03-2013

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

I used to have a lot of issues having blood drawn.  They would always get it from the hand.  Then one year that stopped.  Now when they can't get blood it seems to be the person taking the blood.  Be sure to drink water an hour before you have it drawn.  You want it in your system.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,197
Registered: ‎07-29-2014

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

Some meds can cause this; it's classic for streoids, for example.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 706
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

Shorty, I'm so sorry you have this problem!  I am the same way, ever since chemo years ago.  I do advise you to tell them that you're hard to get blood from, reason being, they will put their most talented person on it.  Every lab seems to have a "specialist" at getting blood from someone like that.  More than once, I have come home with several bandages, black & blue marks, etc.  The real thrill is when you enter a hospital and someone comes along to put an IV in, and all the blood draws.  They come into your room thinking they can just whip through it, and it doesn't happen that way.  Even then they can get an IV into me, it falls out easily.  They have the most success with me when they use the tiniest needles.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 706
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

I forgot to mention, they have to draw the blood very slowly for it to work.  It's also extremely painful if they don't.  It used to be SO EASY to get blood drawn!  My veins were great until the chemo.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,915
Registered: ‎06-15-2014

Re: Has anyone ever had this happen? (veins)

I give them 1 shot. If it doesn't work I insist on the MD- that works. I drink a lot before, am very cooperative, but I won't be a pin cushion.

Good luck!