Blood Tests

[miss_molly_baggins]

My Doctor was requested a series of blood tests for me to have.........No big deal except getting blood out of me is like getting blood from a stone. 99% of the time I leave the pathology collect centre with lots of holes and feeling sore and sorry for myself and no blood is actually taken. I get told to come back tomorrow. If they can't do it today they won't be able to do it tomorrow, is my thinking and so I don't bother going back. I have even had Dr's try and fail, their strike rate is actually worse.

Today I again went for a blood test and again I got sent home with tape and cotton wool but no blood taken. Apparently I have to come back tomorrow. I'll go back when the bruising goes down.

OK so in the hours before I go I drink like a camel, but that doesn't seem to help. Does anyone have any tricks to a successful blood letting.

If tomorrow fails I'll have to go back to the Dr and ask if there is any other way to test without blood.

[twinkles**stars]

drink plenty of water warm the viens ask for a fine needle?

are they trying viens in your ankle too? 

[green.fields]

I'll watch this with interest as I am in the same boat, it's getting so I don't even want to go to the dr's anymore because I am sick of hearing about having routine blood tests but they can't offer any solutions. If dr's in a hospital leave me battered and bruised what chance do I have.

[illicit69]

DD had the same problem, so now she insists they take the blood sample from one of  the veins in the back of her hand, they don't particularly like doing it, but after attempting to search for a viable vein in her arm, they agree and it's always successful.

[miss_molly_baggins]

A new use for the 80's leg warmers. I'll put them on my arms, that should keep that part of my arm warm.

I will ask them to use finer needles and as for ankles I had never thought of trying there - I once needed a drip put in and the only place that they could find was my ankle.

[miss_molly_baggins]

They wanted 6 tubes of blood and that was way too ambitious.

They also wanted me to have one sample taken and then two more at hourly intervals - not going to happen. If they won't be able to get it once I don't know how they will get it three times. It may be so matter of fact for some ( my husband included ) and Dr's just don't seem to understand. The last Dr I went to ordered heaps of tests and when I asked him to limit it to only what was absolutely necessary, he laughed at me and told me I was too old to be scared of needles. I dropped that Pathology request on the receptionist desk on the way out - time to find another Dr.

[nevillesdaughter]

Regards,

I have a medical condition that results in exactly what you're describing, and which also means I have to have frequent blood tests. Even when having to have a general anaesthetic, I usually have to be gassed first so they can dig around in peace to get a catheter in!

As well as the lots of water thing, I find if I can heat the potential site beforehand, using a hot towel, a gel pack, or handwarmer packs that skiers use, I get a much better result. About 5 or 10 minutes immediately beforehand (being careful not to burn yourself) is usually enough.

Hope this helps,

Marina.

[ashjoma · Accepted solution]

I have collected blood for over 20 years and my tips are

well hydrated

keep warm.

lie down

ask for a scalp vein (butterfly needle)  - I only use these and it is rare for me to miss a vein or have trouble.   

Look at BOTH arms before collection and see which is the best on the day.   Very important to check both sides  BEFORE attempting collection

My friend used to put the tourniquet on and get the person to dangle their arm over the side of the bed

even if they just get a small amount of blood, it can still be used, there are the little 'baby' tubes which take a very small amount of blood

and you should be able to get a few tests out of that

[ashjoma]

the test over 3 hours,  sounds like a glucose tolerance  ????   - I would put in either a cannula or leave leave the scalp vein needle taped in place  to avoid further needle sticks

if worse comes to worse, as it is  measuring glucose level - a drop of blood from  the finger can be used to measure glucose level.

not perfect, but there is a result

[green.fields]

Thanks Ashjoma, I am taking all you said down...Silly me even asked the Dr to have a go the other week and he said sorry we don't do it in the surgery anymore. When they tried in the hospital numerous people had a go and I left with extremely bruised hands where they had pounded me and stuck needles in trying to get the blood after other places didn't work.