Bloodwork

CursedFireDean · August 04, 2014, 10:21:51 AM

question about people who struggle to get through the bloodwork (veins hard to find, tendency to faint, etc)
what works for you?

I went in to get my bloodwork done today (they didn't tell me to fast but I didn't eat breakfast so it worked out) but apparently I'm dehydrated or something and the first time they stuck the needle in I almost fainted, but the second time they couldn't get back to the vein and decided to call it quits. Should I just tell them if I faint, keep going, or is there a good way to stay conscious? I'm definitely going to make sure to drink water next time. I just wish they had warned me of this beforehand.

Tysilio · August 04, 2014, 10:48:50 AM

Being well-hydrated definitely helps. Does the clinic you go to have a chair that reclines, or somewhere you can lie down while they're drawing blood? The folks at my clinic tell me that really helps people who have a tendency to faint -- keeps more blood in your brain, I guess.

CursedFireDean · August 04, 2014, 10:54:44 AM

Quote from: Tysilio on August 04, 2014, 10:48:50 AM
Being well-hydrated definitely helps. Does the clinic you go to have a chair that reclines, or somewhere you can lie down while they're drawing blood? The folks at my clinic tell me that really helps people who have a tendency to faint -- keeps more blood in your brain, I guess.

Not where they were drawing the blood, but maybe I can ask to do it in a different room?

Tysilio · August 04, 2014, 11:09:01 AM

That's what I'd do. They don't like it when people faint...

JourneyFromConfusion · August 04, 2014, 11:38:48 AM

Was your fainting due to dehydration or maybe a strong phobia of needles? I don't know that they can keep going as they'd need to find out why you fainted. Dehydration makes it very very difficult to find veins. My sister deals with dehydration and giving blood can be difficult. Make sure you're drinking as close to 8 glasses of water a day as possible to stay hydrated. I fortunately have not had an issue yet with giving blood. Best of luck.

CursedFireDean · August 04, 2014, 12:32:34 PM

Quote from: JourneyFromConfusion on August 04, 2014, 11:38:48 AM
Was your fainting due to dehydration or maybe a strong phobia of needles? I don't know that they can keep going as they'd need to find out why you fainted. Dehydration makes it very very difficult to find veins. My sister deals with dehydration and giving blood can be difficult. Make sure you're drinking as close to 8 glasses of water a day as possible to stay hydrated. I fortunately have not had an issue yet with giving blood. Best of luck.

It's dehydration, I'm fine with needles. I'm definitely going to made sure to drink a ton Wednesday and Thursday morning. I've also got a lower blood pressure but idk if that matters, I know very little about veins.

Tysilio · August 04, 2014, 01:22:23 PM

Low blood pressure can definitely cause fainting; so can low blood sugar, which could be a bit hard to avoid when you have to turn up fasting. Dehydration could contribute to fainting, and also make it hard for the tech to find a vein. Even if you're not phobic about needles, the stress of someone poking around and not finding a vein might also be enough to push you over the edge...

So there's a fair amount you can do to keep this from happening again...

Kreuzfidel · August 05, 2014, 03:54:17 AM

Drink plenty of water and don't look at what they're doing when they do it. Make sure you're sitting.

AnonyMs · August 05, 2014, 04:08:17 AM

I always get dizzy if I sit upright. Lying down flat on a bed while they draw blood fixes it. I can get back up immediately afterwards and its fine.

Dante · August 07, 2014, 02:24:50 PM

Never had a problem with fainting, but I have had a couple instances of veins rolling around. It's apparently a problem that runs in the family.

The trick is, like everyone else said, drink lots of water. Preferably have a good amount the night before and the morning of. In addition to that, try warning the person drawing your blood that your veins tend to roll or move. That gives them a chance to try and secure the vein in the place before inserting the needle. Last, generally one arm has a better vein than the other for drawing blood, so try to figure out which it is and give them that one to start with. (It tends to be your dominant arm, unfortunately.)

Rengar · August 07, 2014, 02:27:35 PM

Always drink a lot of water and eat right after! I used to have to donate blood to myself for Spinal Fusion surgery and they ALWAYS made me eat and drink before and after they were finished drawing my blood.

I've never had a tendency to faint or been afraid of needles but, sometimes it helps to not look at the needle going into you and pretend it's just someone pinching you, or a bird nipping you with it's beak! :^)

CursedFireDean · August 07, 2014, 05:28:58 PM

Sadly, despite my ridiculous water consumption, that wasn't good enough this time :/ I didn't faint but they also didn't get the vein. I'm going to a lab tomorrow instead that should have much more experience with tricky veins.

CursedFireDean · August 08, 2014, 08:17:25 AM

So I think this must be 99% the inexperience of the people at Planned Parenthood. (It's not necessarily a bad thing that they're inexperienced, I don't expect PP to have the best of the best or anything. I expect them to have someone who can handle the average patient, and they do. They aim to make their care affordable, and so I don't expect them to have super experienced phlebotomists if most patients will be fine with who they have now.)
I went to LabCorp this morning, she found a vein, she stuck it, simple as that. I didn't feel any bit of faintness, It went SUPER quickly, she got plenty of blood. I'm not even sure if she tried a smaller needle. I am definitely getting my future bloodwork done there.

Ayden · August 08, 2014, 04:29:06 PM

I have had similar "we can't find/pin down your veins buddy" situations. I have tiny veins. I just tell them when I go in that I have small veins and to use a butterfly needle in my hand. Some phlebotomists are great and some are terrible.

Jessica Merriman · August 08, 2014, 06:41:02 PM

A trick we Paramedics used on dehydration patients needing I.V.s or Blood draws was to lower the extremity and apply a hot pack for a few minutes. Veins pop right up after that for at least enough time for two sticks if we needed it.

Rengar · August 08, 2014, 07:39:03 PM

I always go to LabCorp for my blood work. I've got small baby veins too and blood drives have a hard time finding either of my veins. Definitely go to LabCorp unless you don't have good insurance cause they can really rack up some serious $$$

janetcgtv · August 08, 2014, 08:13:04 PM

No problem about fainting as I have not done that yet. I've being getting blood work ever since 1980.
I have DVT and on coumadin.

However, when someone wants to draw my blood, my veins do a disappearing act. therefore the only place I can get my blood drawn is in my wrist. Arms forget it.

My veins may have took a vacation by going to Alaska.

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