Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi everyone.  Having my blood drawn to check my levels is always an ordeal. It's extremely hard to find a vein on me. They say I have very small veins and that they roll. So I end up getting stuck numerous times. I also have had up to 4 different people trying to get blood from me. So I usually end up with bruised hands. They always go for my hands because they can't ever find a vein in my arm. It doesn't bother me to have blood drawn but I hate being stuck so many times. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anything that helped?
Julia

Hi Julia

You could try making sure you drink at least half a glass of water even if they are fasting bloods and much more if they are not...For a number of years I had so many blood tests it became difficult to draw blood at all without resorting to the more painful area's. Keeping hydrated was about the only thing that seemed to help...

I don't think fasting means no water. I always drink a lot of water. It's quite unpleasant otherwise.

Quote from: AnonyMs on August 19, 2017, 06:46:24 AM
I don't think fasting means no water. I always drink a lot of water. It's quite unpleasant otherwise.

You would be amazed at how many do....

When I was in California there was one male nurse in the office who I didn't want to draw my blood. My veins are big and stand out but he would take several tries before he would find blood. When ever possible, I would have the doctor do the draw as he would hit the right spot almost every time. In hindsight I suspect the nurse might have been color blind as someone with normal color vision should have been able to find a vein.

Definitely have had that problem before, and now on HRT sometimes it takes forever for the blood to actually drain

My sister has the same problem as you Julia.  She hates being poked so many times as well.  She always comes back from the doctors office saying they are just trying to practice on her, jokingly, I think:)

Quote from: Julia1996 on August 19, 2017, 06:34:59 AM
Hi everyone.  Having my blood drawn to check my levels is always an ordeal. It's extremely hard to find a vein on me. They say I have very small veins and that they roll. So I end up getting stuck numerous times. I also have had up to 4 different people trying to get blood from me. So I usually end up with bruised hands. They always go for my hands because they can't ever find a vein in my arm. It doesn't bother me to have blood drawn but I hate being stuck so many times. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anything that helped?
Julia

When I was sick they would send a phlebotomist in every two hours. I don't know why they didn't tap the main line in my carotid.  I had one vampire come in at 2 in the morning and he tried to find a vain for a good 45 minutes. He must have stabbed me well over 20 times. In the 25 years since I got sick. I have had only one that could get a vain in my arm consistently. Unfortunately he had a run in with the law and is no longer at my Dr's office. So it's back to the hand. Four hundred pricks later 90% have been in the hands. One thing I do know is that Kurt asked if I had any water before coming to the lab. Water supposedly makes it easier and No caffine.

I really hate it. It always leaves bruises and on my skin a bruise is especially noticeable.  The only time I have ever had someone get a vein on the first try was at the ER once. They thought I had kidney stones and did a cat scan. I had to have an IV line put in for the contrast dye. So this nurse brings this paramedic in the room and tells me this guy needs to start an IV for his paramedic certification and asks if it would be ok if he did my IV. I was thinking NO NO NO.  But the guys standing there giving me puppy eyes so I said ok. That needle was huge and I was sure this guy would kill me trying to find a vein. Amazingly he got it on the first try and he didn't even hurt me much sticking the needle in. I should have asked for his number so I could call him whenever I needed blood work.
Julia

Julia,

  I too am blessed with being a difficult stick. Many times I've had up to 3 people sticking me. They've even had problems using an ultrasound machine to help them. That time they got it in but the vein blew out during the infusion of the iodine infusion while getting a CT scan. Now when I know I am to be suck I prepare the day before and the day of my increasing my normal water intake by around a factor of 3. It almost feel like I'm becoming water logged. BUT, when I do, they almost never have problems finding my small, rolling, deceptive veins.
  I also have to do it for electrolysis as it aid in the process.
  Water water and more water.

Hugs,
   Laurie

Back in January, I was put on an IV morphine following an accident.  The first nurse got the vein first time but when they changed it a few days later a different nurse must have taken at least three or four attempts to get the vein.  The needle was so awkwardly positioned that in the end I was only using the morphine to mask the pain of the morphine drip!!!

I found with blood samples, trying to be as relaxed and hydrated as possible is the only thing to reduce the pain and bruising.  I always try and leave plenty of time to get to the appointment so I'm not stressed by the drive, drink lots of water before-hand and then I never look whilst they put the needle in - I just try and focus on something else in the room or think of something that I enjoy

Hi girls 🙋🏼  I have it especially hard, Vaso Vagal reaction is strong in me!  Just seeing a needle on tv creeps me out.  One time my doctor was talking about a blood draw because of a sore throat.  Started paling, cold sweat, passed out.  They thought I was having a heart attack and rushed me to the hospital.  They called my wife and told her what was going on.  The first question she asked was "were you talking about needles"?  They hadn't ever seen anyone have such a strong reaction. 
Smiles, Jessica 💁

When I got my blood drawn for a diabetes thing, my blood came out cold, so there's that.

Quote from: Julia1996 on August 19, 2017, 06:34:59 AM
Hi everyone.  Having my blood drawn to check my levels is always an ordeal. It's extremely hard to find a vein on me. They say I have very small veins and that they roll. So I end up getting stuck numerous times. I also have had up to 4 different people trying to get blood from me. So I usually end up with bruised hands. They always go for my hands because they can't ever find a vein in my arm. It doesn't bother me to have blood drawn but I hate being stuck so many times. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anything that helped?
Julia

My friend has that problem. Instead of the rubber band, have them use the blood pressure cuff to pump up your veins.

i have the same problem. a few months into HRT my veins were pretty much nonexistent when my arms were tied with a turniquette. thank god the phlebotomists at my clinic are experts! i rarely get poked more than twice and im an extremely hard stick.  :)

Yes all the time, it is so frustrating.

1. Tell them upfront your have issues and ask for their most experinced person.
2. Always make sure you are hydrated and drink lots of water
3. Use a heat pack ahead of time on the site before and up to the time they are ready to draw blood.

If I do all 3 things I tend to have the least issues and they get a t the first time.


Good luck!

Jamjam

Thank you everyone for the advice. I will try your suggestions. I hope they help. I don't have any problem with needles but being stuck numerous times is like very unappealing and I find myself dreading lab work. I guess it could be worse, my brother actually gets like faint having his blood drawn. It's so weird. He doesn't have a problem with needles or even giving shots (he does my estrogen shots for me) but having his own blood drawn makes him get all faint. Once he sliced his hand cleaning a fish and he actually did pass out. I wonder if a lot of people are like that. I can't even laugh at him for it because he's sensitive about it.
Julia