I don't hate them but I am difficult to get blood from.
I always tell the phlebotomist that I'm a hard stick. They always say, "Oh I'll be fine, don't worry!" Spoiler alert, they're hardly ever fine. Been told all sorts from having narrow veins, being dehydrated (I'm not!), to having an odd skin color that makes it hard to see (?). Usually takes them between 4-6 tries, often trying both arms. Sometimes they get it in and the vein just stops giving blood after a while. I've had to give blood via my foot before. God it was rough when they had to put a few cannulas in me after I gave birth.
Anyway solidarity my narrow veined dehydrated friend!
Oof sorry to hear that!
I had 4 cannulas inserted after birth because they put one in each arm (after several attempts each) and then they both tissued! Even after my drips were all finished, they said they wouldn't remove the cannulas until I was discharged just in case lol
I had a trainee midwife try and get a blood sample, her trainer 'that's a tendon, not a vein...' let's just reiterate the 'no students' thing thank you, other people wouldn't mind them but get away from my tendons
Oof same! When I had my youngest, I needed the magnesium drip for pre-eclampsia and no-one could put a cannula in me. I had the most senior anaesthetist come try with the ultrasound machine to find my veins and couldn't. They tried 28 times in my hands/arms/ankles! The only option left was to put a central line in my neck which they do in theatre while I was awake, they essentially put a cover over my head and do insert a large cannula into my neck while I just lie there and try not to panic. Absolutely horrific, I wish I had normal veins. No amount of hydration/exercise or whatever has made any amount of different to my silly veins throughout my whole life.
On the opposite side of this - I'm a nurse, and I constantly have patients tell me 'they're difficult to get' and then present the most beautiful obvious veins in history.
It's almost a meme on our unit because of how often its said and how little of the time it's true.
I keep being told how hard I am to get (I’ve been told by dozens of people) and then you can bet when I tell someone I’ve never seen before I’m easy (not visible but easily felt). Sadly that luck rarely extends to the 2nd time I see the person.
Drink a lot immediately before you go in - these days, when you donate blood they ask you to drink a large (pint) glass of water while you are waiting for this reason.
Also - make sure that you are warm - consider taking a hot water bottle, or handwarmer .and put it on your arm
Let them knowthat you have had problems in the past with them needing multiple attempts and that you are very nervou as a result (ideally, tell them when you book the appointment, it's possible they may be able to make sure taht you see a more experienced nurse / phlebotomist
When they do find a vein, note where it is is for future reference, and let them know the next time (I am a regualar bllod donor but I only ever give from my left arm, as my right arm is an absolute bugger to find anything to stick a needle in, and I've ended up with failed donantiosn and / or bruising when they've tried. )
But yeah, it sucks.
I'm difficult to get blood out of despite needing them monthly.
The easiest way we have found over the last 15 years is drinking plenty of water before hand and have the nurse/phlebotomist use a 'butterfly' it's literally the smallest aperture needle, and can get blood out 99% of the time.
The only downside is it can take a tad longer to draw.
Loads of food/water before hand and it depends on the person
Me and everyone i know dreads a bloodtest from a certain nurse in my gp as it bloody hurts, yet theres two other nurses who you barely feel
Very true hydration is a big factor. I've always said I hate work when the weather is hot because dehydration is so apparent & makes my job a lot harder & on the flip side make sure you are warm if weather is cold this helps more than you think. (Phlebotomist for 36 years on wards - literally everything from cradle to grave)
Maybe it's because I'm going to the GPS surgery and only 2 nurses work there.
When I went to the main hospital in manchester around 8 years ago. I just walked in and the lady was excellent. Said sit down will be done in under a minute, and you know what, she was right. I was in and out in under 2 minutes. She was in her 60s but obviously excellent in her field. So maybe a long trip to the hospital could be worth it.
Is it the same Phlebotomist? I started going to the local walk in at the hospital as the Phlebotomist at the GP’s was terrible.
Drink loads of water an hour before and keep the veins on your arm warm. I take a heat pack with me on the vein site.
I must say thank you to everyone for your comments.
I'm more confident now as I have more tests on Wednesday. I'm going to drink more than usual on the day and keep warm. Think I will have a full breakfast aswell beforehand and see if this works.
I am also overweight which I need to address as it seems being overweight is not helping either.
Make sure your arms are warm maybe do some tension exercises and pump your fist you can always use the bodybuilders trick of a large brandy before you go in it increases vascularity
I have to have regular blood tests due to meds I take. So have been going regularly for the last 7 years.
My veins are deep and tiny, so doesn't matter how much I drink, depends on how good the phlebotomist is.
I've had ones that just touch my arm once and they insert the needle to draw blood. I've had ones taken forever and the constant pokes in my arm start to make me feel nauseous. When this starts I ask them if someone else can try, they are usually ok with that. Some take offence but I don't care, when it's making me uncomfortable then someone else needs to try. Don't be afraid to ask for someone else to try.
Now, because of how often I have blood test, I can tell them where the vein is on my right arm. 99% of them get it first go. Which is so much easier for me.
Also drink a lot the hour before you go for the blood test.
My veins couldn’t be found for about 5 years of blood tests. Last time, I had an energy drink and a full meal just under an hour before and it was painless and the blood came right out. Try it, it’s the only thing that works for me.
I have only had them get it first time once. I have some veins that look great but collapse instantly. I have to tell them 'not that one' and they always look at me as if I am an idiot.
It's usually 4-5. Once they blew all of them in my arms and had to use my hand.
I don't mind it. The needles don't really hurt that much but it is irritating.
As well as the day before are you necking a pint of water just before? That's what the blood donation people do now and I think I'm significantly faster than I used to be. (Which does matter - there's a time limit because of coagulation).
May also be worth swapping arms. I've given up on my left as they just found it too hard.
My son has to have blood tests regularly. He's developed a couple of nifty tricks that might help. He'll take a hot water bottle to the hospital with him to warm the skin where they'll prick. He also has a hand strengthener that's used by rock climbers. He'll sit in the waiting room pumping away with it to get his veins going. The last time he got his bloods done, the nurse said he was a genius for thinking it up. The lad is a dab hand at bloods now.
The blood donation people used to give you a small cylinder to rotate. Now they tell you to do hand exercises and also leg ones to keep everything flowing.
I've been told by the phlebotomist not to "pump the hand" as it can cause something I can't remember, half a story I know.
(Google suggests can increase potassium and a couple of other chemicals, I had in mind it was something to do with the physical characteristics could cause an issue)
The potassium elevation can be due to a tourniquet left on for too long or vigorous bottle inversion.
When the blood cells break down they release the potassium within and can give a falsely elevated blood test.
If a tourniquet meds to be left on longer than desired, the first draw should be discarded after the release of the tourniquet.
The tourniquet is just an aid at finding veins. It does not help with the blood being drawn in the bottle as such. The vacuum in the bottle is what facilitates the blood draw.
I will note that the trick with weights or a hand strengthening can change some results. For example I’ve heard before than calcium levels can be impacted as muscular contractions use calcium. Someone can correct me if that’s wrong as I’m not 100% sure.
Calcium results can be affected by constriction ( eg at our hospital we don't use a tourniquet with a calcium test) as for hand exercises I don't think so after all people go for blood tests after every activity ( work, relaxation, exercise) we've had people in our opd dept who have walked in carrying full bags of shopping in both hands. There are certain tests that require certain arrangements but these are usually fully explained/requested beforehand
I actually enjoy them. If they use a little butterfly needle and I don’t feel it I get disappointed.
I’m very used to blood tests. I have one good vein, and there’s a scar there because it’s been used to many times. I considered getting a target tattooed round it.
Problem is when that vein is otherwise occupied and they have to find elsewhere. Takes them a while, they went in my wrist last time.
You want to have your blood taken by phlebotomists. Doctors are rubbish at it. Once when I was in hospital on the weekends there were few staff so the doctor had to do everyone’s bloods and it took twice as long. We would be bruised afterwards.
Frequently yes.
When I was really young- maybe 4 years old,I had to have blood tests and they couldn't get a vein. The ended up holding me down whilst a nurse cut my thumb with a scalpel and squeezed the blood out. It was a horribly terrifying, painful experience and I find it hard to believe that anyone thought that was okay, but it was 1970, so no one complained on my behalf.
It's never been quite that bad since, but there have been a few occasions where I'd had enough and just walked out. What really annoys me is that receptionists won't admit some nurses are better at bloods than others, so no matter how tactfully you ask for the nurse who's good with hidden veins, they always act like you're insulting the entire surgery!
Fortunately there's a good nurse with lots of experience at my current GP surgery, so it's in and out, no problem.
I have exactly the same issue. I had to have blood tests last week and they ended up taking some from each hand, between the knuckles. This is how it usually ends up.
I've had Type 1 diabetes since I was a toddler and many horrendously stressful experiences with awful, rude, dismissive, invalidating health "professionals" over the years resulted in trypanophobia. I was okay with my own subcutaneous injections (although finding an old box of syringes with 12mm needles a few years after I'd been switched to 8mm made me marvel at how the hell I'd ever managed to inject myself with something that now looked like a lance) but anything else, especially anything intravenous, was traumatic. I'm hugely better than I used to be but I still struggle every time.
I don't love them, but I have a lot of them. I'm also a nurse who has taken blood, so I've been on both sides of this.
Stay well hydrated before your appointment- I aim for 250ml/hr for at least 4 hours before the appointment. Eat as well, something like toast is good. Maybe a banana or other fruit of choice.
If they manage to find a vein, try keep note of vaguely where it was. I have one good vein in my left arm, that's it. So I learnt where it was and now they usually get it first try.
Inform your healthcare professional that you are worried about the blood test, they should discuss how you want to proceed. Do you want them to talk to you, do you want the conversation to be about what they're doing, do you want random distraction? If bringing a friend or family member would help with any anxiety that is usually okay. I've had patients use fidget toys in the hand that I'm not taking blood from.
Finally, you can buy emla cream which numbs the skin. If the actual stabbing is the issue, maybe worth getting some of that to help :)
It depends on the blood test. I've never needed to fast for the various vials they steal. If I don't eat, decent chance I'm ending up on the floor 🤣 Practitioner should inform patients in advance if there's a clinical need for fasting
As you’re a nurse I wonder if you know the answer to this question which has been worrying me. If I don’t have any reliable veins in my arms and hands (the one they take blood from is very small and hard to get), and if I needed surgery so would need an IV put in, where would they put it?
I am too. They could find a suitable vein through ultrasound - doctors have also put IVs in patients feet, wrists anywhere they can find a suitable vein. All else fails they can try a picc or central line 🤷
I had a PICC line for chemo. I thought they’d take blood from it but the chemo nurses banned the blood nurses from touching it and still stuck a needle in me each time!!
Thank you for your reply. I’m glad to hear there is a way as I will need surgery at some point and have been worried about this, the phlebotomists have such trouble even with a small butterfly needle so I can’t imagine how they would put an IV in. My feet veins are tiny and invisible too unfortunately.
Not a nurse but I’m bad to get a vein and needed surgery. I had every anaesthetist in the room trying to find a vein anywhere to knock me out enough so they could go looking for a better vein to actually use. When you’re anxious it’s not great hearing your doctors talking amongst themselves saying stuff like “just find something anywhere so we can dig (their word) better when she’s out”. I woke covered in holes (I must have had about 7 or so areas they’d tried) and with 6 needles still stuck in me (wrists, hand, elbow, forearms - on different sides). I’m just grateful they found something before resorting to feet.
For the pre-op checks before they ended up having to go and find a chemo nurse to try smaller veins. I’d recommend not using knuckles unless you’re desperate - especially if you’re a fainter like me!
Make sure you are well hydrated and warm. I had a patient with notoriously difficult ceins and I advised her to cuddle a hot water bottle and it helped.
Every single phlebotomist who tried to take blood from me has expressed how difficult it is. I don’t think hydrating even helps in my case because I already drink a lot of water - and I think it might just be something that runs in my family because both my parents are the same.
I used to be on medication that required me to get regular blood tests and I just got used to it I think. Plus I’m covered in tattoos so I’m not really bothered by someone poking me with a needle lol. I don’t think I could donate blood though (more power to people who do!)
Never used to have an issue with them, but one time was pretty terrible. What's usually a small bit of bruising spread from elbow to wrist the full width of my forearm. Ached for weeks.
There's always a "go to" member of staff that is the one everyone goes to when bloods are difficult. Explain your difficult and ask for someone who's experienced.
I do this now too, idk why but no-one told me until like 6 months ago that a) they can just use my hands and that b) I can just say to do that and save all the hassle.
Does hurt a bit more and the bruising is crazy but it's just so much easier.
It depends on the phlebotomist/nurse/doctor doing it.
I have the advantage of a wife who is a qualified medic *and* worked for the blood transfusion service for a couple of years. She always does any blood taking if I need it, and I can honestly say I have never felt a thing (not even the joked about "little prick"). Unfortunately for others she is now mostly retired.
I’m terrible with needles and unfortunately have had countless blood tests in my life. Make sure you’re warm, the veins stand out more. Also make sure you’re hydrated for the same reason. Most people taking blood are very good with people like us and have tips to help. The first thing is don’t look. If I looked I’d be on the floor and it’s happened multiple times, which is hassle for the nurses. If they talk about stupid stuff to distract you, let them. It genuinely helps! Also taking a deep breath before and breathing out hard as the needle goes in is good. Just make sure you’re looking away from the person taking the blood, the last thing they want is you huffing in their face. One lovely nurse asked me to cough really hard on the count of 3, she got a cannula in exactly as I did which was impressive!
I have terrible veins, I've been told they are 'wiry and branchy'. I won't let students try to take my blood. I'm very used to blood tests after many years of a serious illness, to the point where I can actually watch now. I don't enjoy them but they are just meh now. First time I ever had a blood test I was out cold on the floor after.
You don't need to drink lots of water for days, just the same day. I've found, especially if it cold, that stuffing a hot microwave wheat bag up your sleeve on your blood vein side before a blood test can massively help if you have dodgy veins.
One of my arms will not give blood, 99 times out of 100 it flatly refuses (many a very experienced HCP has scoffed that they will manage it don't be so ridiculous and given up after pin cushioning me for a while) and one is like a veritable fountain, the kind you can get students to use to see how easy blood taking can be. I don't mind blood or needles and I've never found it more than annoyingly uncomfortable in terms of pain, so blood tests are only a negative for me if one of those very stubborn 'no veins will defeat *me*'types is there insisting it is bollocks that you can't get really get blood drawn from my right arm. Luckily I am an argumentative old bitch and happy these days to refuse to let them try.
What I do hate and which no one else I've met ever seems bothered by is the blood pressure cuff. I don't know why it makes me feel a wave of panic but it always does.
Hydration and circulating volume works on a shorter timescale than days. Over-hydrating for days is unnecessary and could have a dilutional impact on some tests, 500ml of water an hour before the blood test should be sufficient to make sure your veins are full. Make sure your peripheral blood vessels are nice and dilated, wear warm clothing for a while before the test so that you actually feel a bit warm and only remove just before the test. Talk to your phlebotomist about it, they are kind and skillful people and they will help you relax. It is extremely common for people to feel anxious about it and the phlebotomist will know this
They can’t find my veins either and had to use the smallest gauge tube when they fit the little device that allows them to take more than one sample if needed.
I'm also very difficult to get blood from. Apparently my veins are very deep so even if I'm super hydrated and try to stay warm, sometimes it still takes multiple people.
The worst I had was when I was in hospital last year. I was being kept nil by mouth for multiple days as I was on the emergency list for surgery (which never happened). So I was obviously dehydrated and tired so getting bloods was nearly impossible. It was awful. The nurses kept thinking I was upset because of the needle but I was in tears because of the whole situation.
I have insanely deep and hard to find veins. They *never* get anything from my arm and have to do the hands with a butterfly (and even then it's tough and most of the time it takes a couple of goes.) I had to have loads of blood tests when pregnant and came back from every one with both hands bruised and covered in plasters. It doesn't matter how hydrated I am or if I keep warm, the veins just aren't where they need to be 🤷♀️
But I'm used to it. I don't hate blood tests more than I think is normal. I'm generally relatively cheery if I need blood drawn and just explain to the nurse/phlebotomist that they'll need a butterfly and not to even bother looking at my arms. I think knowing it's going to be tough maybe makes them a bit more careful too.
I had needlephobia until I needed a bunch of blood tests for a genetic condition they found when I was 10-12, and it desensitised me. I'm honestly fine with them now... I've had so many since and I get one blood test a year just to check my liver function
I always found that a good way to make my veins show up before a test was to sit in the waiting room with my arms hanging down to the sides with my palms facing out.
Always get compliments on my lovely veins when getting bloods taken.
Cold weather can make it much harder to find veins as I found out recently. Try to arrive early and warm yourself up. Twice in the past month the only vein the nurse could find was one in back of my hand.
After starting some new medication I have been required to go in for a blood test every two weeks.
They are just a part of my life now, but apparently I’m an “easy bleeder”, which makes things much simpler.
My veins suck they tiny and move a lot, you can’t really feel them either and this been going on 17 years. Tried all the water, herbal and I tried heating up the area before going in and nope. Tbh it depends on how patient the nurse is and what needle they use. I need a butterfly needle with a patient nurse. The one nurse at the start of my diagnose always doing my bloods she took the time with me to find the exact spot where a vein can be found and since then I always just show nurses where it is and haven’t gotten any bother since. Apart from the odd nurse who is just terrible and made me look like a drug addict.
I have to have them monthly.
My advice is take note of which vein they have good luck with.
I used to get butchered but then one nurse noticed a big juicy vein and ever since I've just pointed it out and they've had first time success every time.
Nope. It's always an odd experience for me. Mostly because you can hear your blood splashing into the container if you pay enough attention. It's such a macabre thing.
Ask for a Butterfly needle. This is what they have used on me the last few times I’ve had blood drawn as my veins are too small for the normal needles.
My arms are every smackheads nightmare first sniff of a tourniquet and my veins just retreat to the bone after I've bent innumerate canula they finally wheel the scanner in
I was literally told by one nurse I’d never be a good drug addict as my veins are too bad. That was after attempt 8 (10 was the charm after 9 collapsed part way through).
I've got faint scars on the back of my right hand from that same pregnancy and kiddos turning 15 this summer one went in at an angle blood squirted all over midwife and curtain
I used to hate blood tests, but then I was diagnosed with an autoinflammatory/autoimmune disease at 16 and had to have blood tests very regularly.
However, they always struggle to find a vein in my arm. They always feel good veins, put the needle in, and nothing.
Because of this they started taking out my hand (which always bleeds), so now I just ask for the hand straight away. Some nurses get bothered by it and still insist on trying my arm first, but most will go straight for the hand.
I don’t have blood tests per se but hate having to keep going back for repeat ones in a short amount of time. One time I had to go back because “they didn’t take enough blood”.
I’m one of those people where it’s like getting blood from a rock. I’ve got really small veins that are deep and wriggly. Half the time if the nurse gets one it collapses/doesn’t give enough blood and she has to try again. Last year my doctors screwed up my annual bloods and refused to do them altogether which resulted in 4 lots of blood being taken in 2 months (with 1 failed attempt in there too). I was not a happy bunny.
I’ve had phlebotomists struggle, anaesthetists struggle (which was a problem when they were trying to knock me out for surgery! I woke up covered in holes from where they went digging for a better vein once I was out), nurses in the hospital having to go find a chemo nurse to try etc. I’m a bit of a fainter too for added fun.
But yeah, I can drink pints of water in the run up, do exercise, bundle up like I’m in the arctic even in summer, sit with my hands under heat (next to no chance for those anyway - veins are too small) etc. The record is 9 attempts.
Some nurses have a really easy time finding my veins, others struggle a lot. I used to inject heroin so I know my veins are actually not that hard to find
I asked a nurse about this, she said that my veins are slightly deeper than expected for arms as skinny as mine, so basically if they keep going they will find them and they are very easy but if they get confused and stop when they are expecting to have got to it but haven't yet, then that's what results in them digging around forever
I'm a blood donor, so tests are easy by comparison to the pipeline they put in for that. Staying warm for winter donations is a must for me though, as they're the only ones that have been difficult.
It's a water, sugar and salt combo which helps. My daughter has tiny veins and when she is in hospital recovering from an episode of anaphylaxis, her blood pressure drops, which is exactly when they need to take bloods. We find that a drink of apple juice, and some carbs with salt (chips is what we can usually get in a hospital) does the trick.
Yep. Absolutely hate them and get really stressed out. I even have decent veins so it’s normally easy and painless, but it’d a me risk thing, it really creeps me out.
I should have been desensitised to them, been fighting cancer for 18 months and have had a LOT of blood tests during the various treatment stages, but still, nope.
Well I got my last scan results on Friday (valentines date with the oncologist, yay) and he said I now have “no measurable disease” so hopefully they’ve got it!
Ask if they had the heaty-arm thingy! It really helps! It’s like a heated pad they wrap your arm in. And you can clutch a squeezy ball. Just tell the person doing it that you’re hard to find veins in.
Source: had over 40 blood tests in the least two years and I’m hard to get blood out of.
I feel your pain I’ve had many blood tests but most times it’s been easy since they know what they’re doing but recently I had to go to the hospital after falling ill and some nurse tried 5 times to find a vein giving me a huge bruise. So I recommend if you want to get a blood test go to a specialised place instead of the hospital
I used to hate them to the point that I'd pass out every time someone took blood.
Then I got really ill and needed regular blood tests, and I barely even notice they've done it now.
Stay warm and hydrated and it'll go a lot easier!
Yes I hate blood tests I once had a lovely district nurse who brought with her a tourniquet that had a slider and then she retired and I was supposed to have a blood test before Christmas and the next district nurse brought the wrong tourniquet so I didn't get it done
As someone with a chronic illness that has had too many blood tests to count...
I have had some bad experiences, yes. I often keep track of which arm is the best for taking blood, and while you are in the waiting room, its a good idea to clench and unclench your fists to get a good vein beforehand.
I have had experiences where I literally TOLD nurses the best arm to use, and they said 'let's try the other one first' and I'm like 'but actually no because this isn't my first rodeo, so listen to me' and they ignored me. In the end I refused to let them do my bloods unless they used the arm I requested
Just you need to learn to advocate for yourself.
I hate them. I’m reading these comments, and I can already feel my legs going out at the thought of it.
I nearly passed out when I had my COVID jab as well.
I have extreme haemophobia, can’t even say/read the b word or v word. I just tell the nurse straight up my phobia, tell her to use the words juice and tubes, and tell her to take from my left hand as that and my wrists are the only place I’ve had successful tests or cannulas. Every nurse has then been amazing, used a tiny needle and applied a plaster so I don’t see anything.
I have very difficult veins as my main ones are collapsed. So I can’t go to my GP surgery for blood tests, have to go to the hospital.
I hate it though because I take so much of their time up. Sometimes they ask me to go away to drink a lot of water and warm up by the radiator then come back.
I have to have regular blood tests and I went for one last week, the phlebotomist spent the entire time scolding me for being cold and saying it’s not normal to be as cold as me. I had walked there which takes one hour, and it’s February, I can’t help being cold. 🤷♀️They’re normally fine with me though.
I learned that your veins can close up a bit if you watch them do their work, it's some sort of anxiety response or something that occurs even if you personally don't mind watching. As soon as I sit down I turn my head to face the wall and I've stopped having issues with them finding veins. Good luck!
Honestly since the time I had venous blood gases 3X in 36 hrs, regular blood tests seem like a breeze now. That said drinking water, being water, avoiding caffeine can all help, pumping your first can too
Oh I'm terrified of them. I always use emla cream, but last time it still really hurt when the needle went into my left arm. And I'm still traumatised by the time I had one aged 8 or 9, felt so weak afterwards I flopped forwards (thankfully my Mum was there to catch me, otherwise I'd have fallen on the floor) and the nurse still shouted at me to get up and leave.
I once had to have a massive needle stuck in my hand and wriggled around for a good while before they were satisfied to inject. It was so horrible but it made me a lot more comfortable with smaller needles because they are nothing in comparison to what they did to my hand.
Oh yeah, I have like no veins, but I've been in and out of surgery my whole life so I'm used to it. One particular operation they almost had to cannulate my neck. I always warn them these days!
Don’t mind at all, I’m quite a bleeder so they never have too much trouble with me. I don’t half bruise though, no matter how gentle & painless the test was.
before i had spinal surgery they couldn’t find a vein to put the drugs through, tried about 7 times in my hand, hand hurts so much worse than the arm. had to do the surgery without drugs. it is a phobia for me. blood tests are less painful than what happened to me but yeah still i hate it
I was diagnosed with a rare disease aged 7, on top of that my health needs constantly monitored because the meds I’m on never seem to be sufficient enough. I’ve been getting prodded constantly since then, I’ve had blood drawn from my hands as a last resort . It hurts like a motherfucker sometimes but I guess I’ve gotten so used to it even if it is painful it just makes it more of an interesting visit… Jesus that sounds fucked lol
I hate the *idea* - i am lucky to have never had one that i can remember, and I'm hoping for things to stay that way until it's absolutely 100% necessary, I've been sent into full panics just by seeing pictures of them before and just thinking about it makes me indescribably nauseous
That being said I'd probably be a phlebotomists dream otherwise, the veins in my arms tend to be traceable across most of my forearm without much effort, it's just that I'd probably have to be physical restrained for anything to actually be done
Not even scared of needles, got multiple piercings and tattoos (including one on my inner forearm where you'd expect blood to get taken from), don't know what my problem is
I'm a phlebotomist
If you have difficulty, always ask for a butterfly needle, its a lot smaller and can get the wee viens
The blood comes out slowly but still gets the job done
I’m a ghost so I feel ya, I will drink loads beforehand and they’ll still struggle, especially in winter.
Wrap up warm before you go in, and don’t take your coats off until you’re in the appointment, not in the waiting room.
The time of day can also have an impact, morning tends to be harder because you’ve been asleep more recently and not moving around as much, plus drinking less.
It might also be worth getting them to check if you’re anaemic.
Also, if you can pick where to go for the blood test, choose your local hospital. The blood test people there do it all day long so they’re much more used to finding veins. As great as gp surgery nurses are, they’re not doing it quite as much and are therefore not as adept.
I’ve never had a problem with needles anyway so I’m indifferent to blood tests, which is just as well seeing as I have to get them multiple times a year and have done for the past 15 years.
It does suck when they can’t find a vein though, fortunately mine are usually pretty juicy.
I’m fine with normal blood tests but that’s probably because they’ve never struggled to find a vein. The only ones I hate are the fasting blood tests because I’ve gone light headed after every single one and they seem to take so many of those little vials
Drink A LOT of water before your test. Like A LOT. And keep your hands and arms warm. Swing your arms while in the waiting room to improve blood flow. Ask for baby/butterfly needles if you can :)
I have an awful phobia - and it surprises me how a lot of medical staff don’t recognise the difference between a phobia and being scared! I sit in the waiting room and tell myself it’ll be fine and to just do it and then go into the room shaking and breaking down. Worst part is I have great veins so it could be over in 2 mins!
Staying hydrated will help them at least find your veins and make it quicker for you but I’ve found letting them know I’m scared and booking a double appointment generally means they will give your fear the time of day.
Last nurse I had didn’t take my phobia seriously and played bad cop. Was suddenly good cop when I was unconscious in the corridor 😂
Sometimes the stars align and that happens. Good nurse, nice vein, and a bit of luck.
Other times they're not as experienced, or it hurts for one of many other reasons, and it's not as pleasant. I have less of a phobia now because of lots of exposure to the tests, that are medically necessary. I still have bad days, floods of tears, not allowing them access... sometimes I can be in and out of the room in 30 seconds, but the hurt is often there when the needle penetrates, and that's normal.
I found anxiety makes it hard to get blood from my veins. Around the time I was diagnosed with GAD, I was having quite a few blood tests and it was a real struggle to get a tiny dribble. After being medicated and having counselling, it got a LOT easier! Also, distraction can work wonders - just chatting about stuff unrelated to your health could help.
I hate needles, always refused blood tests and said it would need to be a life or death situation. In October I started having some heart issues, so I finally had to suck it up. I had two blood tests within a few hours. I have great veins in my left arm and both doctors complimented them.
In November I was back in hospital and another blood test was ordered. It was a nurse this time, and it ended up being my right arm, which doesn't have such great veins. It hurt a bit more this time, but was still straightforward. Since then, I've had mild pain in the inner elbow that comes and goes depending on the position of my arm, so seems like some lasting damage was done. I'll be making sure it's my left arm in future.
I’d be very surprised if the pain is from the blood test. I’m not saying you’re wrong I just haven’t heard of that before. If they hit a nerve you would very much know about it
Yup, exactly the same used to have loads of blood tests when I was younger.
Used to be absolutely fine, to the extent of watching them put the needle in and the blood flowing through.
Then came a time I needed one, took them 6 attempts to get it in.
Hated them ever since.
Nah some peoples veins can just be deep or small and so can be tricky to get blood from. I pride myself on being pretty good at getting bloods, I’m the one called upon when others miss but sometimes people come in and they’re just hard
I don't mind them.
Although when I was hospitalised, a male nurse was far too rough and nicked a nerve that twinged for a few weeks.
The original female nurse was so gentle and had no issue the first time :(
I believe that some people are just a bit more rough with but we can’t see nerves and so it is entirely possible to nick one when being gentle and it’s just very unlucky
I have similar issues. I have small veins and sometimes they’ve really struggled to get anything. It’s often very painful. A couple of times I had people do it very badly and cause nerve issues for a few weeks afterwards. I don’t have a phobia but I used to be totally fine with it and now I do get quite anxious. Got to go this coming Friday! 😬
But here are some things I’ve learnt that help: drink a ton of water beforehand (more than you think). If it’s not a fasting blood test, make sure to eat a decent meal. If possible, on the way to the test, hold a hot water bottle or heating pad to your veins. Take it with you into the surgery/hospital and do the same whilst you’re waiting. Yes, it does get you some weird looks, but it makes an enormous difference in how much the veins stand out.
It will also be easier for them if you go later in the day (I’m not sure the science of this), but I know that’s not always possible.
For me, just drinking tons of water and using a hot water bottle has been enough to make my blood tests go smoothly.
Never had any issues with blood tests, I've also donated blood. My veins are generally not too hard to find but it wouldn't bother me if they were, I've been through worse than a few jabs.
Having gone through pregnancy 4 times, I like many other women had to attend anti natal appointments where blood would be drawn. Now in my case you can see the veins in my arms quite clearly. Almost every blood letting went without incident, until big Bertha. I'm not a fan of getting jabbed with a needle, but hey ho, I just look the other way, jab done. Until big Bertha. She missed an obvious vein 3 times before I politely but forcefully suggested that she fuck off and find someone else to draw my blood
I take people bloods as part of my job. Some people hate them and some people are so unfazed, I have seen the whole spectrum of reactions. Most people who really hate them have had bad experiences with them in the past.
Sometimes we just can’t find a vein, or they collapse or they’re tricky but honestly when I first started the main reason I would miss was just me not concentrating which I know sounds bad but it’s because to me it was just another task I had to do.
Once I noticed that I got better. I rarely miss and if I know they’re a bit tricky or the client isn’t a fan on bloods then I take my time.
Make sure you’re hydrated, warm and as relaxed as you can be as the more stressed you are 1. Makes us nervous and 2. Makes you more likely to move and 3. Makes you focus on the pinch more and then it hurts more.
I have tricky veins. No amount of hydration, warmth, squeezing a fist, or tiny needles seems to help. I don’t really mind the discomfort while they take a good while to get a blood draw, but a few times now they’ve resorted to doing the blood draw by syringe, which is much much faster and easier (although from asking why they don’t do it this way initially since it’s easier, it turns out it’s a faff to make sure the sample is preserved properly and is actually useable - something about transferring it from the syringe into the little tube).
I'm needle phobic thanks for a very difficult experience in my childhood. Any time I'm pricked, I'm guaranteed to hyperventilate and pass out from a mild panic attack. So yeah, I hate them. But they are unavoidable at times.
I don't mind them, but I developed iron-clad coping mechanisms as a child. I have a bit of a complicated medical history, with several auto-immune issues and different disorders and syndromes, all diagnosed in my teens. Often, I would turn up to a routine doctor's appointment and they'd decide to run a dozen different blood tests on me. There wasn't time to prepare by drinking lots of water or warming my skin, and getting the needle in was tricky sometimes.
I let my arm go limp, close my eyes, and sing hymns in my head. Old hymns. Amazing Grace, Guide Me O Thou Great Jehova, To Be A Pilgrim, that sort of thing. They just take me to a completely different place in my mind. I'm not in the phlebotomist's chair any more. I don't feel how many times they're pricking my arm and bruising me. I'm in the eternal choir. I do it for a range of unpleasant medical procedures (getting my contraceptive implant in, getting smear tests, getting literal needles in my eyes) and it never fails.
They can find my veins easy enough but every time I almost pass out, it's horrible, I have to sit in the room and wait for it to pass. I've never actually passed out from it but it feelsike any second I'll drop...! I do want them before hand though so they take good care of me 🙈
I give blood every 4 months or so, and they have trouble finding my hidden vein, but they always find it, without poking around a few times then switching arms.
Blood test people at my local surgery really suck at it, in my experience. I’ve had a moan. I doubt it did anything.
I was never bothered them. I once was so annoyed that the nurse couldn't find a vein that I snatched the syringe out of her hand and did it myself (used to work in the field). Didn't go down well but she had to admit that she got what she needed.
I have blood tests every couple of months to monitor an ongoing health condition. I normally get them done in the blood room at my local hospital's cancer centre. They must do hundreds a day so they've got plenty of experience. It tends to be less painful and leave a smaller bruise than getting it done by someone who doesn't do so many.
Never used to be, even watched the whole thing.
All that changed when a student nurse was taking my blood. She had a handbag on her shoulder and it slipped and swung round hitting the needle during, which wasn't pleasant, then she was taking it and some blood spilled when she removed the side part and she said 'oops, that's not supposed to happen'. Fainted so damn fast.
Since then, if anyone shows anything other than pure confidence I'm fainting.
I was told not to take up heroin the last time I had a blood test. 3 different people, all more senior and experienced than the last, tried before they finally got a vein and my arm was an absolute mess afterwards.
I am fortunate to have very easy veins but have been the junior doctor asked to take blood from a patient in the middle of the night because a billion others had tried during the day and failed.
Thankfully I had a great senior doctor with me who taught me
1) Have respect and empathy. This is a human, not a slab of meat for successive people to essentially stab in the hopes of getting a vein.
2) Unless there is something acutely wrong with the patient, it would be medically and ethically wrong to ‘try my luck’ at night to stab a patient for non-essential, non-urgent tests
3) Involve anaesthetists, who have ultrasound, EARLY (obviously only in a hospital setting)
4) Respect and empathy for the patient.
I have a blood phobia, so blood tests aren't fun for me!
For me it's 99% psychological. They barely hurt, but it's just imagining what's going on that makes me feel faint.
I always see the same nurse, I always lie down and I've recently started listening to music. There's something about the click of the vials being connected and disconnected that turns my stomach, so music helps block that out.
It's SUCH a common problem, and nurses would literally always rather know if you hate them so they can help rather than have someone try to tough it out and end up on the floor!
I can’t stand them.
Once a nurse said she was done and the needle was hanging out my arm, i screamed the place down. Another time at a different clinic my friend came along and she said I had gone so pale and she thought i might faint because they couldn’t find a suitable vein (it was a warm day and I was hydrated)
I’m a nurse. I take a lot of blood samples. I’m also a tricky stick myself.
Make sure you’re well hydrated, and warm. Point out where they usually manage to get bloods from you.
If it spurted everywhere she may have hit an artery, so some of the values may be slightly different.
You could ask for Emla cream - or buy some from the pharmacy beforehand.
I regularly faint during blood tests. I have to have regular tests too, due to a chronic condition.
It’s a necessary evil, but I most definitely hate the experience.
Yeah, I have very narrow and hard to find veins. I’ve been jabbed in a tendon more times than I can count. I always warn the phlebotomist beforehand, and they usually seem annoyed and offended until they try, then they seen what I mean.
I drink all the water in the world beforehand and all that, but it makes little difference. It might be genetic because my grandmother and my sister have the same problem.
I'm not a big fan of being stabbed with needles but no more than is reasonable. The worst ones are the vaccinations which come straight out the freezer as you can feel them flow into you.
with me they usually have to try both arms and both hands before they can find a vein and even then it's very unlikely i will actually give them any blood, last time they did a finger prick like they do for lil kids and hoped for the best
I usually pass out, as I hate them so much, in all the years I've had them, I can recall only a couple of times where it was a quick and mostly painless experience, I think these were the more patient and better at taking blood people (phlebotomist) I think they are called? Being pregnant was the worse as you need them very often.
Yes. I have had some horrible experiences with people bellowing that they *will* find my vein… only for them not to and for me to end up fainting on them. But my GP surgery has brilliant, gentle phlebotomists who are the complete opposite of this. They let me lie down, shut my eyes, and do my breathing exercises whilst they get on with taking the blood. Everyone’s happy!
I was always fine with needles/blood tests until I had one done when I was about 15 maybe.
The lady taking my blood couldn’t find a vein and was repeatedly pushing the needle in and out which was uncomfortable but not the worst.
When she’d taken the blood and pulled the needle out, I still don’t know how/why this happened, but blood literally squirted everywhere. All over my arm, on the lady taking the blood and across the desk between us. Not been a fan since.
I donate blood and they can never find my vein, it usually gets escalated and on a few occasions a brave soul just jabs the needle in blind and deep to hit the right vein. I have the same misfortune with blood tests. I’m not phased though, it’s a bit of a game now to see how soon they can get success. If a nurse gets blood on the first time of trying I’m wowed. It’s happened once I think.
I've had to have many of them so they don't particularly bother me any more.
I can be really difficult to find a vein on sometimes, and that definitely makes for a worse experience. Once the hospital had to go and find a paediatric nurse to do it.
Best thing you can do is make sure you've drunk a decent amount of fluids (tea is good) and aren't cold.
I say this with privilege, my cousin is a phlebotomist so if I ever need bloods doing I text her then pop to her office at lunchtime and she does it for me while we have a chat. It’s far less pressure but also not an option for the majority of people!
I do donate blood often though, and have experienced shy veins. Make sure you’re hydrated, pump your fist a couple times on the way into the appointment, and maybe tell the phlebotomist you’re nervous. Good luck!
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