Do you have any top tips for blood test?

Posted by FireflyKaylee@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 26 comments

Despite being young, fit and healthy, my veins are basically a walking disaster and they're getting worse.

I've been told on numerous occasions by numerous nurses and phlebotomists that they "vanish", are "twisty" or "roll" and on the rare occasion they do manage to actually find a vein, it'll give literally one drop of blood and then stop.

I got banned from donating blood because my veins suck so much.

Last time I had to have a blood test, it took three nurses multiple attempts over multiple appointments (including with a nurse who called herself "the vampire" because she can always get blood) to get blood. And even then, we technically didn't get enough blood despite my hand literally being massaged for 15 minutes to try and get the blood out when they got a vein.

I hydrate. I hydrate so much it's ridiculous. I keep my arms and hands warm. I put up with it when they stab me multiple times in arm, hand and wrist (that one hurts like nobody's business).

Tomorrow, once again, they need to take blood from me. Please someone, anyone, give me something that might possibly make my body decide that it wants to cooperate and give up the blood it's worked so hard to make.

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Acyts@reddit

Drink water and do resistance exercise.

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Kitchen-Peanut518@reddit

I've found it's more successful after a brisk walk to the GP's surgery. Basically when I'm warmer and my heart rate is very slightly raised.

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Embarrassed_Park2212@reddit

I have shit veins too but find it's down to how experienced the phlebotomist is. The reason I know this is because I have to get bloods done monthly and the difference between the less experienced and the more experienced is huge. I can be in and out in less than a minute with an experienced one and anything up to 40 minutes with less experienced ones.

Drinking lots of water does help but in my case not always. I can pin point where the vein is some phlebotomist/nurses get a bit pissy about this, don't know why because I'm only trying to help. Plus I don't like them prodding me because it makes me what to vomit.

I would suggest asking them to take it from the hand or under the arm if the vein is more prominent. They might not like it or request someone with more experience.

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FireflyKaylee@reddit (OP)

It is so odd why they get grumpy.

Me: Please take from back of left hand, it's where I've had most successes Them: oh no, I'll definitely be able to get it from your arm, look I can see a vein already Me: that vein is a lie Them: I've got years of experience, it'll be fine Me: 🤦‍♀️😬

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Embarrassed_Park2212@reddit

I've had that too. The veins on my hand stick out like glowing beacons but they'd rather piss about trying to find the arm one. Now I just tell them and if they don't I tell them to get someone else. It feels like I'm being rude but it's me that is suffering while they mess around. Just stand your ground and don't let them push you around.

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Madwife2009@reddit

Have they tried using a butterfly needle instead of the standard ones?

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FireflyKaylee@reddit (OP)

Yep, always ask them to.

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Madwife2009@reddit

Ugh. I'm sorry it's so difficult for you. Having bloods drawn is not fun at the best of times, let alone when it's a struggle. You know to hydrate so saying that isn't going to help.

Hope it's not too awful for you and they get it right first time.

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FireflyKaylee@reddit (OP)

Thank you, I really appreciate that.

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OccidentalTouriste@reddit

I had similar issues for years, I gave up on donating blood because it took so long to get anything out of me, always took multiple attempts to find a vein and even then more often or not it just collapsed. However, I recently went in to have a blood sample taken and they got the vein first time and the phial filled almost immediately. Only change I can think of is that I've been much more physically active and for the last three years I've walked 50 miles a week on average suggesting perhaps that better cardiovascular health has improved things.

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FireflyKaylee@reddit (OP)

Glad yours has improved. I already work out (cardio and weights) 5 days a week though

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destria@reddit

I am also cursed with this and every phlebotomist seems to have a different explanation. My only advice is to pre-warn whoever is taking your blood, I have on occasion had medical staff back out of doing it and get a more experienced phlebotomist. I mean it's not guaranteed they'll get it but they're less likely to stab you too many times. Also if you're ever in a situation where they might need to make multiple blood draws, get a cannula put in...but also watch that thing because it'll probably tissue and you'll need a new one every couple of days.

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FireflyKaylee@reddit (OP)

Last time I was in a situation where I needed lots of blood draws I had to have a PICC line put it...which was HIGHLY unpleasant.

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Aggravating-Case-175@reddit

Same here. Butterfly needle from the hand warmed up with a hot water bottle before hand. I go in like that and have threatened to leave if they won’t do it from the hand first time - I’m not being jabbed for hours and having them tut at me like I’m doing something deliberately.

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FireflyKaylee@reddit (OP)

The tutting is maddening isn't it?

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uk451@reddit

Lift weights!

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FireflyKaylee@reddit (OP)

Ha ha I leg press over 4 times my body weight. Still no dice.

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Walrus-Living@reddit

Mine too. An extended hospital stay has made a bad situation worse with cannulas being replaced every 4 days, plus blood matching until they ran out of arm, hand and wrist space and started on my legs. The phlebotomist they sent to see me recommended (no irony in her voice) a blood test to check my iron, magnesium and potassium along with the usual vitamins might identify low levels of salts being the cause of the veins disappearing. I did and they were low so I worked to bring them up to a normal level. She also told me to do some arm exercises with weights before a blood draw to warm up. I do this plus I found a hefty dose of electrolytes helps in the 2/3 days prior. I haven’t had too much of a problem since doing this but I still also insist on a baby butterfly needle in my hand or wrist instead of them fiddling round stabbing me because they think I’m chatting shit when I tell them my veins vanish, I also can’t stand the sticky fingers tapping the same spot of skin on the inside of my elbow over and over and over, makes me want to hurt someone. I also found that my mum had the same issue so think whatever it is, runs in my family. Good luck mate xx

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FireflyKaylee@reddit (OP)

Yes the amount who totally ignore me when I say that my veins suck is ridiculous! Like why would I kid about it?

Shall try arm exercises before and hydrate with a lucozade or something then.

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Headballet@reddit

Drink lots and LOTS of water in the hours before. I've had to get blood tests through my feet!

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One-Prior3480@reddit

No top tip I’m afraid, but I used to be the same but lately no problems at all. So I guess get a bit older is my top tip 😏 I assumed things would get worse but instead I’m now ‘an easy draw’ apparently!

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ClarifyingMe@reddit

Getting an experienced person who can take blood well also helps. My mother has awful collapsed veins but when it's an experienced nurse, they'd get it very quickly and easily. I have pretty good veins, I like to think, but a few weeks ago I had a blood test and this person was poking around me as if my vein was hiding, and I bled for way longer than usual too. So imagine if she did your arm.

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Walrus-Living@reddit

Also further to my original comment, a friend had similar issues with veins collapsing and only getting a drop or two out, and got diagnosed with sticky blood syndrome. She was pregnant at the time so they kept a very close eye on her, having tested her after a few miscarriages and put her on blood thinners. Might be worth looking into.

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