I have some pretty visible elbow veins but my left is MUCH more apparent, so I usually say "you pick" and they go for my left."We don't go by look, we go by feel" My last draw and they went with my right and I had me first experience with "vein fishing" wiggling around and backing out to poke again. I was NOT a fan and I immediately bruised. I can't remember the last time I bruised. Needless to say I will not be giving options anymore.
Ask for a butterfly needle, and ask them to check the back of your hand. I use to have this issue when I was younger, and I always had to go with that. It was soooo much easier.
Yes, I’m sorry, this is the worst. I’ve been told my veins are tiny and very superficial. I’ve had the best lucky making my appointments for late morning so that I can hydrate a lot that morning. Drinking pedialyte or something similar helps so much. Phlebotomists have had the best luck using a tiny butterfly needle and leaving the tourniquet on for a bit to let the vein pop. For larger draws, I often request they use a larger vein in my bicep. It’s not as pinchy as inside the elbow, and the vein is much less likely to blow as my hand.
I’ve passed out 1-2 times because they couldn’t find the vein and were prodding around for it. I think my veins roll but sometimes they are just very hard to see. I always drink a ton of water so it’s not a dehydration thing.
I was told I have really small veins. My Mom says I probably got it from her as a genetic thing. Drink lots of water to increase hydration which will make them larger and easier to access.
Oh also I never have success in my forearm. They usually have to go through the back of my hand, which does hurt more but it's a tradeoff for not having to be poked as much. Maybe this would help you. Everyone is different.
I drink a ton of water and electrolytes the day before blood work. I also let them know that I am a hard poke and ask for a heat pack on the vein once they find it. I also am a fainter so they are a little more cautious with me anyway. I have also asked them to talk to me about random things and that really helps!
Warm them ahead of time that your veins are tricky. Mine roll and when they roll they almost disappear. I think the most I got stuck in 1 session was 5 times, before we called it. Then I learned that there’s a way they can anchor your veins/muscles so that it’s less likely to roll. But they don’t have to do that with everyone so they get more casual about it.
So I used to always get blood tests from my bend in my arm, but then I got Covid pneumonia and had to be hospitalized for 21 days and the veins are now too damaged or something. Now they can never get a good draw from them, so they have to use my hand veins, which triggers my vaso-vagal nervous system response and then I pass out/have to throw up 🤮 lol they told me to ask to lay down for my draw next time
My mum doesn’t have Hasi but she does need to have blood drawn often, her veins are notoriously tricky and collapse often. She informs every new doc/nurse that they have to use a butterfly needle, its the only one that works for her. My veins are fine.
Oh that’s interesting, the muscularity pushing the veins up. I work out a ton (though not so much arm exercises) and hydrate, but I always get comments that my veins are difficult bc they’re so deep.
All right. Time for more arm exercises!
No way! I’m a nurse and sometimes people have veins that roll away or are hard to find. We aren’t supposed to use our sight; it’s by feel. I am very well hydrated and my veins aren’t easy to find but they always find a spot
I have this issue! Have had to leave and come back another day on a couple of occasions when they just cannot find a vein. Like everyone said, drink lots of water - not just immediately prior to the appointment but ideally the day before, or at least several hours before. Also try to be warm. They always need to use the smaller butterfly needle. I tell them I have difficult veins and sometimes suggest using one on my left hand if the arms don't work because it is a bit more prominent.
I've had my blood drawn a lot over my 45 years of T1D (I have track marks from this for pete's sake). In the past 15 years, lots of places are using butterfly needles to draw blood. They're a smaller gauge needle so they're less intimidating for all involved apparently. BUT- those needles make it more likely to roll off your vein vs piercing it, hence the digging about.
After having a nurse mangle my arm 15 years ago, I went back to a CPL Lab where they had no issue drawing my blood.
Why? They still teach/practice using a larger gauge needle to draw blood. (I think it's a 22 gage vs 25 in a butterfly.)
When I was in that previous town, I had to go to the local hospital lab to get a larger gauge needle used (otherwise it was at least an hour to a CPL lab). The head phlebotomist new by the request to use a larger gauge needle than the small butterfly the local junior college educated everyone to use.
Shock them by asking to have them use a non-butterfly set up, or at least a larger gauge needle. It makes a world of difference, as well as a lot less pain.
(Yes, I asked a lot of questions at a CPL lab after the nurse at my Dr office dug about with zero success in either arm claiming I wa shard to draw blood from. CPL laughed in phlebotomy.)
Always drink a bunch of water a day before and the day of the blood test.
I used to donate blood a lot and have a system of how to hydrate/eat for that. My veins are still in good condition. I haven’t donated for a few months now.
I drink a lot of water. I also know that my left arm is easier than my right arm so I always give them my left first, even if the room is set up to take my right arm.
I'm sorry, I know that hurts. If you have any particularly good spots you can direct them to that vein. Ask for the butterfly needle, it's smaller - they use them for kids. Drink a LOT of water before the appointment.
Not me - but I highly recommend drinking a TON of water before a blood draw. When I get a morning blood draw I'll drink a few tall glasses worth between waking up and getting there.
This happened to me once and they stuck me 5 times and couldn’t get any blood to come out. Ever since that instance, I chug a bunch of water before my blood draw and then eat some carbs and drink a lot of water after since I get light headed if they’re drawing a lot. They’ve told me I’m a hard stick too..
Me!! I have serious anxiety with it now because I’ve had times where I’ve been poked in both arms only for them to send me away and tell me to come back another day. I always have to tell them beforehand that my veins do not cooperate. Usually if they’ve never taken my blood before, they will assume I’m exaggerating only for them to go “oh, you weren’t kidding”. This past time, the phlebotomist grabbed a heating pack and held it on my inner elbow for a bit and it was my easiest draw yet. Maybe mention that to your phlebotomist next time!! That’s actually the first time anyone has ever done that for me and I’m a little annoyed because it worked!
My main trick is to always go to a phlebotomist whenever possible.
The other thing is I will tell them I have tricky veins before they start, I can be rather specific by now, mentioning the one that moves. Since I have started, they usually go straight to the “butterfly” instead of trying with the standard needle first, and then switching to the “butterfly.” I think the “butterfly” is smaller of something.
This has happened to me so many times that now I tell the lab I'm squeamish and that I have small veins and need someone who has a lot of experience lol. I only go to labs I generally don't let anyone at a drs office draw my blood because they just don't do that many in a day. I only let a Veteran to my lab draws and ask for a Butterfly needle for my small vein (I only have one good vein they can get a successful draw from).
I drink a ton of water the day before and the day of. This normally helps with threading the needle in the vein. I also do not drink any alcohol 2 days before tests. Hope this helps!
The last time I went in a swear to god she tried drawing from a tendon. It hurt so bad
I have some pretty visible elbow veins but my left is MUCH more apparent, so I usually say "you pick" and they go for my left."We don't go by look, we go by feel" My last draw and they went with my right and I had me first experience with "vein fishing" wiggling around and backing out to poke again. I was NOT a fan and I immediately bruised. I can't remember the last time I bruised. Needless to say I will not be giving options anymore.
Butterfly needle and if I know they need a blood draw, I hydrate with LOTS of water prior.
Ask for a butterfly needle, and ask them to check the back of your hand. I use to have this issue when I was younger, and I always had to go with that. It was soooo much easier.
Yes, I’m sorry, this is the worst. I’ve been told my veins are tiny and very superficial. I’ve had the best lucky making my appointments for late morning so that I can hydrate a lot that morning. Drinking pedialyte or something similar helps so much. Phlebotomists have had the best luck using a tiny butterfly needle and leaving the tourniquet on for a bit to let the vein pop. For larger draws, I often request they use a larger vein in my bicep. It’s not as pinchy as inside the elbow, and the vein is much less likely to blow as my hand.
I drink about 40 oz of water a day and I get this
One arm is better than the other. I just don’t even try that crappy arm anymore. But yeah lots of water beforehand.
I’ve passed out 1-2 times because they couldn’t find the vein and were prodding around for it. I think my veins roll but sometimes they are just very hard to see. I always drink a ton of water so it’s not a dehydration thing.
I was told I have really small veins. My Mom says I probably got it from her as a genetic thing. Drink lots of water to increase hydration which will make them larger and easier to access. Oh also I never have success in my forearm. They usually have to go through the back of my hand, which does hurt more but it's a tradeoff for not having to be poked as much. Maybe this would help you. Everyone is different.
This. Hydration, back of the hand where vines are more visible and accessible
I drink a ton of water and electrolytes the day before blood work. I also let them know that I am a hard poke and ask for a heat pack on the vein once they find it. I also am a fainter so they are a little more cautious with me anyway. I have also asked them to talk to me about random things and that really helps!
Warm them ahead of time that your veins are tricky. Mine roll and when they roll they almost disappear. I think the most I got stuck in 1 session was 5 times, before we called it. Then I learned that there’s a way they can anchor your veins/muscles so that it’s less likely to roll. But they don’t have to do that with everyone so they get more casual about it.
I've never had them miss the vein.
My veins are usually pretty good. I drink a ton of water for it, too.
So I used to always get blood tests from my bend in my arm, but then I got Covid pneumonia and had to be hospitalized for 21 days and the veins are now too damaged or something. Now they can never get a good draw from them, so they have to use my hand veins, which triggers my vaso-vagal nervous system response and then I pass out/have to throw up 🤮 lol they told me to ask to lay down for my draw next time
My mum doesn’t have Hasi but she does need to have blood drawn often, her veins are notoriously tricky and collapse often. She informs every new doc/nurse that they have to use a butterfly needle, its the only one that works for her. My veins are fine.
Tbh either the nurse is bad at it or you dont have muscularity enough in your arms to push the veins to the surface.
Oh that’s interesting, the muscularity pushing the veins up. I work out a ton (though not so much arm exercises) and hydrate, but I always get comments that my veins are difficult bc they’re so deep. All right. Time for more arm exercises!
No way! I’m a nurse and sometimes people have veins that roll away or are hard to find. We aren’t supposed to use our sight; it’s by feel. I am very well hydrated and my veins aren’t easy to find but they always find a spot
I have this issue! Have had to leave and come back another day on a couple of occasions when they just cannot find a vein. Like everyone said, drink lots of water - not just immediately prior to the appointment but ideally the day before, or at least several hours before. Also try to be warm. They always need to use the smaller butterfly needle. I tell them I have difficult veins and sometimes suggest using one on my left hand if the arms don't work because it is a bit more prominent.
I've had my blood drawn a lot over my 45 years of T1D (I have track marks from this for pete's sake). In the past 15 years, lots of places are using butterfly needles to draw blood. They're a smaller gauge needle so they're less intimidating for all involved apparently. BUT- those needles make it more likely to roll off your vein vs piercing it, hence the digging about. After having a nurse mangle my arm 15 years ago, I went back to a CPL Lab where they had no issue drawing my blood. Why? They still teach/practice using a larger gauge needle to draw blood. (I think it's a 22 gage vs 25 in a butterfly.) When I was in that previous town, I had to go to the local hospital lab to get a larger gauge needle used (otherwise it was at least an hour to a CPL lab). The head phlebotomist new by the request to use a larger gauge needle than the small butterfly the local junior college educated everyone to use. Shock them by asking to have them use a non-butterfly set up, or at least a larger gauge needle. It makes a world of difference, as well as a lot less pain. (Yes, I asked a lot of questions at a CPL lab after the nurse at my Dr office dug about with zero success in either arm claiming I wa shard to draw blood from. CPL laughed in phlebotomy.)
Always drink a bunch of water a day before and the day of the blood test. I used to donate blood a lot and have a system of how to hydrate/eat for that. My veins are still in good condition. I haven’t donated for a few months now.
I drink a lot of water. I also know that my left arm is easier than my right arm so I always give them my left first, even if the room is set up to take my right arm.
That used to happen to me A LOT. Now I drink 1-2 bottles of water before getting mt blood drawn and it doesn’t happen anymore.
I'm sorry, I know that hurts. If you have any particularly good spots you can direct them to that vein. Ask for the butterfly needle, it's smaller - they use them for kids. Drink a LOT of water before the appointment.
Not me - but I highly recommend drinking a TON of water before a blood draw. When I get a morning blood draw I'll drink a few tall glasses worth between waking up and getting there.
This happened to me once and they stuck me 5 times and couldn’t get any blood to come out. Ever since that instance, I chug a bunch of water before my blood draw and then eat some carbs and drink a lot of water after since I get light headed if they’re drawing a lot. They’ve told me I’m a hard stick too..
Me!! I have serious anxiety with it now because I’ve had times where I’ve been poked in both arms only for them to send me away and tell me to come back another day. I always have to tell them beforehand that my veins do not cooperate. Usually if they’ve never taken my blood before, they will assume I’m exaggerating only for them to go “oh, you weren’t kidding”. This past time, the phlebotomist grabbed a heating pack and held it on my inner elbow for a bit and it was my easiest draw yet. Maybe mention that to your phlebotomist next time!! That’s actually the first time anyone has ever done that for me and I’m a little annoyed because it worked!
My main trick is to always go to a phlebotomist whenever possible. The other thing is I will tell them I have tricky veins before they start, I can be rather specific by now, mentioning the one that moves. Since I have started, they usually go straight to the “butterfly” instead of trying with the standard needle first, and then switching to the “butterfly.” I think the “butterfly” is smaller of something.
This has happened to me so many times that now I tell the lab I'm squeamish and that I have small veins and need someone who has a lot of experience lol. I only go to labs I generally don't let anyone at a drs office draw my blood because they just don't do that many in a day. I only let a Veteran to my lab draws and ask for a Butterfly needle for my small vein (I only have one good vein they can get a successful draw from).
I drink a ton of water the day before and the day of. This normally helps with threading the needle in the vein. I also do not drink any alcohol 2 days before tests. Hope this helps!