Please help me when getting blood taken!

I have tiny veins and getting blood drawn is a pain staking process, even for the best phlebotomists. We usually try both arms, all to no avail, resulting in getting my blood drawn from my hands at a drip, drip rate. During the process of trying to find a vein, I get hot, sweaty, nauseous, and light headed. I faint, often. I hate the slapping on the arm to raise the veins, the fishing around once the needle is in my arm, the squeezing of the ball, and the cuff they have to tie INSANELY tight to try to find one. When monitoring, this happens every morning I go -- sometimes 5 days in a row. I know the usual -- I drink TONS of water, no coffee in the AM, etc.

Does anyone know anything that can help!?!? Even if its not medically proven, but something that works for you? I literally cry every day I leave the office in the morning out of frustration -- going through this process is already mentally hard enough, and this blood mumbo jumbo pushes me over the edge. Thank you, ladies!

Please help me when getting blood taken!

I have the exact same problem. My last IUI cycle actually started in tears, because they couldn't get enough blood and I thought I wouldn't be given the okay to start the cycle. (Sidenote: the lab made it work and that was the cycle I wound up getting pregnant)

I always ask for the one of two people who I know have gotten my blood in the past. I don't mind waiting for someone who is really good. If it's not someone I've seen before I make sure they let me lay down while they're taking my blood. I also tell them before they even start that I have terrible veins, you'll need to use a small needle and I tend to faint. I do NOT let them dig around in my arm. One time a tech did that and I wound up flinching because it hurt so bad and she yelled at me for pulling the needle out. I kind of lost it on her.

I know this is not a fast or easy fix, but have you ever tried taking yoga? It obviously doesn't help fix your veins, but the breathing has been super helpful for me. Now that I know how to do it I can kind of shut down, take deep breaths and try to ignore what they're doing to me.

The good news is that once you get pregnant it becomes a lot easier to get blood out. Good luck to you!

Re: Please help me when getting blood taken!

I have awful veins. You literally cannot find one - and when you do, they roll. I tried drinking gallons of water before going in, nothing worked. The only place they can get blood out of me is on top of my left hand - ouch! I ask for a warming pack as soon as I walk in now. I put it on top of my hand in the waiting room and it helps draw the veins up to the surface. It's still difficult, but not as difficult.

Re: Please help me when getting blood taken!

It would help if you over hydrate before going to the appointment. If you are at all dehydrated, it makes finding veins that much worse...

also, I sometimes use a warm soak on a patients arm to bring up veins. If you have a heating pack, you can maybe heat it before you go to the appointment (depending if you are close) and put it on where they usually get something from you... it tends to help veins puff up....

Also....after they put the tourniquet on you, let your arm hang for a couple of minutes (2 or so), it will cause the blood to become dependent and pool in your hand/lower arm due to gravity....

Re: Please help me when getting blood taken!

Putting your head in between your legs and take slow deep breathes. This will get the blood back to your head and help you feel less like fainting. Try to do that maybe when they are gonna switch from one arm to the other. What about a cool, wet paper towel on your face, neck or wrists?

As for the actual blood draw, i have read that if the area is warm, blood flow is better as others said.

ETA: So sorry you have to go through this on top of IF!

Message edited 4/14/2014 8:57:09 AM.

Re: Please help me when getting blood taken!

Before this whole thing I always had problems giving blood - I would get sweaty, faint, etc... it was awful I dreaded it!

As time went on and the more I had to give blood for monitoring...it got a lot easier for me.

The only thing that used to help me was laying down. I know that sounds crazy, but maybe the next few times they can accommodate you that way? I don't know what office you go to, but I never got faint when they took blood and I was laying down .. and not looking.

Good luck!

Please help me when getting blood taken!

I drink tons of water like at least 32 oz before blood work before bed and like an hour before going. I also keep my arms warm....sweatshirt!

Re: Please help me when getting blood taken!

There is literally only one spot they can draw from on me, and even then I have to tell them to use a baby needle. I only found out this one spot because of all the times esp at the RE's office I had to get blood drawn.... when I graduated and went to my OB, I told them where/how to draw blood and they didn't listen, poked and prodded me for about 30 min, I began to sweat profusely and felt light headed and almost passed out. If you find there has been only one spot that has been successful then push for that.... ugh but it sucks, i know how you feel!

Re: Please help me when getting blood taken!

I have a few good veins and a few bad ones that look good. At this point I have had blood taken so many times that I know the good and bad spots, but most people either get it on the first try or need multiple tries.

I was told hyrdrate a lot for 24-48 hours before, not just an hour before.

Also, they have hot compresses that can help expand your veins.

And, I usually point directly to the "best" vein where people tend to have the most luck and tell them to try there.

Also, I ask people not to dig, and to wait until they actually see and feel the vein. I hate when people dig, it rarely works for me and just hurts a lot.

I always used to ask for a butterfly but I actually find that the big scary looking needles tend to have better luck as far as getting blood on the first try and they get the blood faster if there are multiple vials.

If you get light headed, eat a big breakfast with OJ and protein before unless you have to fast.

Good luck, I feel your pain. I hate getting stuck :(

Re: Please help me when getting blood taken!

Ask if you can lie down when they draw your blood. It may help. Also, try sugar in the morning, not water. Fruit punch or lemonade. And bring it with you. Sip it as soon as they draw your blood. It will help you feel better.

My last piece of advice is to try not to think about it. I have very deep veins that run sideways so it's tough to draw blood. I used to get light headed every time. In my RE's office they have walls of pics of all the babies they helped to bring into the world. I would just stare at that wall and remember that was my end result for all the needle pricks. Eventually, the blood draws stopped bothering me. So focus on that little baby you will be holding in your arms, and stop thinking about what they are doing to you.

Trust me, giving birth will be way worse than a little needle prick!