Does anyone have any advice for those of us that are hard to stick and get blood? I don't know if it's all the prednisone that screwed up my veins or if I'm just "blessed."

My husband and I just got life insurance policies and we have to give blood samples to test for AIDS and other things before they'll award us the policy. So today I was stuck SIX times and they still couldn't get any blood! I have to go back tomorrow, you know maybe tomorrow will be different and my veins will jump up for them! Oh and three different people tried...I guess it is me and not them.

Are there any tricks or anything I can do to make my veins more cooperative?

When I was getting remicade the nurses would tell me to start drinking plenty of water and fluids a day or two before my infusion. My viens were always difficult to draw blood from and start an IV on. That's the only trick I know.

i had tremendous veins. then i got colitis, was jabbed 5000 times, and nearly all have died on me.

i have a few left in my hands, but only because i made them look for others. my last hospital trip they had no choice but to go for those. One vein was blown when the nurse, kneeling by my bedside, slipped getting up and whacked my hand against the bed. the other got infected after a few days--neither has returned

Can you lose a vein forever??? I mean in the sense of being able to get anything out of it. Do we develop scar tissue that prevents a good stick? It seems it's been getting more and more difficult lately.
I have trouble with IV's too. They get infected after just a couple of days or blow and have to be moved (if they can ever get one in to begin with).
I'm trying to hydrate a lot and hope that helps.
Thanks.

Same goes for me...I hate getting a stick / IV. When getting an IV at the Cleveland Clinic, the nurse warmed both my arms in hot towels for a few minutes and then used a touch of lidocaine/novocaine or something to numb the skin before sticking. I never felt a thing, it was wonderful. As far as getting blood for testing...being hydrated really helps, plus the nurse "smacks" around on my arm for a bit, I guess to bring a vein up.

nys

My veins did the same thing after two years with UC. It is a combination of dehydration, all the drugs (esp. steroids) and general illness. At one point whenever I went to the ER they had to go straight for a central line because getting an IV was impossible. The good news is 4 years later my veins are greatly improved. They aren't what they were before UC but they are vastly better than when I was in the hospital for surgery. When I had my hip surgery done the nurse used the lidocaine trick as well and I will ask for this forever now. She had to poke around a bit to get a vein and I didn't feel a thing!

I used to have okay veins but after a year of surgeries and a zillion tests/injections/etc they have become elusive and scarred.
I find that if I wear warm clothes, keep my hands in my pockets, and elevate my heart rate (walk up a few flights of stairs) then my veins get a bit bigger with the increased blood flow and it's easier for the nurses.
Last time I went in for dilation it took 3 nurses to start my IV. They had heating pads on my arms and all sorts of stuff!

I have never had good veins and neither has my Mum so I suppose it runs in our family, but all the years of steroids and all the surgeries and procedures over the years have left me with terrible veins that are practically impossible to get at.

When I was in for my ear op 2 weeks ago the anaesthatist had a really hard time getting a line in to get me off to sleep and as I was dehydrated because of having to fast before the operation it made it even harder. I always need IV fluids post op even for small procedures so it was really important that he get a good vein. In the end I had to have the line put in my foot. It was right on the bony part of my ankle and hurt like Billy Ho!

Normally if I need to be on IV's for more than a couple of hours I will have a central line put in because this makes it easier for them to draw blood as well as administer IV meds and fluids. However, it really is a pain in the neck (or arm or hand or foot as the case may be) when I have to get an anaesthetist to get a line in every single time.

My GP actually dreads me coming in for bloods to be drawn and always books a double appointment because she knows she's going to be there a while.

You are definately not alone.

Shell

The nurses have me put my arm, from elbow down in a rectangular shaped plastic container with hot water. They have these containers in the lab where I go. After soaking for about 10 minutes the veins in my hand really POP out and the nurses are happy!!

My veins are shot as well.
The last surgery I had they couldn't find a vein. After about 15 minutes my surgeon told them to just knock me out then go dig for a vein because they were hurting me so much trying to get one started .
Next thing I know, I am waking up in recovery
David

I also am a terrible "stick". Completely unrelated to any meds (fap). After 3 months of dragging my feet, I'm still supposed to go in for my regular blood work from my yearly physical. They tried and failed, then wanted me to go to hosp to get it done, still have to go get it done.

Anyway, if you don't have to fast for it, drink a ton of water, also the hot water trick works, even just holding your arms under a faucet. I go for my scopes on Saturday and am absolutely dreading it!!!!

Also, warning who ever is doing the sticking doesn't work to well, they seem to get a bit nervous and it makes it worse!

Joyc

Well the eighth time was a charm! I buddled up this morning to stay warm, was good and hydrated, and kept pumping my fists on the way to the clinic. I tried to get my heart rate up a little too.

Of course when I got there the clinic was freezing and my hands and arms quickly turned cold. I asked if they had a heating pad or anything to warm up my arm and make the vein pop out but they didn't.

They tried in the arm and decided they were just going to tell the insurance company they couldn't get my blood. Then they decided to try once more in a funky spot I've never had done. It was on the top part of my wrist just before the hand.

Geez, I'm just glad that's over with! Shell, I can't imagine it in the foot!
Thanks for all the tips, everyone. I'll take my own heating pad with me next time as well as using all the other suggestions.

Oh, yes, I can relate very well. Have been through so many ER visits where my Mom was sitting right next to me (she's a nurse), telling the nurse that she wanted a nurse anesthetist to stick me...they finally noted in my chart how awful it was. Anyhoo, when I started Remicade treatments, they were reluctant to put a port in due to the risk of infection. Well, when I went for my first infusion, the nurses at the oncology clinic tried 7 TIMES to get a line in...they said I had some of the worst veins they'd ever seen, and that's coming from a valid source! So, naturally, the surgery was done several days later to put in the port (this was in December), and now getting the infusions has been a breeze! They can draw blood from it too, if need be. My surgeon did a great job of placing it...can't even tell when I wear vnecks or am in a tank top at the gym.

I was told I had rolling veins then bad veins all my life , then I see nurses who know what there doing and say don't let anyone say you have bad veins they are just inexperinced.. I 90% of the time have a hard time getting blood most surgeries I get a IV in the neck.. those are not fun.. But that happens alot to me.


Some say its scar tissue but I had many surgeries since birth and had trouble giving blood so that would not surprise me a bit who knows..

For the last five years of my UC I was having to go in to a hemotologist every Tuesday to get an IV drip of iron, Procrit (or Aronesp), and near the end, I was also doing Remicade treatments as well. For some reason, my right hand has some bigger veins than my left hand, so thats the one my nurse would hit every time.

If I was really anemic or in a flare, she would have to use a hot compress (I eventually learned to go and wash my hands in mildly hot water for several minutes before seeing her...made them plump right up)

Bill