POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: PeteNYNJ on October 06, 2010, 12:39:59 pm
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Hello All
I have INCREDIBLY hard veins to find. Usually it results in nurses/doctors poking around all over my arms to try to find one. The phlebotomist at my docs office is usually the only one who can find a vein on the first try, but it is usually in my hand which leads to all types of bruising.
Well recently I have lost a few pounds and the phleb noticed to said lets try for a vein in your arm. I was like "good luck" but low and behold it worked. We both became ridiculously excited about a blood draw and just started laughing.
It is nice to come back from a draw without looking like I went 10 rounds with a prize fighter.
Pete
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Funny how little things can make your day! ;D
I don't have the best veins either so my regular nurse always uses a "butterfly" set up (smaller gauge needle with a remote place for the tube to draw)
One time I needed to get blood drawn after hours so I just went to the hospital and had their phlebotomist do it... BIG mistake! She was bound and determined to get a regular needles in my arm. I left there with a 2" round blood pool under the skin! It took a good two weeks to go away. :-[
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Hey Pete,
I know how big a deal it is for someone who normally has "tough" draws to have an "easy" one. I used to draw blood when I worked in a hospital lab. Believe me when I tell you -- the person drawing understands your pain (although, they don't feel it at their end). Some good tips to help -- keep your arm nice and warm and come to the draw hydrated. Being cold or dehyrated makes veins very tough to draw. Also, as you discovered, dropping some weight helps to bring veins closer to the surface.
Hope your next one is just as good.
Mike