Have you ever had this happen?

[ancient-one]

I went in last week for my kidney appointment and my Creatinine had not increased and the GFR had risen 5 points. Now the bad part. The lab tech took my blood and the stick wasn't normal, it really smarted. She got three vials in a very short time. She slapped some cotton and tape on and gave my my little bottle. About the time I hit the bathroom door something didn't feel right and I looked at my arm and blood was running down my arm onto the floor. Went back into the lab and she put pressure on and got it stopped.
Before, I had hardly ever felt the needle. I think that she was using a larger needle to hurry the blood flow. We are going to have a discussion next time.

 

[RobertK3026]

Had a similar incident yesterday.
Went for lab work for my cancer, tech used a small needle and could not get anything out.
She said the hospital is using new needles and they are having nothing but issues, probably made overseas.
She used a larger one, quite uncomfortable.
Since I had to get stuck twice I got an extra sucker...

 

[LVSteve]

Nope, but that is because the blood draw girl at my doctor's is in the "Oh, it's done already?" class when it comes to wielding a needle.

 

[SMSgt]

My last draw stung. I've had them poke right through the vein and that smarts.

 

[llowry61]

Had a Colonoscopy not too long ago and the nurse that was trying put in the needle in my hand for the anesthesiologist could not hit the vein. She finally went and got another nurse who got it done. I had a severe bruise on my hand the next day. I didn't complain, but it was quite sore as well. I don't know what the issue was. I have never had any issue with these in the past.

 

[Llance]

I get a therapeutic phlebotomy every two or three months and the needle they use at the VA hospital looks more like a sewer pipe than a draw needle. In and out in 7-10 minutes if I do my part. I have only had one nurse do the draw that hurt, and I won't let him do it ever again.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I have what they call a walking vein, in other words it moves when being stuck. When I have a blood draw I usually come home with 2 bruised arms.

 

[jeffrefrig]

My retired nurse sister told me to ask them to use a butterfly needle, as did my sister-in-law nurse. I think they're smaller or something. Twice a year physical they draw 3 vials. Feb. 2nd is my next one. My veins are hard to find but 7 outta 10 times there's no bruise or pain.

 

[Tom S.]

I went in last week for my kidney appointment and my Creatinine had not increased and the GFR had risen 5 points. Now the bad part. The lab tech took my blood and the stick wasn't normal, it really smarted. She got three vials in a very short time. She slapped some cotton and tape on and gave my my little bottle. About the time I hit the bathroom door something didn't feel right and I looked at my arm and blood was running down my arm onto the floor. Went back into the lab and she put pressure on and got it stopped.
Before, I had hardly ever felt the needle. I think that she was using a larger needle to hurry the blood flow. We are going to have a discussion next time.

Feel blessed, not cursed. My daughter had such small veins that whenever she went into the hospital, which was often, they would have to bring someone in from surgery with an ultra sound to get blood and start an IV if needed. The problem with this scenario was trying to convince the ER staff to contact surgical staff instead of stabbing her 5 or 6 times by two or three different people, each coming up dry. Eventually, the ER nurses became familiar enough with her that they would skip the trial/error portion and put in the surgery call as soon as we walked in, but that was only in one hospital. Going to a different hospital started the whole (no pun intended) process over again. The last 10 years of her life, she had a port, which solved the IV issue, but they still had to go through the process for blood work.

Moral here: no matter how bad you think you have it, it's not hard to find someone worse off. That was a lesson we learned early in her life.

 

[Cdog]

Not too long ago I was signing in at my doctor's office as I saw a woman coming back into the waiting area. She smiled, as she and I have known each other for 50 years.

As I was greeting her I saw blood pouring from her left arm. Reflex had me put pressure on and as politely as possible called for a nurse. I think it scared me more than it did her.

They quickly got back and made sure she was properly patched before she came back out. She is one of a kind. My 5th grade science teacher. She still calls me one of her kids. Heard from her about a week ago, she's still driving herself around and as sharp as ever. 5th grade was 1970-71.

 

[NYlakesider]

I have what they call a walking vein, in other words it moves when being stuck. When I have a blood draw I usually come home with 2 bruised arms.

I also have wigglers and take Eliquis so this thread is very interesting. I get a blood test every 3 months minimum more if needed.

If possible I prefer to get blood drawn by a phlebotomist rather than a nurse. As a Plib only draws blood they are normally very good at it.

 

[H Richard]

I have scar tissue in the veins from being stuck many times over the years. Have them alternate your arms for the blood draws to lessen the problem. Small needles are also important.

 

[ancient-one]

I really was not complaining, just wondering how many had a similar experience.
I can relate to the real problem because my wife had both small and rolling veins and she went through a lot of hurt, mostly because the sticker was unqualified. I think that the good ones have a natural talent.
A little levity. There was something came along that required everyone over a certain age to get a shot. The hospital set up kind of an assembly line and were running us through fast. The little lady that gave me mine had just finished and and another shot giver said something to her. As she turned around to answer she still had the needle in her hand and stuck it completely through the meaty part of my thumb.
She turned white and started crying and calling for help and the needle still in my thumb. One of the nurses came over and pulled it out.
It really didn't hurt much and it was my needle so infection wasn't a problem. I think everyone including the Administer came and talked to me, afraid I might sue them. I was busy hugging the young lady and trying to assure her it was OK. Later that day my wife said I think you were enjoying hugging her. Well, so what.

 

[Llance]

The vein in my right arm is near the surface and nobody has a problem finding and using it, but the one in my left arm is deep and slightly out of place so that arm requires someone who knows where to stick it. The sweet lady at the VA clinic near me knows exactly where and how so I usually wait for her to take a stab at me. (PI)

 

[sousana]

I prefer using Butterfly for blood draws if possible. They do come in gauges 18-27, but the benefit of using a Butterfly are the "wings", they allow for a more controlled and precise placement of the needle. When I started out 40 years ago as a Navy Corpsman I was assigned to the Nuclear Medicine/Oncology department, mostly to build precision blood draw techniques now drawing blood, even from cancer patients is easy. Next time you can see if they use a device called an accuvein, a lamp that puts out infrared light that highlights your veins making bad sticks a thing of the past. I had one phlebotomist in one of my hospitals that had so many issues drawing blood she was very close to being transferred to another department, I got in a few of these lamps and with additional training, she's now of the best phlebotomists working the lab.

 

[Onomea]

Usually not a problem, but I've had some difficult draws. The one I remember the most was while in hospital in Tokyo the night nurse trying to find a vein in the back of my hand. She was very young, probably still a teen. Cute, too.

She was kneeling by the side of my bed, and after about four tries, and profuse apologies, she put her head down onto the bed in discouraged defeat.

It was kinda painful for me, of course, but I told her it was okay, and to keep trying. She got it on the next try, much to our mutual relief.

But the experience was kind of a gift to me: I got to play, while flat on my back and in pretty bad shape, a manly guy to a forlorn young cutie. Was a great morale booster. (For one of us anyway!)

 

[Doug M.]

I have had draws from my hand, once. Oh dear. Based on childhood experiences with tetanus shots and dental needles that seemed huge and dull, I am a well developed needle sissy. Hate 'em. Given my kidney issues and all the fun that has gone with that, I have gotten less bad with all the draws and stuff.

My left arm is off limits due to the (thankfully unused) hemodialysis fistula (I do peritoneal dialysis), so the draws have to be moved around on my right arm to reduce scarring. Iron supplementation through a vein is a real treat. Most of the phlebotomists are pretty good, but one in ten or so is a dumpster fire.

 

[NYlakesider]

I prefer using Butterfly for blood draws if possible. They do come in gauges 18-27, but the benefit of using a Butterfly are the "wings", they allow for a more controlled and precise placement of the needle. When I started out 40 years ago as a Navy Corpsman I was assigned to the Nuclear Medicine/Oncology department, mostly to build precision blood draw techniques now drawing blood, even from cancer patients is easy. Next time you can see if they use a device called an accuvein, a lamp that puts out infrared light that highlights your veins making bad sticks a thing of the past. I had one phlebotomist in one of my hospitals that had so many issues drawing blood she was very close to being transferred to another department, I got in a few of these lamps and with additional training, she's now of the best phlebotomists working the lab.

That device sounded good I was going to ask about it next visit. Then I saw the price ($4,600) and doubt they will not be popular with the bean counters of the blood draw industry.

 

[BC38]

My last draw stung. I've had them poke right through the vein and that smarts.

You got that right. I'm usually a pretty "easy stick". We give blood about 4 or 5 times a year and I can fill a pint bag in under 5 minutes.

But one time the phlebotomist put the needle right through the vein. Hurt like the dickens and I got a really dark purple bruise about the size of a silver dollar. FWIW I am one that is nearly impossible to bruise. You about have to tear a limb off to make a visible bruise.

Not this time though. Probably one of the 3 or 4 worst bruises I ever had - the ones that were worse were due to a broken nose, or a serious auto accident.

 

[sousana]

That device sounded good I was going to ask about it next visit. Then I saw the price ($4,600) and doubt they will not be popular with the bean counters of the blood draw industry.

True, they can be expensive. I'm an RN Nurse Practitioner and do many an hour in the Emergency room, plus I go to various practices and nursing home communities and while I haven't seen one in an ER setting, I have seen them in various Dr offices and at the local VAMC. I've seen to it that the nursing homes under my watch have at least one of these devices. I've also made it a point to ensure all new hires know how to properly draw blood and use the device, most often I end up being the guinea pig. Lol, I even talked my wife into getting one of these devices into her family practice office.