How can I make blood draws easier/less painful? (Don't read this if you're squeamish.)

[cinnamon]

I'm hypothyroid and have to get blood drawn every 3 months or so. Apparently, I have veins that 'hide' or 'roll'.... the lab techs have a hard time finding them. If I'm lucky, the tourniquet thingy plus me squeezing/unsqueezing my fist plus them pushpushpushpushing my veins gets one to pop up, they can poke in the needle and all is good.

If I'm NOT lucky, none of that works and they go 'searching'. :gross: ACK. They did that this morning and MAN my whole arm is sore now.

Is there anything I can do to make this easier?

[elizabeth]

Ask them to use a pediatric needle. Make sure you are well hydrated when you go in. Squeeze a rubber ball a few times before they put the tourniquet on and then a few times after they do so.

[jump4joy]

Find somebody good who can get a vein every time and request them. I have somewhat the same problem, and I know who to ask for now!

[aleutsi]

Ask them to use a pediatric needle. Make sure you are well hydrated when you go in. Squeeze a rubber ball a few times before they put the tourniquet on and then a few times after they do so.

I was going to suggest these same things. I have the same problem and it's one reason why I'm so phobic of blood draws & IVs.

[anastasia]

Ask them to use a pediatric needle. Make sure you are well hydrated when you go in. Squeeze a rubber ball a few times before they put the tourniquet on and then a few times after they do so.

This plus heat. If they can't provide you with something warm to hold against your arm for a few minutes prior to the draw, bring your own. The gentle warmth of an electric heating pad works well for me.

Being well hydrated makes a huge difference. I also have those veins that curl and roll out of the way, and I'm hypothyroid, so I know of which you speak. :spinning:

[Bickery]

The vein that works best for me is not the one they automatically try first, so I always tell them. Sometimes they ignore me and eventually have to go to the less popular spot, but it's where I'm a better stick! (It's more on the outside edge, almost more on my arm than on the "opposite of the elbow" area.)

[gfrach]

Oh, can I speak to this!!!! I am such a hard stick!!! On your part, you can make sure you're as hydrated as possible before you go.

When you get to the lab, announce that you are a hard stick and you want their best person. Most labs have at least one person who is really good at hard sticks. Then make sure that person knows that you would rather they poke you again if they can't get the vein than to dig in your arm. A little movement of the needle is fine but digging is not ok! You can also ask for a butterfly which is a tiny needle that can work well for hard to find veins. Also you can ask them to use a syringe with the big needle rather than the vacutainers (sp?). I prefer the syringe with the big needle to the butterfly because the butterfly is more wiggly and hurts me more, but it's a very personal thing. Basically, it's your body--don't be afraid to ask for whatever makes it easier for you!

[gfrach]

Yes--once they find a vein that works, don't be afraid to ask them to try that vein every time!

[gfrach]

LOL!! Can you tell I didn't read the responses until after I posted? I think everyone else had covered it all pretty well.

[Kathy]

This plus heat. If they can't provide you with something warm to hold against your arm for a few minutes prior to the draw, bring your own. The gentle warmth of an electric heating pad works well for me.

Being well hydrated makes a huge difference. I also have those veins that curl and roll out of the way, and I'm hypothyroid, so I know of which you speak. :spinning:

What she said! I also have deep veins and have been a virtual pin cushion in the past year, so I'm with you on dreading needle sticks.

I'll also ditto Rachael - ask for their best blood draw person right up front and tell them you have difficult to find veins. Don't be afraid to ask for someone else *any* time you feel someone isn't being gentle enough or just isn't finding your veins - I've found that some people take it personally when they can't find a vein and do far more than they should to "make it work" when they need to let another set of eyes and hands step in and take over.

[cinnamon]

Ask them to use a pediatric needle. Make sure you are well hydrated when you go in. Squeeze a rubber ball a few times before they put the tourniquet on and then a few times after they do so.

I had no idea about the first two! I had to have a fasting blood draw this morning....which I assumed meant no water other than what I needed to take my thyroid meds, but I don't usually drink a bunch of water before the non-fasting draws either so this is good to know.

[Kathy]

I had no idea about the first two! I had to have a fasting blood draw this morning....which I assumed meant no water other than what I needed to take my thyroid meds, but I don't usually drink a bunch of water before the non-fasting draws either so this is good to know.

Being well hydrated is a huge help. It makes your veins larger and easier to find. I always make sure to drink LOTS of water all day before any blood draw.

[cinnamon]

Oh, can I speak to this!!!! I am such a hard stick!!! On your part, you can make sure you're as hydrated as possible before you go.

When you get to the lab, announce that you are a hard stick and you want their best person. Most labs have at least one person who is really good at hard sticks. Then make sure that person knows that you would rather they poke you again if they can't get the vein than to dig in your arm. A little movement of the needle is fine but digging is not ok! You can also ask for a butterfly which is a tiny needle that can work well for hard to find veins. Also you can ask them to use a syringe with the big needle rather than the vacutainers (sp?). I prefer the syringe with the big needle to the butterfly because the butterfly is more wiggly and hurts me more, but it's a very personal thing. Basically, it's your body--don't be afraid to ask for whatever makes it easier for you!

Yeah, the lady this morning was digging. :( I normally have a high tolerance for pain, but this time I was just praying 'hurryuphurryuphurryup'. I had no idea about the different needle options- thank you!

[cinnamon]

The vein that works best for me is not the one they automatically try first, so I always tell them. Sometimes they ignore me and eventually have to go to the less popular spot, but it's where I'm a better stick! (It's more on the outside edge, almost more on my arm than on the "opposite of the elbow" area.)

Hey, I have that 'good spot' on my outside edge, too! I always forget about that.

[gfrach]

Oh, and after a really bad digging experience I started saying up front to them "If you don't dig, I won't scream". Most of them found it funny (which it was intended to be, in addition to telling them not to dig) but a few didn't so I stopped. But really, that's what they're inviting when they do that, IMO!!

[Bickery]

Hey, I have that 'good spot' on my outside edge, too! I always forget about that.

Remember!

LOL -- I kind of have popeye forearms -- I wonder if that has anything to do with it?