did you know that phlebotimist can get blood better if you are drinking water

Gastro doc wanted some labs...

went to the blood lab...first stick hurt like motherfucker...got 1/4th of one tube...they needed 3

they went to the other arm, stuck me bruised me but no blood.

Now I have to go back tomorrow...don't know what vein they will use..I am so bruised up still from the hospital stay.

so when I was in the hospital, I got stuck so much it became less traumatic for me

but today..

I almost passed out in the lab and they had to break out a gell pack thing that got cold really fast

I hope tomorrow, who ever draws the unlucky straw to do my blood is good

My veins sometimes hide, especially if I'm cold or dehydrated.

they walked me to my car to make sure I didn't pass out

To be honest, I didn't give a shit whether the staffer was in recovery or not, as long as he/she could do a good stick.

What'd they say when you asked them that? :rofl:

:-( Bummer trails, Batman.

I went through a period of protracted illness requiring blood work on a regular basis, and lots of it, so I got to the point where I could manage it. But I really do not like needles. I can empathize.

What I do is put out my arm, warn the needle-sticker that I am not a happy camper and don't enjoy the process, that I will stay still so they can do their work, turn away, close my eyes (and KEEP them closed) and put my head in my hand. Then I think happy thoughts!

I find not looking helps a great deal. Also, staying stock still and thinking of something, anything, that has nothing to do with needles or medical crap!

Look at it this way: Is a full plump vein easier to stick, or a thin, shriveled one?

More water on board makes for plumper veins, which are much easier to stick! Speaking as a nurse who used to stick people for a living, lol!

Also, a little heat applied to the vein will help too...they might have something like that to help your veins stand up...

:hug:

Hope it goes better tomorrow, sweetie...

I am so ready for this to be over.



Teachers report on Monday but I will be having a scope up my rear...


I wish you were my nurse here to take the blood. I can't stand to do it but it is even worse when they miss or blow the vein

Get the fluids on board, and have them put something warm on your hand or arm before...

And try to stay calm; think about flowing rivers or something like that...those things do help!

I used to tell my donors that I had to look but they didn't! That made them laugh, and relax...

:hug:

I am thinking about doing it around 8 but I have no set time..just gotta get there

You just need to be well hydrated (lots of fluids on board) ...

Stay away from caffeine too...that'll make you pee off the fluids you need to have in your blood stream!

I have already drank 36 ounces of water tonight

I plan to drink two more tall glasses of water in the morning before I go

Low blood sugar is not good ...

Unless they want you to be fasting.

Drink something you enjoy...just not caffeine!

Good luck to you.....and them!

:hug:

if they could have done it right today, it would already be over

I used to HATE having blood drawn (it got to where they had to lie me down, as I would pass out, or come close to it). I still don't LIKE it; however, they started taking it from the back of my hand (the phlebotomist said I had a nice smorgesboard(sp?) of veins there, and it has been a much, much better experience since.

Good luck on the scope!

and have them take it out of my hand. They had to do that in the hospital a few times

:hug:

I have to remind them to use a butterfly needle on me as otherwise it's a bloody mess and I get faint.

being nervous after a few pokes can make them hide to.

I don't like needles ... especially ones that stab me in a vein and suck out my precious bodily fluids. I've been known to pass out. I'm not shy about letting the mosquito/vampire/phlebotomist know it, either.

and they don't even need to tell me that there will be a "little stick" yea right!!!!!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

...They don't say "little stick," they tell you "this is going to hurt."

Never again. They try that again and someone is going to get punched. It feels like someone is breaking your arm.

that hurt like a son of a bitch

... can make me faint. The world starts getting dark around the edges ... and they've got a 6'2" 290# guy going "Timburrr!!" (Helluva thing for a Viet Nam veteran to admit, huh?)

...and yet am able to stick others with a needle no problem.

Don't sell yourself short, you may have a career in healthcare yet. ;-)

None of those nurses wanna' be heftin' 250 lbs. of dead weight off the floor.

unless you're a diabetic, of course, or supposed to give blood while fasting.

Sugar helps make the veins pop. It's a trick that weightlifters use.

equal parts? teaspoons ?

It just helps to have a bit of solute in the water when you drink it.

Sort of the same reason they give you something sugary to eat after giving blood. It helps replenish your blood volume faster.

It also helps them out if you squeeze your fist a bit while they're drawing the blood, in case they hadn't told you that. And feel free to tell them if there's a particular vein that seems to work best for you.

Good luck. Getting blood drawn is definitely not fun.

the day before and the day you donate blood. It not only helps them get the needle in the vein, but the blood flows faster so you're done with the donation sooner.

I just gave blood on Monday - we got a call-out at work for people with B+ blood for a particular sick child at Children's Hospital in L.A. who was having surgery and was on a heart/lung machine. I couldn't say no to that, knowing I was B+. So I got the Okay from "the bosses" and drove from Century City to Children's Hospital at lunchtime... they do all the little tests for anemia and blood pressure etc. and my blood pressure is on the good side of low. But then when they started drawing my blood he said it's coming out fast. And I asked why is that? Being that my blood pressure is on the low side of okay? And he said "it's probably because you are well hydrated." So there you go. It seems to make a big difference! I am one of those people who's always drinking water at my desk. I had only had one cup of coffee that morning which he said was good, as coffee can be a diuretic. So my blood donation was over and done with in a snap. Good luck. now go drink some liquid!

:)

You may have helped save the life of that child...

:hug:

you never know though do you? But you hope that your little pint has helped at least a little.



O8)

I have nice fat veins but sometimes they roll.

I look the OTHER WAY and that helps. I usually yelp a bit, and then it's OK. :D

I remember the bad old days of "railroad spikes". Dear children, those were reusable steel needles they sterilized in a white enamel pan with a lid. The syringes were glass. That was in the Sixties.

It took three people to hold me down screaming when I got a shot in the tokus.

So it's much better now.

I learned that the hard way years ago, then a nurse told me next time to make sure I am super hydrated before a blood draw.

1. Drink a TON of water the night before and morning of a blood draw.

2. Ask if there is anyone on staff who's ever been a member of a hospital IV team. They can get IV's started on an infant, they can draw your blood.

3. If all else fails, ask to have the blood drawn from the back of your hand with a butterfly needle. It's going to hurt like hell, but they'll get what they need. You might also try a hot pack over the vein in question before they draw; that helps, too.

4. Find someone who really pisses you off, and let them attend your blood draw. I used to work for a home health care company; the IV nurses on staff drew me as a courtesy before every doctor visit because blood draws have always been so bad for me. My boss decided to attend one of them once. The nurse who was working with me said, "Wow, Julie, you must have been really upset before this started, the blood's really flowing fast!" LOL

Good luck. Hopefully, there will be someone there tomorrow that knows what they are doing, and can get it done with all quickness.

for an ultrasound and after finishing the ultrasound, went immediately to have blood work. It was the first time in a long time that they were able to draw blood without hurting me or it taking forever to fill the little vials.

c-peg you were right, the last person brought with her a HOT compress. put it right on and had almost no trouble!