Courage needed please

SheilaD

Hi as most of you know from my previous Topic 'Bad luck or what' I have to go to the Dr's again tomorrow afternoon for the blood test I should have had last Wednesday, unfortunately 2 Nurses could not get it :roll: and after 7 attempts gave up. Now when I think about going again tomorrow my stomach starts churning and I feel sick :sad:

I have been told to drink lots of water/fluid, I have been told this hydrates your veins but I have my doubts. Any useful tips would be most welcome.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Love n hugs
SheilaD xx

elnafinn

Hi Sheila

I sense your anguish and I can see why too. How awful for you last week. I had a quick google and I found a reply from a nurse 9 years in a level 1 trauma ICU answering a query just like yours. Apparently nurses always go for your inner elbow area and she has drawn blood from every conceivable part of the human body but the inner arm is a good start.

She says do not let any nurse blindly dig around with a needle, despite the pain, it can be dangerous. If a nurse cannot get blood with a second attempt you have every right to ask for a different clinician.

She suggests before you go in for bloods, as has been mentioned to you, it would help to be well hydrated with fluid unless your doctor says otherwise. Additionally, before you get stuck, make sure your target area is warm. Warmth dilates your veins making them bigger to see and feel, so, have some hot packs placed onto your target area and wrap up with a towel. Once the tourniquet is applied, make sure the target area is lower than your heart. Now grab a balled up washcloth and keep repeatedly squeezing it like you want to crush the hell out of it. This will help pump up your veins as well. Gently massaging the area is another strategy. Try any or all of these tricks and good luck to you. There is no reason they can't try a different area.

I appreciate that knowing this will not take your fear away but at least you may feel more in control as knowledge is power.

I do wish you well and hope that it all goes to plan. Do let us know how you go on.

Elna x

SheilaD

Hi Elna

Thank you for replying so quickly . I have taken on board what you have said and will be armed with hot packs and loaded with plenty of fluids and a cloth to squeeze

Love n hugs

SheilaD xx

janie68

Another tip, is the nurse using a butterfly needle? This can be used also, espcially when blood is hard to obtain. Another way is for the nurse to use an old fashoined needle and syringe. But they may not do this anymore, more likely due to hospital policy, safety and all that. Make sure you are warm as well

Good luck

Janie

dreamdaisy

Hydration is good for us generally, so it's a good starting point. I have the drill down to a fine art, arm nearly straight, clench the fist while they put the band round (that helps the vein to plump up) then as soon as the needle goes in relax the fist and start thinking lovely thoughts about - well - whatever your lovely thoughts are about. Most importantly, remember to breathe evenly (but not too deeply) and do not watch. I honestly think it's not a spectator sport.

Like all things medical there is an art to removing blood, some have it and some don't. I've had some shockers over the years but the better ones far outweigh them in number. I am sure all will be well as long as you are able to keep yourself as calm as possible. That will be the key. I wish you well. DD

annalou

Hi Sheila

I really feel for you, this is so unpleasant when blood can't be reached. This happened to me once and the next time and ever since it has been absolutely fine. I still always tell the nurse that I dont give blood easily, as in its difficult to get, and she never believes me, because it comes so easily. I hope this will be the case for you. Thinking of you tomorrow, i'm sure it'll be fine.

xx Annalou

SheilaD

Thank you DD, Annalou,janie,for your support, will just have to get on with it I suppose, but I not going to like it :sad: I'm thinking get this over then in another 2 weeks got to go through it all again :sad: I hate this RA!!! :x :sad:

Love n hugs
SheilaD xx

resusjan

Good luck - hope it is successful this time.

I am a nurse, with RA, so spend a lot of time on either side of the needle!

The advise you have already been given is great - well hydrated, warm, area lower than the heart, pump the arm and asking them to use a butterfly needle - these are all things I would try when taking blood from someone who is difficult to bleed.

Butterfly needles are great as they can be used in the smaller veins - they also hurt less (I've used them and been bled with them).

Good luck

Jan xx

kellerman

Hi Sheila,
I am a retired nurse and all the advice you've been given is good.
Try to relax....you just need a decent nurse.
The most important thing is not to let them prod and poke around....your viens can collapse.
When I was having chemo.....one of the nurses could never get the needle in....I have fantastic viens....I just told her to leave it for some-one else.
I've taken blood from the inside of the arm instead of the hand.
Please try not to worry....you'll sail through this.
I wish you all luck and a nurse who is good at her job. Love May

traluvie

Hope all goes well,,,xxxx

CJHunter

Hi, courage being given in bucket loads. xx

dreamdaisy

Hello SheilaD, I hope you are as OK as you can be this morning. I'm going back to fortnightly bloods come January and hell does that feel like a retrograde step - it's taken me years to get to two monthly! Never mind, it's a very necessary bother and the regular tests have, once or twice, been the thing to spot trouble so it is worth doing. I strongly recommend going to your local path lab (if at all possible) as that is what the phlebos do, all day and every day but as usual the others are spot on with their advice and I am sure all will be well. Let is know how you get on, please. Deep breaths, think lovely thoughts. DD

ritwren

You've had loads of good advice here and I've nothing to add. Keeping the area warm and getting an experienced person to take the bloods is key. We'll all be thinking of you. Best of luck. Rita.

valval

i had my thermal on this time last year (snow was so deep) well rhummy said go get blood test well they got it so easy but it did not want to stop flowing. good luck and positive thought coming your way val

julie47

Hi Sheila

Sending you a well so start drinking and get those veins bloated

I am with you sheila in your pocket and today I am sure all will go well, please try not to worry

Take care
Love Juliepf x

SheilaD

Just a quick update,,,,,,,,, Yes Nurse found a vein 1st time today. Bloods done. Thank you everyone for your support it certainly worked

Love n hugs
SheilaD xx

kellerman

Hi Sheila,
I'm so pleased for you. All that worry....you won't do it every fortnight will you?
Just relax about it....most nurses shouldn't have problems...its one of the first things thats taught.
You take care now. May

resusjan

Fantastic - so pleased for you. It must have been a releif.

Jan x

skezier

hi Sheila,

glad it was a first time hit and well done for going. Cris x

SheilaD

Thank you all, I got there and stood outside for ages :roll: Took a deep breath with the help of my friends here and went in. I am so grateful to you all. I don't think I would have gone in if I had not thought about you all, as I know some of you are a lot worse than me and if you can do it so can I.

Thank you All

Love n hugs
SheilaD xx