The Horror Of Small Veins

[calliopes_pen]

Every 6 months, I go to my regular doctor's appointment. Since I was once anemic, I also give them a bit of my blood to make sure all is well. My veins are small, so you have to smack them around a bit (gently) to get them cooperate. They love hiding.

This morning, my veins refused to cooperate. Three punctures to the left arm, one to the right, and we realized it just couldn't be done. So I went home. Decided maybe one arm was almost cool or I was vaguely in need of water and didn't know, and set about fixing both at once. It probably didn't help that I was seated in a chair directly below the air conditioning--and another vent was below my chair in the waiting room.

Between 9 AM and 1:30 PM, I drank 2 glasses of tea, 7 glasses of hot water, ate a meal that was far hotter than usual after microwaving it nearly to death, flexed my arm periodically, tapped the area the way they do to get the veins to pop up, and wore a jacket--without any fans on--for about an hour, with it being 70 degrees outside. Those of you that know I'm freakishly hot natured know how insane that is.

I went back at 1:40. Turned out (since a few people wondered about the kneeling woman when they went back there) the lady taking blood spent her 30 minute lunch break in the bathroom praying to God that she could find my veins this time. Because she hates hurting me. She was preparing to lose it on my behalf if it didn't work this time.

We tried again. The experiment was a success, they managed to get the blood they need, the woman kept her sanity and squealed, and I'm heading for the iced tea to cool off again. Everyone suspects that my veins are simply finicky, and weren't interested in giving them anything at that moment. I agree.

Comments

[saifai.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain. I've got the very same issue myself. Only once have I ever met a person that scoffed when I said I'd had trouble in the past. Though to be fair, he was a 20-year veteran of the phlebotomy industry.

Good to hear they got you on the second try. Sounds like you went to an awful lot of trouble for them to do it. Phew!

[newnumber6.livejournal.com]

Ouch, flashbacks.

When I was 12ish I was in a medical study for a new drug (to treat juvenile arthritis), and as part of it I had to get my blood taken every two weeks. My veins were also often hard to find taking three or four attempts to find one.

It was not pleasant. *comforts* to having to deal with that on a regular basis.

[calliopes_pen]

One person scoffed when I was in the hospital for the ulcer a few years back. They soon learned the drama that goes with trying to catch those veins, and I soon looked like someone that had done drugs with so many needle marks after a couple weeks of the poking and prodding. So I feel for you, too.

This lady is usually good about getting the vein, and refusing to poke until she's cornered it. Which was why she was upset on my behalf.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Owowow. I've once had that sort of problem (I'd arrived for a blood drive on a cold night and my circulation had all but shut down, with the result that I nearly fainted during, ironically enough, a test for anaemia). Glad your (collective, yours and the phlebotomist's) persistence paid off!

[wabbitseason.livejournal.com]

I sympathize. I have really small veins and I brace myself for problems whenever they have to draw blood or insert an IV. I had massive bruising on my inner arm after the endoscopy because they missed. I remember one doctor's office had to send me to the off-site testing to have blood drawn, because they couldn't find a vein. Or they'll peer hopefully at my hands as possible spots -- I need those to work, thank you.

[yuuzaiden.livejournal.com]

Came across your post from a DW lj, but I'm taking this moment to commiserate as person with hiding veins.
I'll have to try some of your expairaments sometime.
Thanks for sharing your experiences in that department and I hope your iron levels stay high.