Is there any way............

[islasmum]

I'm having to have a few blood tests at present nad also a drip into a vein once a fortnight - is there anything I can do to make the veins easier to find? I've always had small veins, and they collapse a lot when nurses try to take blood. Recently I've had needles in arm, back of hand, tey nearly tried my foot, but I wasn't keen!(and in the past, in my groin!) They usually get i tin the end, after several tries at various sites - what can I do to help? I've tried staying warm, drinking plenty of fluids etc, but it doesn't seem to do much good. When I stayed in hospital a few years ago they had to ultra-sound my am, and get blood from a deep vein! So any helpful advice welcome.

[daisya]

Holding your arm down and "pumping" the hand and squeezing it sometimes help. I know your plight, I have the same and it's hell so know how distressing this could be. I wish they could devise something simpler to get into better veins that don't show...hope this helps but someone else might have a better idea.

[islasmum]

I do that as well, daisy, but thank you for your reply. I lived in Devon for a year some time ago, and was ill whilst I was living there - I had to have a blood test every two days leading on to one a week etc, and I had a wonderful young nurse who managed to get a vein every single time! Unfortunately I moved home!

[venator]

Just be glad you're not on the delivery suite - Mrs V uses nothing but grey Venflons - get your nurse to show you one! You might feel you're lucky!

[islasmum]

If they come near me with one of those, I'm making a run for it, venator - pass my sympathy onto your wife!

[Sqad]

if your veins are difficult to find, the it is due to your unique anatomy and you are in the hands of the expertise of the Phlebotomist. You can try all the techniques suggested,but it just comes down to the ease of access.....particularly in the arm.......sorry!

[daisya]

Ouch Sqad, I was hoping you'd reply and give us the magic solution lol....luckily when I have to have IV treatment the nurse where I go is brilliant at finding the vein, I've told her not to leave lol...as at times they've had to get people from all over the hospital to come and try to get a canulla in my arm! Islasmum, hope you get some respite from your trauma as I know how bad it can get.

[venator]

The grey venflons are used in obstetrics when the patient needs a lot of liquid very fast.

[Sqad]

venator....if one can't find a vein, then whatever one uses is "bu99er all use" ;-)

[marval]

I have the same problem, I have a blood test once a month. The nurse always goes straight for the back of my hand. Sometimes she even struggles with that.

[RATTER15]

I never understand all this hunting around for thread like veins, a scalpel seems to find them every time, why not just give the vein a nick with a scalpel then stick in the cannula, or is that a bit too agricultural?

[Sqad]

RATTER...that's my boy! Good morning.

[rowanwitch]

You are doing all the right things especially making sure you are really well hydrated ... something you might find helps if you can do it is find a nearby staircase and go up and down a couple of flights a few times.... exercise increases the blood flow a little which may bring up a few borderline veins

[islasmum]

Thankyou for all your replies - 25 minutes and 2 nurses it took yesterday!

[daffy654]

Ask them to use child size needles. My daughter has to do this despite the fact she is 22 years old. One phlebotomist said she has very small veins for an adult and to ask for children's needles at every blood test.