Am so "DONE' with the "Vampires"....

[AlmostThere]

I was told drinking lots of water helps. I have had techs trying ang retrying (generally ends in a butterfly on the back of the hand, OUCH bigtime) and techs who feel, stick and I am done in a minute.

Sorry you have to endure, Lori, but in the end it's good to know you are getting healthy.

[rvgrammy1953]

You all will be happy to know that the techs at the Hospital Lab "Got 'er Done" this morning... all in 1 stick...using a Peds. butterfly set up.... and in the elbow area of the right arm...If fact, I hardly felt it.....it's usually the back of my left hand...so I'm a happy camper, now...

Thanks for all your support....I was really upset yesterday....Ernie even fed me a couple glasses of wine just to calm me down.... Hey, even my intestinal track decided to function somewhat normal today....Things are getting better....

[Bethers]

Now that's good news, Lori ...

[avalen]

vent all you want, it always makes one feel better
my veins are rollers and they have to get chased around for blood but on occassion I get someone that does a really good job.

[Redwahine]

Glad you only got poked once this time. I'll join this rant and pity party. I too have very small veins that just don't want to be poked. Just had a blood test this afternoon and it took 3 tries. I told them I am a hard poke and showed them the best spot to use (on top on my hand) with a peds butterfly. Oh, no. They want to try the arm first. Strike one, strike two, then what do you know? Eureka, they were able to get it from the one on the top of my hand with a peds butterfly. Why won't they listen to the patient?? I've been poked way to much for this life and I know my veins. Why are they so condescending and patronizing??

[mitch5252]

What are these "butterfly" things you guys are talking about?

[rvgrammy1953]

Well, Mitch, the best way I can describe it is that it looks like a butterfly with a very, very small needle with a small tube attach and a "collection" port at the end for the tubes they use to catch the blood...(those of you who are nurses can correct me if I missed the point on description ) I believe the smaller "adult" ones look the same...

[Redwahine]

What are these "butterfly" things you guys are talking about?

A butterfly needle is a short needle with a small diameter attached to a thin, flexible tube. The needle is flanked by two rubber wings that allow the phlebotomist to grip and move the needle with ease. The tube is attached to a rubber boot that attaches to the blood collection tube.

[mitch5252]

..
This?




ON EDIT: Red, we posted at the same time!
..

[rvgrammy1953]

Yep, you 2 got it right..... Those little things makes life so much easier for us folks with "iffy" veins.....

[rvgrammy1953]

Oh, BTW, 1 last "procedure" done today.... GP took a spot off my left cheek and sent it in for biopsy today.... Hopefully, that's the end for at least a year.... Not too worried about it....will keep ya' posted....I've had enough "Procedures" for a very long while....Time to hit the road, DAMN IT!!!!!

[mitch5252]

Yep, you 2 got it right..... Those little things makes life so much easier for us folks with "iffy" veins.....

..
Why wouldn't a nurse volunteer to use something like that? I'm thinking of poor George when they were trying to get needles into him - vein(s) kept rolling (I think that was the term). They stuck him and stuck him and stuck him. Why didn't they use that thing?

..

[BarbaraRose]

I also, have never seen one of those butterfly things. The nurses always want to use the nice plump veins in my hands but I won't let them. When I have had that done in the past, I pass out for some reason (I have very boney hands and they are very sensitive to pain, and I have a VERY low pain threshold!). So I insist on the inner elbow area instead. I used to have to lie down while they took blood but now I do better (less dizzy) if I watch it being done rather than turning away.

Why would the butterfly needles hurt more if they are smaller?

[VickieP]

I'm not sure why the butterfly ones work better or why they might be more painful, but I know when they have trouble drawing blood from Ronnie, they use those. He's a big baby when it comes to needles, he said since his accident 25 years ago, he's had more needle sticks than he deserves! I sometimes wonder about that!

[snowball]

Not being a nurse I can't say this for sure but think in my mind that the reason
it hurts more is the area a more sensitive area perhaps...I just know that for
me that area hurts more than the inner elbow..but when they can't get it in the first
couple times then I grit and bear it
sheila