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Ever Stick Your Own Veins?

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Posted 11/20/2009 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
For the past many months I've been getting blood drawn for tests every 2-4 weeks, and will continue doing so for the foreseeable future. I seem to have deep veins and about half the time the nurse misses and has to try the other arm. And about 25% of the time the nurse can't hit either and has to get another nurse to try.

So I got to wondering if there's anything I can do to help: lift weights (more than I already do), practice finding my own veins (but not actually sticking myself!), ...?

Anybody else have this problem? It gets kind of uncomfortable after they root around for a while.
Posted 11/20/2009 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Better the nurses than the doctors though...I let my GI draw blood once, and it was definitely the last time. I couldn't use my left arm for the greater part of the day.

I know that nurses have pointed out better spots to be stuck though. They said to remember them so you can point it out next time. It usually helps me out.

I don't think I could stick myself so...I can't really help you there. I'm fine with needles as long as I'm not the one holding them.
Posted 11/20/2009 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
The only place they ever try is on the inside of my elbow joint. I gather there are two or maybe three veins there. I don't know why they don't try elsewhere, like along my forearm (maybe punctures are more visible there).

I've felt around for veins but really can't tell what's muscle and what's a vein. If I was sure I found a vein, I wouldn't have a problem poking it.

Oh, one tip my nurses did give me was to cut back on the coffee and drink more water before visiting!
Posted 11/20/2009 7:53 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know if it's true for others but before I developed Crohn's the nurses always had an easy time drawing blood or starting IVs on me. Since my dx it's been the exact opposite, now I have the same difficulties you described. One nurse told me that dehydration causes those problems and I did get very dehydrated when my illieum swelled closed.

I hope someone has a suggestion that will help. I've had popeye arm and had 9 straight attempts to start an IV fail. That does get kind of tiresome.
Posted 11/20/2009 8:19 AM (GMT 0)

AzJohnny said...
I hope someone has a suggestion that will help. I've had popeye arm and had 9 straight attempts to start an IV fail. That does get kind of tiresome.


Ooohhh, been there, done that! In the hospital they had to change my IV and couldn't find another arm vein. So the nurse tried it in the back of my hand. That didn't work either and hurt like heck when she pulled it out! They eventually got a vein, but if your phlebotomist ever starts eying the backs of your hands make them look elsewhere! I was also told that sticking near the wrist is avoided due to high risk of hitting a nerve and causing damage.
Posted 11/20/2009 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
I do my own blood draws some of the time, but doing my own IV stick is more difficult. But I have education and experience background that allows me to do this.
Sometimes when I am dehydrated my veins collaspe more easily.
I like to use a butterfly for blood draws simply because you can use smaller more accessable (and less painful if you need another stick) veins. So that might be something to ask for when you have you next draw.
Never allow someone to stick you more then three times. Switch to someone else.
What concerns me is when there is a nurse with the shakes who is trying to stick you.
Posted 11/20/2009 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have the worst viens in the world. If I am in the hospital they usually have to give me either a mid line IV or a Picc line IV. For blood draws they have to use the butterfly needles and can only find viens in the top of my hands. I always wondered if it was from the Crohns or was genetic. To be honest my Mom, daughter, niece all have bad viens too and none of them have Crohns. So who knows???
Posted 11/20/2009 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
This is why I have a port. lots better than the old pin cushion I was.
Posted 11/20/2009 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I've been told on many occasions I have the best veins he/she has ever seen. My last blood draw, though, they guy keep reinserting the needle to keep the blood flowing. I think he was just terrible.

If someone fails more than twice, I wouldn't think twice saying I need someone else to try. If they refused, I'd just leave. 9 times is inhumane.
Posted 11/20/2009 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
I have the same problem I am often thinking about just coming with an IV from home hehe
They have no issue drawing blood from me but they just can't put up an IV that is the hardest thing I have no veins in the back of my hands they are all crap so they have too use the ones in the elbow.

and they are also not good and way to over used.
Posted 11/20/2009 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
how are your forearms?  I agree with hydrate hydrate hydrate, but also hot towels help too.
Posted 11/20/2009 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
My mom's a lab tech and has taught me a bunch of tricks. Most important, tell the nurse/lab tech about your veins, and ask for a warm compress to be placed in the area that they are trying to find a vein. I shudder at PICC lines, one gave me blood clots, which led to my strokes. Now, they have to get blood out of my feet. Not nice, but better then having someone poke around trying to find something that isn't there. I go in for surgery on Monday (sigmoid colostomy and anus removal) and have already been told, my IV will be in my jugular. Yuck.
Posted 11/20/2009 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the others re: hydration. When I was in the Adacolumn clinical trial, I was getting poked in both arms with big needles 1-2 times per week for 10 weeks. I have good veins but they still had trouble sometimes and I had my fair share of blown veins. The day before you are scheduled to get blood drawn through right before you get blood drawn I would suggest increasing your fluid intake significantly and hopefully that will help. The warm compress idea has also worked for me.
Posted 11/20/2009 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
One other idea I thought of--get tattoos of your underlying veins!

www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=1525

That page mentions VeinViewer, which I'd never heard of. I'll have to mention it to my nurses! Here's their site:

www.luminetx.com/MedicalProducts/VeinViewerforClinicians/tabid/60/Default.aspx
Posted 11/21/2009 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, I think I like that vein finder.

When they failed 9 straight times it was with 3 different nurses, the last one being the IV specialist. Then a big male nurse came in and slipped that sucker in almost instantly. When I asked him how he managed to do that he said, "When you put in IVs in Vietnam, under fire, in the dark, and you don't dare use a light, you get pretty good at it."

I wanted to put him on a leash and keep him but he got away.
Posted 11/21/2009 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Haha, that's pretty cool. I've had one IV infiltrate on me, and the 2nd attempt fail. Another time when I was in the hospital, it took 3 sticks to get 2 samples for a blood culture, two of which were in my hands (which suck). 3 sticks in an hour is bad enough, I couldn't imagine 9.
Posted 11/21/2009 10:23 AM (GMT 0)
Here's another vein-finding product:

www.accuvein.com/product_profile.php
Posted 11/21/2009 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah when hospitalized they always end up having to send for the specialized IV nurse for me. I could have drank 10 gallons of water and still wouldn't change things for me. It helps a little but not much. They have to use a ultrasound type device to find my viens for IV's. They said I have deep, squiggly/crooked viens and thats the problem. I always thought it was the Crohns, but looking at some of your posts, I guess in my case its genetics. Oh well!
Posted 11/21/2009 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
I found some prices:

VeinViewer: $50,000 (in 2007)
AccuVein: $3,800 (May 2009)


AccuVein is the way to go--it's a small, handheld unit as opposed to VeinViewer's tower. I'm gonna tell my nurse to tell her clinic to get her one for xmas! :)

Post Edited (GDen) : 11/21/2009 6:37:00 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/22/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)

GDen said...
I found some prices:

VeinViewer: $50,000 (in 2007)
AccuVein: $3,800 (May 2009)


AccuVein is the way to go--it's a small, handheld unit as opposed to VeinViewer's tower. I'm gonna tell my nurse to tell her to clinic to get her one for xmas! :)

I want veinViewer, I am going door to door to collect money for it :P
Posted 11/22/2009 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Yup, yup to the warm/hot compress on the arm. Also, one summer I was running a little dehydrated a good share of the time due to some Crohn's activity as well, and I had to have a blood draw that required fasting the phlebotomist told me that I could and should drink water, that it wouldn't affect the fasting blood draw.

Also, there is a vein at the base of the thumb that the "pros" call the "dummy vein" because "anyone" can hit it. (I don't buy the "any one" but evidently it is a very easy vein to get a needle in for a blood draw or IV).

Most definitely if I had difficult veins for the phlebotimists to "stick" I would insist on a butterfly for the draw.

I do wish that they would pick on other areas than just the inside of the elbow too since I have to have a blood draw every 3 months for the Imuran and I'm in a research trial at our local university that also requires a blood draw every 3 months. I've been told I have some scarring in the veins at the inside of the right elbow now which concerns me a bit.

I've also been told that a good alternate site is towards the inside of the mid upper arm. I've had "sticks" there and its no more uncomfortable than the inside of the elbow.

I'm not wild about "sticks" in the hands AT ALL.

Posted 11/22/2009 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have vein probs also. I have heard to drink water before a draw.It took 13 sticks before finding a vein for an IV, one time. And that was because they finally got somebody who does pediatric IV's to do it.When I was getting Remicade, There was only 1 nurse that could find the vein.So, I always scheduled remicade for the days she worked. Another time, they put the line in on top if my foot.OUCH!!!. then next nurse came in and took it out, because she said they are not to put lines in the foot if you are diabetic.

Diagnosed  Crohn's, 1998..Gangrene Small Bowel,1998..Ostomy Take Down,1999..TPN for 5 1/2 months..Adhesion Removal,1999..Abdominal Hernia Repair,2000..Kidney Artery Bypass,2001..Diabetes,,Sleep Apnea,,Silent Heart Attack,,Blocked Kidney Artery after the Bypass..Bulging Disks, Pinched Nerve..MEDS--,Purinethol,Folic Acid, Fish Oil,Humira,,Bentyl,Anamantle Cream,Cortifoam ,Tramadol, .and many more. 26 meds..

Posted 11/22/2009 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
By your name, I am thinking you may have Pomeranians??? I have one too. He's a mess. What kind and how many do you have? Mine is big, 18 pounds and is solid black except for around his mouth. He has a white moustache and beard. just thought I would chat about something besides IBD.....
Posted 11/23/2009 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, we do have a pomeranian. That is the most spoiled rotten dog, ever. he is a mess, too. does some of the funniest looks sometimes. he is a cinnamon color. around 12 lbs.he lays on hubby's chest just like a baby.

take care,,Julie

Posted 12/4/2009 4:41 PM (GMT 0)

Folks, some information to help you guide your decision on venous access assistance devices.   There are several out there VeinViewer, AccuVein and Veinlite.  

 

Key considerations are:  how bright is the image so your caregiver can view the vein pattern?  How deep can the machine visualize to provide more options to your caregiver?   How many distinct imaging modes are present to help your caregiver find the best image for you the patient?  How easy is the device to use to each a hands-free technique where the caregiver can focus on you?   How proven is the device with clinical information supporting their claims?  How widely adopted is the device by key institutions that tend to set the standard of care?   These are but of few of things to consider, and educate your caregiver on considering, beyond price.     

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