Nerve pain from blood draw - **UPDATE**

I had lab work done on Monday. When I walked in...I wanted to turn around and walk out because the 'ditzy' one was working. There was another one working with her...so thought maybe I'd be lucky and get the other one.

I couldn't go and come back another day because I had been off my abx for over a week and the instructions were to be off of them (this is for a bart and babs pcr test)

Anyway - when she did the blood draw...she really jabbed me hard...with a lot of force (I have good, veins...easy for the lab techs ) - and excruciating nerve pain ran down from the inside of my elbow to my fingers)

So, I guess she hit a nerve. Three days later, I still have some pain at the wrist area.
Anyone experience this? This will go away, right?

My last blood draw resulted in the tech going right through the vein. Another tech stuck me hard and I had nerve pain and a bruise as a result. It did go away but took a few weeks.

I have not gone back to that lab😐

Hi Girlie!-

Ouch!! I am so sorry that this happened to you.

I just had this happen to me the beginning of April.

She tried to draw blood from my right arm. Hit a nerve. Went to try getting blood from left arm. She was able to get the vain. Then she removed the needle. Then she said, "oops I forgot to fill a tube ".

She then went back to my right arm to fill the last tube. I walked out with bandage on both arm.

I still have some pain from my right elbow to my wrist and sometimes fingers. It feels like a "shock" sensation. Sometimes the pain is from my elbow to my shoulder. Same shock sensation.

I think that it is slowly getting better. I called the facility where this happened. I explained my situation with my nerve being hit. They were nice about it, called me back a couple of times now and asking how my arm is doing. They said it can take a while for nerves to heal. They said that if I still have pain after 1 month, to give them a call.

I'm not on anti-inflams....I will add some curcumin into my daily sups.

Not taking any pharma ones.

Hi Girlie!-

Yeah, I had the same thoughts. I didn't want to get anyone in "trouble " but, I did want this to be documented in case I would end up with lasting pain issues from the nerve being hit.

When I called the facility, I said "I would like to talk to someone in Management about an incident that happened April ____ (fill in blank what day it happened) and it happened at _______(fill in blank with name of the facility).

This peaks their interest because they don't know what happened or how bad.

I was honest with management. I said that I don't want to get anyone in trouble but I wanted to bring to their attention my nerve being hit.

When they called me back they said that they talked to the person who drew my blood that day and got her feedback. This kinda made me uncomfortable, because like you said, how am I going to be treated the next time she has to draw my blood. Ugh!!

So it is totally up to you how you want to handle this. I personally feel like now I have to find a different facility to have lab work done.

Best Wishes!

-----------------------------------------


Several years ago (before I knew that I had Lyme), I was at a different facility for lab work because I was having blackouts and "IBS symptoms". The lab tech put the needle in my arm but forgot to put an empty vial on opposite side. Needless to say, blood was pumping out of my arm like a squirt gun. The lady said, "Oh my!!" There was blood all over the chair arm, running in between the cushion, and all over the floor.

I never called about this incident.

I know that we are all human and make mistakes. But I am just really frustrated with with my health issues and don't need anymore.

Hi Girlie!-

I am so sorry that you AND your husband had a terrible experience with the same person. It kinda makes you wonder how many other people she has hurt and continues to hurt.

If nobody ever calls to voice their concerns about this tech, then she will continue to do the same thing over and over again.

Either she doesn't know that she is hurting people OR she just doesn't care.

It sucks when we have so many symptoms going on already. You don't need to add in the stress of a lab draw.

Sending you many (((Hugs!)))

Girlie-

You have every right to be angry. It's okay.

You should have heard me swearing up a storm to my husband on the car ride home after they hit my nerve! He probably wishes that he would have ear plugs half the time! ;)

Girlie said...
LittleBear - The more I think about it - the more I don't care if she gets in trouble..
My husband had her once and she went right through the vein and he said it hurt (nothing bothers him) and he had a big bruise from the bleeding.

If I see her there again - I'm turning around and walking out - will cancel my appt and reschedule. This one I couldn't reschedule.

I think she just isn't cut out for this line of work. The force she used wasn't necessary.

If she's an actual phlebotomist she needs to be fired. If she isn't(and that is something I would call and find out), ask for one the next time you go in.
If they can't give you someone gentle, it is completely within your rights to ask for someone who is.

And I'm so sorry she hurt you. I definitely would let her supervisor know. Down here we are always being asked to fill out a quick "how did we do" survey, before we leave. Sometimes I get them in the mail!

Girlie said...
july - I thought they were all phlebotomists. Don't they have to be?

From what I understand labs often have to scrape together subs..for instance the medical center I go to is part of a large hospital complex. If a phlebotomist is required in the e.r., or elsewhere, any nurse will be called in, as they are trained in blood draws, but don't near have the hands on experience.

Least wise that was the excuse given me once.

But the fact that this isn't the first time you've seen this one, she must be a permanent fixture. With issues, I think. Geesh, I don't know why she's allowed to be there.

Girlie-

July brings up a very interesting topic!!

I also always thought that it had to be a phlebotomist to draw my blood at the clinic I go to.

When I was at the clinic in April, I was making small talk with the lady who drew my blood (and hit my nerve). She said that she usually doesn't have issues with drawing blood. I think that I made some comment about the stresses of being a phlebotomist. She said that she was NOT a phlebotomist and that she was a Lab Technician.

She said that since Saturday is typically a slower day, they only have a Lab Tech draw blood.

This was another reason for all my swearing on the car ride home.

Once again it is corporate greed!! Can't supply the clinic with the people who should be there. Always cutting corners and trying to "save money" !

In my initial phone call I also told the manager that it was ridiculous that there was not a phlebotomist there to draw my blood. Especially since phlebotomist are people specifically trained to do that.

i don't really know what her certification was...most likely a Lab Tech.

But they are trained to do blood draws...I think it's similar (if not the same ) as a Phlebotomist.

I looked it up....here's what a phlebotomist does:


What Phlebotomy Involves
Inserting needles into the veins of patients (a process known as venipuncture)—for the purpose of collecting blood—is the main task for phlebotomists. However, there is so much more to their jobs than that. They are trained to follow very particular best practices, similar to those from the World Health Organization.

For starters, every patient must be correctly identified and matched up with all relevant personal documentation. And special safety procedures must be followed to prevent harm to patients and health workers. Then, in the case of drawing samples for lab testing, collection tubes must be used in a very precise order based on whatever tests are needed.

Once the blood samples have been drawn, a phlebotomist is usually responsible for accurately labeling each tube, filling out any necessary documents, safely disposing of all medical waste, and transporting the specimens to a medical lab.

The important difference is that a Phlebotomist does nothing but draw blood. Lab techs or any others just don't get the same repeated practice. It does take a gentle, knowledgeable hand to get it right.

Yes, there is more to their job than that, but not hurting the patient should be primary. That's part of the "special safety procedures.....to prevent harm to patients." Pain is harmful.

GTT ? Is that a Glucose Tolerant Test?

Ohhhh nooooo - what's worse than getting a needle in my arm? getting a needle in the back of my hand...lol

So, you don't mind that? It's so sensitive there though.

I hate all needles...

And of course what happened...just makes me hate them all the more.
I'm going to be freaking out inside the next time I have to get a blood draw.

I wonder how long it will take more my vein to heal....and the nerve.