Bleeding and blood clots.... and nurses especially.

[Guest guest]

Hey all

I have a question and would like suggestions from anybody out there

especially the nurses and/or any doctors if they are there.

I have a bleeding disorder diagnosed in 1975 of VonWillebrand's

disease. It is a bleeding disorder in which you can have immediate

bleeding or delayed bleeding. I have had both and precautions ahve

been taken all these years.

Well, in the last two months I have had two blood clots, one in each

arm from PICC lines. I have been referred to a hematologist for

work up and he is going to do these Von Willebrand factors all over

again to see if I was misdiagnosed and might have another kind of

bleeding disorder.

In the meantime, they have to have 30 cc of blood! That is a lot.

I have been twice and they can't get a vein much less blood. I know

that when they get a vein they won't get 30 cc of blood either! It

just doesn't give.

Any suggestions as to what I can do besides drinking lots of fluid

to make these veins " give it up? " I can't be diagnosed or have a

treatment plan until that blood is drawn. I am going on Monday to

try again. I am going to push fluids from now til Monday and warm

my arms and hands up before I go.

Any suggestions as to if and when they get into a vein, they can get

the most blood? The lab won't accept the syringes if they are not

full. These tests will be sent to another state and it takes about

2 weeks to get the results.

I am just worried about how to get the blood! I am to the point of

asking for a scrip to go to Radiology, be stuck in the groin and let

them do it that way. That is horrible but whatever it takes.

Any advice would be appreciated. I feel like I am back at day one

when I first got sick. But again, the nurse case manager is going

to be a help.

Thanks all

Kaye............NC

[Guest guest]

Kaye the last time they needed a lot of blood from me, the doctor

managed to get it from an artery in the crease of my elbow...not a

vein but an arter...that is worth a shot if not already tried..

[Guest guest]

Kaye,

I had an arterial blood gas done once. I don't know if it was the

location they took the blood from (my wrist), the person drawing the

blood, or just the way they draw arterial blood gases, but it hurt like

crazy. I've been lucky not to have any more done.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.