Tiny Veins and Blood Draws

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Just wanted to add my two cents about the several pricks some kids get.

My daughter, ita is now 8 years of age and continues to have small

veins. There have been times that she has been pricked numerous times

just to get a small vial of blood.

About 2 years ago a smart nurse " heated " my daughters arm and got

more blood than the law allowed.

ita was found to have one good spot and that was between her elbow

and wrist on her arm. Now when we have to draw her blood I let them

know that they need to heat her arm. Blood labs have small heat

packets that they do not use most of the time from my experience.

Also there can be great resistance to get blood from an uncommon area.

If they know where a working vein is , suggest they heat it.

Before I found out about the heat, I had to watch my child endure

between 6-8 pricks by 2 or 3 people each time.

Some people do not like to hear suggestions on how best to do their

job, but you are the last resort for your child.....

Guess you can tell this is a hot one for me!!!

AvaMarie

[Guest guest]

Hey Ava thanks for the tip. I am on several meds for my back and latly they have

had trouble getting a vein. Now i can tell them that. Thanks

Sheldon(G-Pa to Laikyn-RSS from North Dakota)

Tiny Veins and Blood Draws

Hi,

Just wanted to add my two cents about the several pricks some kids get.

My daughter, ita is now 8 years of age and continues to have small

veins. There have been times that she has been pricked numerous times

just to get a small vial of blood.

About 2 years ago a smart nurse " heated " my daughters arm and got

more blood than the law allowed.

ita was found to have one good spot and that was between her elbow

and wrist on her arm. Now when we have to draw her blood I let them

know that they need to heat her arm. Blood labs have small heat

packets that they do not use most of the time from my experience.

Also there can be great resistance to get blood from an uncommon area.

If they know where a working vein is , suggest they heat it.

Before I found out about the heat, I had to watch my child endure

between 6-8 pricks by 2 or 3 people each time.

Some people do not like to hear suggestions on how best to do their

job, but you are the last resort for your child.....

Guess you can tell this is a hot one for me!!!

AvaMarie

[Guest guest]

Hi all as an rss adult the docs still have great trouble getting bloods from me

due to small veins. As a kid they sometimes used my feet and constantly tried

to with several goes with the needle. Now i'm needle phobic but the docs advise

me to keep my arms warm if i due for bloods or they use warm water to dilate the

veins. when i had me recent surgery the docs gave me emla cream but it

constricted my veins and made it harder to draw blood. I find the inside of my

elbow on my right arm has a half decent vein, when they are decent ,he he. I

also find when the docs use a 'butterfly needle' ( a small needle with rubber

like wings and small tube to attach to vial works the best as the needle is very

small and the can manouver the needle to get better access to the vein without

to much trouble, hope this helps a bit.

avaparent wrote:Hi,

Just wanted to add my two cents about the several pricks some kids get.

My daughter, ita is now 8 years of age and continues to have small

veins. There have been times that she has been pricked numerous times

just to get a small vial of blood.

About 2 years ago a smart nurse " heated " my daughters arm and got

more blood than the law allowed.

ita was found to have one good spot and that was between her elbow

and wrist on her arm. Now when we have to draw her blood I let them

know that they need to heat her arm. Blood labs have small heat

packets that they do not use most of the time from my experience.

Also there can be great resistance to get blood from an uncommon area.

If they know where a working vein is , suggest they heat it.

Before I found out about the heat, I had to watch my child endure

between 6-8 pricks by 2 or 3 people each time.

Some people do not like to hear suggestions on how best to do their

job, but you are the last resort for your child.....

Guess you can tell this is a hot one for me!!!

AvaMarie