Blood test drawing

I am about to make an appointment at the VA for my annual checkup which must be preceded by a blood drawing for lab work. They seem to have the least capable phlebotomists available. I am not easy to get blood from but most others can find blood in there somewhere in 2 or 3 sticks. I was in the Pfizer drug study that was abruptly cancelled a few years ago which required blood work every time I went in. They had the most amazing phlebotomist I have met. He never missed. Always got it on the first stick. Now to the VA: I usually come home with 5 bandaids, one on the inside of both elbows one on the back of both hands and the final one on the side of my wrist where I suggested they go first. They give me a dirty look if I suggest that and mumble something about who's the expert here? Recently the first person who tries quits after poking around under the skin in one of my elbow creases for a while saying they have a policy of only one stick. Then sends me to see the head mosquito. She usually finds it and last year it seemed pretty easy with one quick stick and no searching around with the needle after getting it in there. The next day I awoke with two of the ugliest hematomas on that arm I have ever seen. One above the bend and one below it. Another time two of them took turns trying then left me for a few minutes while they went looking for the head mosquito. He finally arrived and began the search under the skin on my elbow crease with the rest of them watching. I was laughing at this scene which caused one of them to say "He's laughing while we're sticking him". I replied that I'm kind of used to this after 40 years of it.

To me it seems that my veins roll out of the way if they use the large needle which they seem to prefer but if I suggest they begin with a butterfly one they get very insulted. I know there IS a good one in there because on a couple occasions in the past 20 years they have hit it and it fills all the tubes they have in less than a minute. It seems to be a little above the scar where they cut out an artery to fix the plumbing around my heart. My theory is it may be the upper end of that artery.

Any one else have problems like this?

You could have them use a pediatric needle size, they could use a sonogram to find a good deeper vein or they could if really needed, an arterial rather than a venous puncture.

I get blood work done once a year to check my level of my meds.

You would think they would be amenable to the patient telling them what works best on his/her body. I have had problems with blood draws, too, (one nurse while trying to start an IV for surgery told me I have the worst veins she's seen in 30 years of nursing), but the lab at my current GP's is super wonderful. I know where the best spot is and they do not get offended when I tell them. Once, a tech told me something about a certain way to do it that makes it easier and said not all schools teach that or something. Anyway, it's a good thing they are so good and get it all the time as I have to have b/w every 3 months.

I get blood drawn every 3 months. The Lab I go to have different staff there, it seems the ones that have done it for years know exactly what they are doing. The newer staff take a couple of sticks before getting a vein. The more experienced are kind and try to get it done quickly so you don't suffer. Unfortunately they are close to retiring, then get replaced with a new person.

I agree with Susie ask them to use a pediatric size needle.

What about the butterfly needle?

When I was working at Columbia Presbyterian 20 years ago, a friend of mine had some surgery there and she told me one of the phlebotomists came to her room around 5 am for a blood draw. The phlebotomist was described to me as a petit, slim, dark skinned Indian woman.

After my friend was awakened, the phlebotomist said, "I'm a vampire and it's time for your bloodwork!" This freaked her out, but my friend said she did the very best venipuncture on her skinny, hard to find veins that she ever had.

I have very prominent veins in both of my arms. One technician once said that a blind person could hit my veins. I donate plasma regularly. I am usually the only donor that they don't use a pressure cuff as a tourniquet.

I just did blood work for a physical and they hit a vein in the crook of my arm no problem. My results were good too with an A1C of 6.0 and cholesterol of under 100. When I went in for a bypass a decade ago they took an arterial blood draw that was so damn painful it was the worst thing about the bypass. He got a long, big needle and pushed it down to the artery next to my bone in my wrist. Right between the tendons. OMG I can take pain but that was worse than having my chest cracked. I don't wish that on anyone.

You could call me the queen of bloodwork. I get labs drawn about once a week. After years of taking a beating, my veins can be pretty hard to use. When possible, I have them prick a finger or two to get what they need. If they need more than that, things can get a bit trickier depending on exactly how much is needed.

Butterfly needles are your friend. They take longer but it's better than losing the vein. Heat helps as well. Keep yourself well hydrated. All the little things add up. I have a favored phlebotomist who knows me veins well. There is times my veins are to fickle even for her, but she has far more success than any of the other vampires.

IVs, on the other hand, can be far more difficult. I had access via a port for a while. Then a PICC line. They drew all the blood they needed out of those but unfortunately infection risk became too much. Nowadays we have to limit IV access to the bare minimum. Thankfully I am recovered to the point that frequent infusions and transfusions are no longer necessary. When I do need them, the IV usually ends up in a not so ideal location placed by the nearest anesthesiologist or special access team.