Blood Test Rant

[darkangel]

Just got back from the doctor's office. They drew a bunch of blood to run lab tests for various vitamin deficiencies and - most importantly - to check for gluten antibodies. Now, I'm notoriously hard to bleed. I have one vein on my left arm that's always reliable. I told the lab tech... "Use this one here." So, she stuck the left arm in a different place. Nothing. After digging around a little - umm, yeah... that hurts - with the needle, she gives up, pulls out and tries the right arm. Dig, dig. Nothing. Pull out. "You're not feeling faint are you?" she asks.

Again, I said, "This vein here on my left arm is the one my hematologist uses." So, she goes to the back of my right hand and tries that. It bleeds a little and stops. She pulls out and calls a supervisor. Once more, I say, "This one here on my left arm is the one to use." She tries it and lo and behold... it works. I walk out of the lab with four bandages. I proceed to the check out counter to pay. The lady says, "Wow, did they stick you that many times?"

Hello? Is anyone home?

[Rachel--24]

Sheesh...I would *not* have let them stick me that many times! I would have freaked out on them. I have tiny veins and they usually have trouble finding one. Even though I've had my blood drawn about a million times the past 3 years I'm still a BIG baby about it. I'll never get used to it. I vividly remember one guy who absolutely missed my vein and I was in such pain tears were coming out.

Another time the lady gave me a barbie sticker for being so *good*.

What the heck?? I'm over 30 yrs. old!

[darkangel]

Same here. Evidently, I have tiny veins that like to hide and roll. I don't mind the stick. The thing that gets me is once the needle is in, when they've missed the vein or it's not bleeding, they start rooting around. I get kinda cold all over and feel kinda sick. Once, I even told a tech I'd rather be stuck multiple times than to dig around with the needle.

Oh! And here's another thing: When the nurse first took me back, she asked what the visit was about and I told her briefly about my struggles and that I suspected gluten and/or casein intolerance. She said - and I kid you not - "Well, those conditions are very rare." I thought I'd heard her wrong. I said, "No, I don't believe they're rare... just under-diagnosed."

** shakes head **

[Rachel--24]

Oh! And here's another thing: When the nurse first took me back, she asked what the visit was about and I told her briefly about my struggles and that I suspected gluten and/or casein intolerance. She said - and I kid you not - "Well, those conditions are very rare." I thought I'd heard her wrong. I said, "No, I don't believe they're rare... just under-diagnosed."

** shakes head **

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good for you for setting her straight!

Yeah...they've told me my veins roll too...I didn't really know what they meant by that.

I have the same routine everytime. I sit sideways in the chair (I never look) and I close my eyes and then for whatever reason I push on my eyes with my fingers till its over. Occasionally they'll do a great job and if I don't feel the needle in me at all I'll open my eyes and act "normal".

[Rusla]

Same here. Evidently, I have tiny veins that like to hide and roll. I don't mind the stick. The thing that gets me is once the needle is in, when they've missed the vein or it's not bleeding, they start rooting around. I get kinda cold all over and feel kinda sick. Once, I even told a tech I'd rather be stuck multiple times than to dig around with the needle.

Oh! And here's another thing: When the nurse first took me back, she asked what the visit was about and I told her briefly about my struggles and that I suspected gluten and/or casein intolerance. She said - and I kid you not - "Well, those conditions are very rare." I thought I'd heard her wrong. I said, "No, I don't believe they're rare... just under-diagnosed."

** shakes head **

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Geez, many have Casein intolernaces my sister, myself and my younger brother have not only lactose but casein problems. Now, I only go to one place and only two people there will ever attempt to take my blood. My veins are divers and roller, along with being thin. One time in the hospital the nurse told me she had been taking blood for 20 years, I told her that I have had my body25 years longer than she has been taking blood, at that time. I know my body infinitely better than the length of time she has been admiring it so, she has to do it my way or no way.

Rusla

[ravenwoodglass]

Just got back from the doctor's office. They drew a bunch of blood to run lab tests for various vitamin deficiencies and - most importantly - to check for gluten antibodies. Now, I'm notoriously hard to bleed. I have one vein on my left arm that's always reliable. I told the lab tech... "Use this one here." So, she stuck the left arm in a different place. Nothing. After digging around a little - umm, yeah... that hurts - with the needle, she gives up, pulls out and tries the right arm. Dig, dig. Nothing. Pull out. "You're not feeling faint are you?" she asks.

Again, I said, "This vein here on my left arm is the one my hematologist uses." So, she goes to the back of my right hand and tries that. It bleeds a little and stops. She pulls out and calls a supervisor. Once more, I say, "This one here on my left arm is the one to use." She tries it and lo and behold... it works. I walk out of the lab with four bandages. I proceed to the check out counter to pay. The lady says, "Wow, did they stick you that many times?"

Hello? Is anyone home? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yea me too with the one good vein thing. My favorite time was with this girl in a high school progam working at a small hospital satalite lab. She got one tube okay but when she shoved the next tube in she shoved the needle out the other side of the vein. Couldn't get any blood of course so she starts sweating and moving the needle back and forth sideways in my arm. I used my sub teacher voice and said 'enough'. She never did get her second tube that day. And will never get a first out of me again. That bruise lasted for days.

[darkangel]

She got one tube okay but when she shoved the next tube in  she shoved the needle out the other side of the vein. Couldn't get any blood of course so she starts sweating and moving the needle back and forth sideways in my arm.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Aauugh!

Here's a funny one... I have a cousin - great big guy, Marine - who went to give blood one time and got this new girl who was very nervous. He talked to her in soothing tones and tried to encourage her. She stuck him... nothing. She apologized profusely, he reassured her. She tried again... nothing. He's smiling, telling her it's okay. She tries a third time... nothing. Pulls out the needle and he said blood started shooting everywhere. He claps a hand over it and she runs off crying in a panic. Supervisor has to come out, bandage him up and take the blood. He was laughing about the whole episode, but I sure wouldn't have been!

[Rusla]

Aauugh! 

Here's a funny one... I have a cousin - great big guy, Marine - who went to give blood one time and got this new girl who was very nervous. He talked to her in soothing tones and tried to encourage her. She stuck him... nothing. She apologized profusely, he reassured her. She tried again... nothing. He's smiling, telling her it's okay. She tries a third time... nothing. Pulls out the needle and he said blood started shooting everywhere. He claps a hand over it and she runs off crying in a panic. Supervisor has to come out, bandage him up and take the blood. He was laughing about the whole episode, but I sure wouldn't have been!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When they first came out with the style of needle they use now, a new girl was attempting to take my blood. She got the needle in and when she put the tube in the needle unscrewed into my arm. Well blood was flying everywhere and she went white as a bleached sheet. She panicked because she didn't know how to get it out and called the supervisor. Blood was on the walls and the ceiling, by the time the supervisor came in I had the needle out and a cotton ball on top of it, the supervisor asked if I was alright and wanted to lie down, told her I was fine but they better have the lab tech lie down instead.

Rusla

[darkangel]

My hat's off to you. I consider myself to be pretty brave. I don't flinch or whimper and sometimes I even watch, but if my blood was shooting everywhere, I'd probably be a basket case.

[Rusla]

My hat's off to you. I consider myself to be pretty brave. I don't flinch or whimper and sometimes I even watch, but if my blood was shooting everywhere, I'd probably be a basket case. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I always watch. It was no big whoop. When they dig then there is problems they are lucky they don't get punched especially because I always say don't dig. It was just blood not like they were coming for a kidney that time.

Rusla