A Simple Tip for Easier Access to Veins that Just Don't Cooperate

In the years since I started this blog I've posted more than once about how difficult it is to find a good vein in my arms for drawing blood or running an IV. (Usually I'm complaining about nurses or lab techs who won't listen to me and end up sticking me several times, without success - grrrr.)

Recently, a really wonderful lab tech suggested that I run hot water over my hands for a minute or two before she attempted the draw and, Eureka!, it worked like a charm. For every draw since then I've used the hot water technique and it's made the experience SO much better.

Yesterday I had a CT scan with contrast and we ran into the same issue - my two good veins weren't an option for several reasons and the veins on the back of my hand were tiny and rolling. Then I remembered the hot water trick and BAM!, the vein worked. The only downside was that they didn't warn me how the contrast was going to burn in my vein going across my hand and over my wrist. I literally yelled, "Oh, shit!" Frankly, they were lucky I didn't drop the f-bomb (I have a terrible potty mouth). Lord, I hate it when I'm not told to expect something in advance. No matter how bad it's going to be, just tell me or I'm going to hate you and never trust you again.

I digress. This post is to recommend the hot water trick for people like me, who have crappy veins and suffer because of it. I hope this works as well for you as it has for me!

Photo by William Stadler

Just Looking for a Little Respect from the Healthcare System and Its People

For the third week in a row I'm having to have blood work done, so yesterday I went to see the vampires (phlebotomists; it's my little nickname for them) at my local lab. A new tech insisted on searching both arms for veins, even though I showed him the ONE AND ONLY spot on my body where a vein can by found. He pinched my arms with those stupid rubber straps, had me pump my fists, wiped alcohol all around - and guess where the blood was drawn? Yep, exactly where I showed him to draw it in the first place.

I'm pretty steamed about the incident. How 'bout a little RESPECT, people? Maybe an ounce of compassion? Would you just LISTEN to what I'm telling you?

In the past 2 1/2 years I've had three major surgeries, six or eight medical procedures and about 75 blood draws, each of which required a needle in a vein. I've always been a "hard stick" and these days the sticks are more difficult than ever. Why did the tech disregard my comments? Did he believe he could discover a blood vessel that the other dozens of techs couldn't find? Because I insisted that there would be no iffy attempts, at least I didn't have to suffer through another needle digging around under my skin, hopelessly searching for a vein that wasn't going to cooperate.

This tech isn't alone - the scenario occurs repeatedly. To the phlebotomists of the world, I say, Respect your patients and heed what they are telling you. Especially those of us with chronic illnesses - we already suffer enough.

Maybe, at the end of the day, it's simply putting the Golden Rule into play: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As it applies elsewhere in life, this adage can work in the world of medicine. I, for one, will be grateful.