Blood work chat

Justone13

Good morning ladies!! Hope your weekend was filled with fun times and relaxation!! I worked...blah!! Lol.

I wanted to start a thread about blood work. Any tips pointers or ideas to help with bruising after those nasty daily sticks? I have a fantastic nurse that works every day at my clinic but on weekends it's all bets off. We get the "randoms" from other branches. I swear these people are terrible! So if you have any tricks of the trade or just want to vent about having a vein blown out ... By all means sound off here!!

Hope you ladies have a great week!! I'm off to dc today to check out a couple art exhibits. (Ya for working shift work and having off random days)

Canuck13

Well mine always suggests putting pressure on the cotton ball for two minutes but I would just kind of press for 30 seconds then take my phone out while I waited for ultrasound. BUT I bruised really badly and only didn't care much because it was winter (long sleeves) when I did my iui's, so for this IVF I didn't want bruises everywhere with tank tops so I actually listened; full two minutes with pressure on the spot, and low and behold NO BRUISES! Lol. If you get an occasional bad one, ice when you get home if you're able to.

Carol77B

I'm glorying in my poke-free arms right now!!! I second the value of applying pressure. I had a doctor recommend 5 minutes, but @Justone13 if your office works the same as mine, you are hustled so fast that it is hard to maintain the pressure- they want you to pee right after and sometimes are waiting before you're done peeing to take you for the ultrasound.

I've had two funny/crazy blood draws so far, both with the same lady ;P With the first one, she couldn't find my vein (ouch) got flustered, tore her glove and knocked my vial into the giant sharps container after she finally got the blood. She left the room when I did, I guess she needed a break, too!

With the second, the draw went fine, but she didn't apply ANY pressure after removing the needle, just slapped on the cotton square and bandage and it wouldn't stop bleeding. I just didn't know until I was in the bathroom and blood is pouring down my arm and I'm pressing and it is getting worse and worse. I finally had to ask for help. At least I was wearing a short sleeve shirt and didn't get any blood on my clothes.

 

tweetyknicks

I just press the gauze on my arm until the nurse tapes it or bend my arm to put pressure on it. I'm not too concerned about bruising. It's kind of fun to watch it change colors for the next week.

Carol77B

HollowBerry I love that you bring your own stretchy tape. How easy is that to purchase? And no, I wasn't on any blood thinners when I had all the bleeding. I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if I was!

Justone13

@carol77b holy crap girl!! I would have flipped the f out on that lady!! 

@buttmonkey34 omg .... weekend people ... blah!!!! The last weekend lady dug in my arm for over a minute still couldn't find a vein. I yelled at her... then I made a complaint.... haven't seen her since.  

Thanks for all the tips ladies!! today (thankfully) was a bruise free day  

Twinkie0612

I don't have a problem with bruising, but I am a terrible stick. Even drinking 16-32 oz before hand to make sure I am hydrated, it still is hard to get the needed vials.

LO95

OMG I still have bruises from my ER.  She was horrible and horrible during my most important "stick". My clinic does the IV in the side of your wrist---just awful. 

Justone13

@lo95 the guy that does my iv for the er is wonderful.. he even uses numbing meds before .. I have never bruised from his IV's ... Those weekend people tho... whew... bad news! lol