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Chronic Health Conditions Discussion and Support

NightWatcher

(39,362 posts)

1. I have horrible veins for IV's and blood draws

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Sun May 18, 2014, 04:24 PM

May 2014

I tell them to use the small butterfly needle and I know that my best veins are near my wrist in line with my thumb.

Be sure to drink plenty of liquids the day BEFORE you go in for lab work as well as the day of. I don't drink caffeine the day of the blood draw. I have found that staying hydrated and knowing how to have my blood drawn help me avoid being a human pin cushion.

I must be doing ok, I'm down to every 6 months with my rheumy, but I'm about to start up with new doctors at Mayo, so I'm guessing I'll give a couple of gallons in the next few months.

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Injection phobia - any advice? [View all] hedgehog May 2014 OP

I have horrible veins for IV's and blood draws NightWatcher May 2014 #1

Drinking water ahead of a blood draw is a good reminder - my mouth is always dry, so I tend hedgehog May 2014 #2

Oh, just make sure it's in a bright place with plenty of stuff to distract you. Warpy May 2014 #3

Look. I used to be like you and then I started forcing myself to look. cali May 2014 #4

+1 LiberalLoner May 2014 #5

OK, I'll try it - hope it works! hedgehog May 2014 #6

i have to look. mopinko May 2014 #8

I discovered Ineeda May 2014 #7

butterfly needles lululu Jun 2014 #9

and what's even more wierd, getting hooked up to an IV doesn't bother me, hedgehog Jun 2014 #10

what is it about an injection? lululu Jun 2014 #12

As near as I can figure out, I was exposed to strep throat back around 1959 or so, and my Mom took hedgehog Jun 2014 #13

smallpox lululu Jun 2014 #14

Years ago, a friend of my grandmother had to get her small pox renewed before a trip back to Ireland hedgehog Jun 2014 #15

That explains part of it, penicillin injections are the worst Warpy Jun 2014 #17

Try to distract yourself Nite Owl Jun 2014 #11

Not really, true phobias don't respond to logic Warpy Jun 2014 #16

Laugh loudly while the needle is being stuck into you and then celebrate w/ice cream. WilliamTuckness Jun 2014 #18

Sorry, I am really late to this thread blondie58 Oct 2014 #19