TracyG

What a great article Tom, and so true! I have had times when I ask them to use a butterfly needle and they ignore my request and then proceed to poke me repeatedly. I now ask for whoever’s the best at drawing blood when I walk into a lab for a blood draw, rather than risking multiple attempts. When undergoing a routine procedure a few years ago that required an IV, 3 different nurses tried getting it in me and one gave me some topical numbing drug that I turned out being allergic to. Not fun!
Good luck with your upcoming surgery - thinking all positive thoughts and the ease of the IV!
 
Tracy
 
 

What a great article Tom, and so true! I have had times when I ask them to use a butterfly needle and they ignore my request and then proceed to poke me repeatedly. I now ask for whoever’s the best at drawing blood when I walk into a lab for a blood draw, rather than risking multiple attempts. When undergoing a routine procedure a few years ago that required an IV, 3 different nurses tried getting it in me and one gave me some topical numbing drug that I turned out being allergic to. Not fun!
Good luck with your upcoming surgery - thinking all positive thoughts and the ease of the IV!
 
Tracy
 
 

Tracy,
Sadly, I share your difficulty with accessing a vein. I undergo surgery on Wednesday and setting an IV is what I worry about. This encapsulates my best tips and tricks for the "little stick".
Stay the course.
Tom

Thank you Lou, that’s a relief and good to hear. I’m sorry you have the same issues- it’s not fun, is it? The thing I remember the most of my lobectomy surgery at the hospital was the challenge getting and keeping IV’s in and the many pokes trying to draw blood. 
 
I meet with my Oncologist in an hour, but I already reviewed the CT and it shows no abnormalities. Yay! 
Thanks,
Tracy

Congrats on no abnormalities!!!!   Regarding regular blood draws keep a hot pack in mind, as well as butterfly needles - I'm there too.  Obviously hydration too as you and others already stated.  I have Raynaud's and they have used the hot pack on occasion tho more frequently the butterfly needles with me.  Also, prior to surgeries they should have an ultrasound machine that can hunt down a good vein.  They used that the last surgery I had before even trying to put the IV in.  Depending on your hospital some are able to use this for blood draws and infusions too though regular blood labs likely don't have these around.  

Thank you Lou, that’s a relief and good to hear. I’m sorry you have the same issues- it’s not fun, is it? The thing I remember the most of my lobectomy surgery at the hospital was the challenge getting and keeping IV’s in and the many pokes trying to draw blood. 
 
I meet with my Oncologist in an hour, but I already reviewed the CT and it shows no abnormalities. Yay! 
Thanks,
Tracy

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it! Hopefully it’ll be clear enough without the contrast. I’m always diligent about drinking a LOT of water before any blood draw, but it didn’t seem to help this time. I even jogged in place for a few minutes to see if it’d get my veins popping, but I only succeeded in looking like an idiot. 🙄
 

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it! Hopefully it’ll be clear enough without the contrast. I’m always diligent about drinking a LOT of water before any blood draw, but it didn’t seem to help this time. I even jogged in place for a few minutes to see if it’d get my veins popping, but I only succeeded in looking like an idiot. 🙄