Literally like getting blood out of stone at my blood test this morning

[MaureenMLove]

I'm veins are very shy anyway, but I have to have a blood test today, due to my condition and the nurse just could not do it. She used a tiny little needle as usual, but every time i started bleeding it stopped! 10 mins in, she gave up.

I've got to go back later now, which is annoying, but I have to go. What can I do, apart from drink loads, between now and then, to plump up my veins?

Breath - Long slow and deeply while waiting for the appointment and when you are in the room.

Keep warm - easy removable layers

Suggest back of the hand rather than the arm, it will hurt more but it is sometimes easier.

I struggle to give blood also...apart from during the heat wave where it practically gushed out.

The nurse said it's always easier when it it's warmer, so a hot water bottle on your veins???

No suggestions, just sympathy. With DS2 the community midwife (utterly lovely) took a long look at me and said ‘after last time’s fiasco you’re going to the hospital for all blood tests’ (four failed attempts twice over with DS1).

Drink loads a decent time before your test. Have had nightmares with 9.30am tests as I am always rushing in the morning to get there after school drop off and struggle to down loads of water first thing. With more time I can just keep sipping and it's easy!

I have tiny veins too. I always drink a lot of water and make sure I take a brisk walk to the clinic rather than driving if possible. Gets the blood moving and seems to work.

Keep warm
Drink loads
Find the person they usually call "the vampire" (all places have one) who can get blood out of a stone 

Thanks everyone. She tried back of the hand too. Absolutely nothing. I'll have to don a winter jumper and stomp up the hill then run up the stairs to clinic I think! 

Request the best person to be doing it

Drink more than you think. Eat a really good breakfast too - banana on the way there? Flex your muscles, good brisk walk there...

Stat warm, I always drink loads and layer up and bring a hot water bottle!
Also a quick brisk walk can help to get heart rate up and pumping. But mainly, drink lots and stay warm.

I found sitting with a hot water bottle helped. Otherwise I'm the same.

Mine sometimes fills a glove with hot water from the tap, ties it off and puts it on the back of my hand.

They might have someone who can get it out of your wrist. Stay warm and drink lots.

My last blood test was particularly bad. Took 3 phlebotimists and 5 goes to get enough out of me.

No advice but sympathy, I apparently have reactive veins. To date I have had 5 nurses try each arm multiple times before summoning a student doctor with a tiny ultrasound machine. After 45 minutes and my arms turning scabby and purple student doctor relented and took it out of my foot and the time where in the end the nurse lanced two of my fingers and sort of milked them into a tube
However last time I had one, I warned the nurse that it would be more painful for her than for me, got it first time, I didn't feel the needle go in, didn't have a bruise and she proudly announced African nurses just do it better I think she just slammed it in without giving me chance to get tensed and nervous but I'm not sure.

Done. I now have an ice purple bruise forming all the way around my arm. All that wasted blood!. I drove in the end, as there's been a major rta along my route and the buses were all diverted. I kept a coat on in the car, windows shut and air con off. It was a bit warm!

Sadly, I have to do that every two weeks, so with the weather getting colder, I think I'm going to do a lot of sweating in the car!

Thanks all.

Mine are regular too because of some medication and my recent one was the worst I've had for a long time so you may find the next one is easier.

Mine are like that. They also either struggle to find veins on me or they refer to them as 'slippery' and can't get a needle in them. Sometimes they can get some from my wrist, although it's slow and can be a bit painful.

As others have said, drinking loads, staying warm and moving around plenty before the appointment normally works for me. I also find that some nurses just seem to have more of a knack for it than others. I warn them in advance now that it can be a struggle to get blood from me and they send whoever the best person for the job is in!