Blood doesn't come out for blood test!

[Carolhh]

The nurse tried both arms and the hand, and said to come back again. She said she can't feel or see any veins. I had 2 large glasses of water an hour before and walked briskly to surgery, but still nothing. How can I make sure next time she can get something? Thanks

Make sure you are warm as the blood vessels will be closer to the skin. If I’m the slightest bit cold, my veins vanish!

I have to go to the hospital and have the phlebotomist take my blood - the nurse at the GP can never find a vein it needs someone who is trained to do that all day every day. DM and DD are the same, dodgy veins run in the family.

I have disappearing veins too. One too I was given is to wash your hands in warm water for a while.

I have this problem. The phlebotomist at the hospital tried and failed on me a couple of weeks ago.

I have blood taken from veins in my hand now as ones in the arm are non existent. Water, warmth helps. Though I used to have sticky blood and it wouldnt run out pre blood thinners !

Take a heat pack to hold over the crook of your arm for 10 minutes before trying.

Lots and lots to drink, starting a few hours before. Heat pack on your arm inside a jumper.

I used to do regular finger prink blood samples for research. All of the above tips work.
Most important I found getting my heart rate up by jumping up and down and waving my arms. Not that you can do that in the GP waiting room😂

thanks will try these tips. @thereisonlyoneofme what causes sticky blood, never heard of that? are you just joking?

Drink plenty all day, get hot, grip and ungrip hand hard for a few minutes.

This. And I also heat up a towel in the microwave and wrap it round my arm (elbow area) before I leave home.
Disappearing veins are the Devil’s work.

I always have to go to the phlebotomy dept at the local hospital when I need bloods and quite often a few people have to have a go on me before they find someone determined enough to find a vein on me😂and I once had to have a drip put in the back of my hand because they couldn't find a vein in my arm.
Anyway all of the above tips are ones I've been told too, keep hydrated, like starting the day before, keep warm and keep moving. Unfortunately I think it's just one of those things though.

Drink more. And start drinking water earlier.

Please don't heat a towel in the microwave! It will go on fire!!

I’m the same, OP, really hard to get blood out of.

I’ve had doctors take blood from my foot before. Not pleasant, but trying my arm/hands for 45 mins isn’t great either.

Nurses at my GP surgery really struggle. The blood donation team can get it out first time. A lot of practise helps.

I bleed people regularly....
Drink fluids AND eat
Relax
Make the arm is facing down (gravity)
The tourniquet is high up the arm (under arm pit)

A good phlebotomist will always find a vein

Drink more the day before. Probably drink more anyway.
Wear a jacket so your arms are warm until you're in there.

The most prominent vein in the crook of my arm is not straight. Most blood-takers notice but I have been stabbed before and then sat there for 15 mins while a stream of HCPs debate why no blood is coming out. I warn them now!

Me too. Though the HCA in our surgery never fails.

thanks all. @coffeetofunction are you sure it is put up that high the torniquite? because mine hasn't ever been put up that high, but then again ive never specially been to a phlebotomist. it's always been I go for a blood test and nothing comes out, then I book for a second time and do alot of effort, drink plenty and warm up then second time round its been fine after a few pokes.

The higher the tourniquet the more blood is pushed down the vein. I was trained by a very experienced phlebotomist (she could bleed herself) and now I very rarely miss