Has anyone ever had a blood test taken from their foot?

[Yourinmyspot]

I went for my bloods today at the walk in clinic at my GP’s but they couldn’t get any / find a vein as the skin on my arms and hands are pretty much covered bad skin.

They have booked me in tomorrow to get try and get them done with one of the more experienced ones, and said they might have to use my foot but will be painful. I’m not overly bothered but has anyone had a blood test from the foot?

Yup.

I have stealthy veins.

I seem to remember it wasn’t fun.

To avoid needing it start drinking more now. And keep drinking until the appointment. Super duper hydrated.

not me personally but it’s a thing sometimes if veins in arms are being tricky.

I have once because I have a juicy vein on the top of my foot, can't remember it being any worse than any other blood test tbh. Good luck!

My son did in hospital two weeks ago, blood draw and a cannula in a vein on the side of his foot more towards his ankle rather the actual foot itself. He actually found it more comfortable than inner elbow.

I've had blood taken from the top of my foot. It didn't bother me at all. It was the same as any other blood test.

And also wrap up really warm & if you can go for a brisk walk, jog or take the stairs before. Appreciate it you’re having booods done because not feeling g well you might not want to exercise, but hot shower & wrap up including gloves may well help

Yes, painful and unpleasant but not as painful and unpleasant as numerous weeks waiting for the next appointment where yet again they may or may not be able to find a vein all the while waiting for diagnosis of something

I might have this wrong but when this happened to DM, I'm sure a District Nurse suggested I got her to wear two layers of socks overnight to keep her foot warm and the veins closer to the surface.

Yeah, it hurts I really feel for you op. X

No. But as PP said - get yourself really really well hydrated and it will be easier.

The top of your foot shouldn't be any worse than the back of your hand.

Your skin's nerve supply isn't evenly spread, they're in bundles, so it's the luck of the draw if the needle lands straight in a nerve bundle or misses, so you can have a painful inner elbow 'juicy' vein needle, or much less painful top of your foot experience if that's where your best veins are.

Hope it goes well!

Like others have said, make sure you are very hydrated and keep yourself warm. literally under a duvet and layers. I would keep your hands and wrists warm as well because they may find a vein there - encourage them to try before they go for the foot.

The main thing about blood tests is that it is mostly the skill of the person doing it. Don't be afraid to explain that you are difficult to bleed and ask for someone who is very skilled at it. even if it's been booked on that basis, double check when you are sitting there in front of them because lists change and info doesn't get passed on

Not everyone is as good or experienced. If you are difficult to bleed (a) make sure you have an expert person doing it - this doesn't just mean trained or experienced - it means a person with the 'knack' of bleeding difficult people (b) ask them to use a butterfly needle.

If it all fails, ask them to refer you to the Intravenous Therapy at Home team (these are the people who insert IVs in the community and most trusts have them but a lot of GPs arent aware of it). They are ultra skilled at getting needles in where there are no veins. this type of thing but they also can take blood

https://www.rbht.nhs.uk/our-services/clinical_support/home-intravenous-iv-therapy-service

Not personally but I know people who have collapsed veins and it's really hard to get blood. They have to sometimes use an ultrasound machine to find a vein!
I think the foot would be really painful. I hope it didn't bruise?

Yes- but they tried to encourage the arm veins with surgical gloves filled with warm water first

I tried to get the buses to put a cannula in my foot when I was having a regular infusion, as they couldn't get one in anywhere else. We do it all the time in paediatrics, but they wouldn't do it. No idea why!

Needs to be close to your heart to pump the infusion around. Hence why they can’t use your foot for an infusion was what I was told.

I’ve cannulated a patient’s foot/ankle before. Not ideal but she was a heroin user and all the veins in her arms and hands were busted; she had sepsis and I needed to gain IV access quickly. Gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. Was actually fairly easy to get the vein!

Yes. I have cancer and shy veins and have very regular bloods done.
I drink 2 pints of water beforehand and try and jog to the appointment or up the stairs whatever. But they've had to use feet a few times.

they're more likely to get infected and adults are more likely to have things like peripheral vascular disease and diabetes which might make things tricky (and they're more likely to want to get up and walk out for a fag/take a shower, etc). Adults may need TED stockings/flowtron boots, etc. We do sometimes use feet, but they're not usually the best option for adults.

I have pathetic veins and have had to have blood drawn from my feet. I don't remember it being any more painful than from anywhere else.

The only things you can do to help are hydration and warmth. Plenty of both. But as pp have said the main thing is the skill of the phlebotomist. Insist that you have someone with the knack, this will not necessarily be the person with the most experience.

If you do get someone good who makes it look easy then remember exactly where it was and tell them next time. Provided it's delivered as 'here's some extra information you might find helpful ' rather than 'I'm telling you how to do your job ' I've always found it's well received.

FWIW butterfly needles are not a magic solution, they tend to make my veins collapse and I do better without them.

Me. I was 15 and had been admitted to hospital for suspected appendicitis. A very brusque doctor tried to take blood from both inner elbows, my wrist then finally my ankle. I can still remember how painful it was 30 years later! But all of the spots she tried hurt as well so could have been her technique.

Interestingly I've never had a nurse unable to get blood from me, but drs never seem to manage 😂

Good luck!

Agreed! As a nurse, the only kind of doctor I will allow to stick a needle in my veins is an anaesthetist 😂

Thanks for the advice / experiences all, will make sure I’m well hydrated and warm for tomorrow. The person I’m booked in with is really good, she’s always got my blood first time. They booked me in with her last time after two others had three attempts between them and she got it at first try.

Yes when I was pregnant. It was ok and I remember them finding it easier to get a vein.

@MontyDonsBlueScarf I always find it helpful if a difficult veins person points out where others have been successful, but I know what you mean that maybe less confident phlebotomists/ inexperienced people take exception.