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Type 2 blood tests

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welshbrenda

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi. I had major surgery in 2001 and was told my veins had gone deep but would recover, they have not. I have blood test every 6 months and having difficulty each time having to go twice for different tests. However, this time, I have been back 4 times over a period of 6 weeks as they can never get enough blood, hence my having to go back again this week now the bruising has gone. I have drank large tumblers of water the night before and on the day and still not able to get any blood. I hope there is another way with without them having to go to my groin. Any ideas please. Bren
 
That does sound awful for you.

One tip I learned was to make sure your arm is very warm - it may sound silly, but a hot water bottle will help. Also, keep the arm resting on a pillow and relax as much as you can. No fist clenching. This came from when I was having blood tests every 3 weeks over a period of 12 months. I didn't have any trouble personally, but some of the others did, and this is how the nurses helped them.

I hope someone else can come up with some ideas for you.
 
welshbrenda said:
Hi. I had major surgery in 2001 and was told my veins had gone deep but would recover, they have not. I have blood test every 6 months and having difficulty each time having to go twice for different tests. However, this time, I have been back 4 times over a period of 6 weeks as they can never get enough blood, hence my having to go back again this week now the bruising has gone. I have drank large tumblers of water the night before and on the day and still not able to get any blood. I hope there is another way with without them having to go to my groin. Any ideas please. Bren
Click to expand...

I've had numerous blood tests over the last 6 months and I can't pretend to remotely understand what you have had to go through. It really does sound dreadful.

I've had two different nurses drawing my blood, the first was calming, steady snd methodical, using s cushion for my arm, a ball to squeeze and a tornique above my elbow...result, no pain, straightforward.

The second nurse, stressed, rushed, no tornique, no pillow, no ball...result painful:)


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It must be really stressful when it is difficult to get enough blood....have they tried doing it on your foot that often works.
Yes Kevin it can vary greatly I have mine done at our surgery and usually it is done quickly efficiently and no bruising. The first time I had one done at the hospital I knew it would bruise by the way it hurt the nurse who did it was so clumsy the way she stuck it in the next day huge bruise
 
A hot wet towel wrapped around your arm for a few minutes before hand can help.
 
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