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struggling to get blood

licklemoose

Well-Known Member
ive adjusted the lancet pen and tried all numbers, ive used 28g and 30g lancets and sometimes im having to prick several times before i get enough blood to test..
can i squeeze to get blood or is that not allowed
im suprised by this as i take holy basil to lower my cortisol and apparently it acts as a blood thinner
 
Hi @licklemoose welcome to my world!! I use the accu-chek fastclix and, no matter what setting I out it on, I aways have problems getting blood and tend to have to squeeze quite hard. Warm hands are supposed to help but it doesn't seem to work for me! However, that said, I've always had issues giving blood in that they often have to 'dig around' and try several times for mine to come out - and that's just for a normal blood test! In fact one day they sent me home and told me to come back in the morning which was really annoying as it was a fasting blood test.
 

Try washing your hands in warm water, drying them, then shaking the hand downwards to help get the blood to the fingertips.

Use the sides of your fingers - usually the ring finger works well.

Don't press hard with the pricker, but maybe you need to 'touch' the finger a little more firmly.

Keeping your hands well-moisturised helps too, but don't use hand cream right before testing as it can make it very hard to do.

Yes, you can squeeze gently to coax the blood droplet out.

Hope that helps
 
I was once told if I decided to cut my wrists it would take me 3 weeks to die! My blood disappears at the sight of a needle!
 
I am another that has problems. I try not to squeeze but "milk" my finger, pushing from the bottom upwards, avoiding the very top.
 
Warming the hands draws blood to the surface of the skin, so what Azure says make sense.

The Accu-Chek Fastclix lancers have various depth settings that might be better than your current lancing device, from past experience some of them are a complete waste of time.
 
As a last resort you could try a lower gauge, 28 & 30g are high and will not make a larger hole than say a 21 of 23 gauge. I guess you really need to see how much discomfort a lower one will give you. I know some paramedics use lower gauge in order you obtain a sample a quickly as possible.
 
I had this problem when first was diagnosed in March and had a thread here about it, but since the weather has been warmer i have not had a problem, before i was sitting with gloves on and my hand under my leg to warm it up, still dint workhope you get some
 
thank you for all the suggestions
im not a big bleeeder when it comes to blood tests either
ive even done private blood tests and can use up to 6 single use lancets just to fill a tiny bottle
 
licklemoose said:
thank you for all the suggestions
im not a big bleeeder when it comes to blood tests either
ive even done private blood tests and can use up to 6 single use lancets just to fill a tiny bottle
Click to expand...
I had to go for another blood test weds, 1 nurse tried 4 times:***: i gave her my best arm, but i also told her the other nurse did it 1st Mon so she went to get her and bingo ! 1st time she did it.
I have to go again tomorrow, hope i get the good nurse
Soon i will be moving my bed there as was at the docs /DNurse 4 times last week
 
Fingers crossed ok?
 
Try not to squeeze too much from the same area. Work your way up from the base of the finger, and try to warm your hands prior to prick test to ensure blood flow to the area. Try soaking your hand in warm water prior to testing. Ensure it is free of contamination.
 
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