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Trouble when taking bloods for reviews

O

Ooosha

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Hello I am new to this forum but not to T2 diabetes.

My question is does anyone else have trouble having their bloods taken for reviews? Only one doctor at my practice could take my bloods in the back of my hand with baby size needles. She has since left the practice and I don't know what to do. I have tried all the nurses and once even the local phlebotomy ward but no-one could get either any or enough anywhere. I have very narrow blood vessels which "run & hide" at first sign of a needle. This runs in my family .Have no problem doing a finger prick.

I am having issues with my sugar control and am currently having to have my bloods taken 4 times a year or more. Am on max dose of Metformin sr & Gliclazide sr and still my readings at morning/evening pre-meal are averaging about 8.2 coming down from about 12.2 about 3 months ago. The metformin gives me horrible stomach side effects often. I have been advised by doctors to switch to insulin control (more needles).I may also have low/high Thyroid condition which again needs to be tested by bloods. I cannot manage my condition without the usual blood tests and am dreading the next one which is due very soon. Help & Advice please.
 
I have the "run and hide" kind of veins too. I have had as many as 3 phlebotomists try 12 times between them to get some blood. And I've ended up black and blue with a hand swolen to twice its normal size. I don't go to my health centre any more, only to the hospital, where I have to tell them I get anxious, because of so many bad experiences. anyway, the last few times has been Ok. I'm due to go again in the middle of next month. Here, you only go to the hospital if you are difficult or the hospital has asked for the tests and still the queue can be 100people long. For a fasting test, I get hungry whilst waiting.
Hana
 
Can't say they have trouble getting blood out my arm although I don't like it taken, make sure your well hydrated on the day as dehydration can cause the veins to shrink.
 
I have the same problem with my veins. It often takes docs/nurses a few attempts. Once it took an hour, prodding me everywhere, before they gave up. What I have recently found out is that it is a LOT easier if my hand/inside of wrist is nice and warm. The way I do this is to take one of those gel hand warmers with me. You know the type, you press a metal disc and the liquid inside goes solid and becomes warm. They usually sell them in Poundland. I place it on my skin for a few minutes beforehand and it's a lot easier I have found. Have you tried something similar?
 
Hi. I would advise going to the local hospital phlebotomy unit if you can. They normally have a greater choice of skilled nurses on tap and they can fetch the most skilled if they hit a problem. Last time I was told I was dehydrated causing slow blood flow; also too cold. Do have water even for a fasting test and keep warm as suggested above. I once had a phlebotomist who went straight for an outside point an inch or two above the normal arm injection point when she couldn't get anything and got an immediate flow from there. She just knew all the options to overcome the problem. Ref you blood sugars, what are they typically 2 hours after a meal? Are you on Metformin SR the Slow Release version? If you look at the NICE Diabetes Pathway document you will see that Sitagliptin is a 3rd tablet option on top of Met & Glic. I've been on it for 2 years and it did reduce spikes at least for while although insulin is now round the corner.
 
Ooosha

For medication,you might want to try Byetta, Bydureon or Victoza. They are newer drugs that are injected but just under the skin using a pen. No need to find a vein and often people on gliclazide or insulin have been able to reduce or stop those medications.

Hydration is so important when having blood taken. As to who does it - I have problems with nurses and even, once, with a consultant anaesthetist! I would always go for a phlebotomist as they are doing it all day long. That is their job.

Take care

Doug


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I'm one of those annoying (to you) people who doesn't have any trouble with blood sample taking, in fact, my veins are so good I have sometimes had blood taken without a cuff! I am surprised that blood is being taken from the back of a hand as mine has always been taken from the inside of my elbow. I suppose because I've got such good veins they don't even bother trying anywhere else.

If your sugar levels are quite high when on the tablets then it's really worth trying insulin, it's not half as bad as you probably think. The needles are so much shorter than you think as well. Depending on how much fat/flesh, call it what you will, the needle may not need to be very long. I haven't got much fat on me so I am using the shortest one - 4mm while my friend who has quite a lot is using a 12mm needle. Injecting doesn't usually hurt, in fact the finger pricking is worse. I have been on insulin for about five years and don't always get good sugar levels but it depends on so many things like exercise, stress, what you've eaten etc. so it's sometimes hard to get it right. I am quite sensitive to insulin so I only have about 5 units per meal although I have a demi pen, one that gives half units and it's surprising what difference half a unit makes. I would much rather be on insulin, even if I do have to inject four times a day, three with meals and one before bed, at least you can adjust the dose whereas if you're stuck with tablets you can't do anything about it at all. You have to be careful of hypos and, of course if you drive you have to tell the DVLA and will be given a three year driving licence but as long as you are careful and make sure you don't go too low it's no problem.

If you are getting stomach problems with Metformin, are you taking them with food or just after food? Sometimes I have forgotten to take my tablet for an hour or so after I've eaten and when I do take it I get a bit of stomach ache. When I was first put on three a day I had to keep rushing to the loo so I stopped the lunchtime one but I started it up again a year or so later and it doesn't seem to affect me now. You should really think about going onto insulin and perhaps your sugar levels will be much more stable and there may be less need to have blood samples taken so often.
 
Hiya

I'm another with those hiding blood vessels too! Actually at my recent hospital visit - the couldnt find an artery to do my blood gasses!! :lol:

Anyway, I would suggest you visit the phlebotomy unit too, and ask to see someone who does the donation clinics - these people tend to have a little more expertise (Ive found) in finding "good" vessels.

Keep warm, drink plenty, and good luck x
 
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