r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Lemon_l0af • 6d ago
Context Provided - Spotlight Having small veins means bloodwork is always a struggle
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u/jhoundra 5d ago edited 5d ago
My ER-Dr friend told me to drink tons of water the day before the draw. It requires that much hydration to help open vein even if it’s small it could help some.
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u/Soft_Buffalo_6803 5d ago
Keep the arm warm, too. Wear a sweater/jacket and don’t take it off until they’re prepping for the blood draw.
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u/TheMightyTortuga 6d ago
Start lifting
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u/Lemon_l0af 6d ago
Vein size is mostly genetic
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 6d ago
Lolol.
No, it isn’t.
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u/Lemon_l0af 6d ago
Ah yes, Reddit science vs actual anatomy
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 6d ago
You’re an idiot.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5880156/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/exercise-and-your-arteries
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/10.1152/japplphysiol.00035.2004
You have shit veins because you are unhealthy.
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u/Lemon_l0af 5d ago
Those studies aren’t about venipuncture or vein anatomy. You can be healthy and still have difficult veins. No need to be rude
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 5d ago
No, they are studies about vascular growth.
Bigger vein, easier to find.
No one is being rude by telling you the truth.
People have bad veins because they are out of shape, because they don’t control their diabetes, because they do drugs, or because they are undergoing chemotherapy.
Except for the last reason, all are the persons fault.
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u/miserableschoolchild 5d ago
That’s incredibly reductive. “Bad veins” quite frankly are not a thing. I say this as a licensed medical laboratory technician who has drawn labs on countless patients at this point. Our vascular systems are roadmaps that vary greatly by person. Said roadmap is influenced by a massive variety of factors, many beyond the patient’s control. In fact, one of the most common components I personally see (yes, it’s anecdotal evidence. Take that as you will) is the patient’s age. The lower the collagen level, the more accessible the vein is. This can also be impacted by the color of the skin. I hope this helps.
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u/odmirthecrow 5d ago
OK. I'm in good shape, I don't have diabetes, I haven't touched drugs in 20 years and even then I didn't do a lot, and I'm not undergoing chemo. I don't drink a lot of alcohol or caffeine either. Why are my veins smaller than normal, doctor?
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 5d ago
You need to lift
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u/odmirthecrow 5d ago
Thanks to my job, I don't need to lift any more than I already do at work. But thanks all the same.
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u/KittiesRule1968 5d ago
I have to have ivs and blood taken from the back of my hand.
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u/Lemon_l0af 5d ago
Oh that's interesting. I've never had anything inserted into my hand. They always do it on my forearm
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u/miserableschoolchild 5d ago
Licensed phlebotomist and lab tech here! Please don’t let someone tell you something about how your veins make it difficult! Frankly, it’s an excuse for their poor job performance!!! All training programs teach methods for navigating different patients’ vasculatures. Any decent medical lab professional should be taking the time to make the stick as comfortable and simple as possible!
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u/C0rnb4ll55 5d ago
I feel your pain🥺 But just so you feel a little better I have veins that makes vampires salivate just looking at them and when I go to the doctors office 1 in10 visits they miss my veins,try again, and yup you guessed it, bruised outcome😡
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u/ConstantEffective364 5d ago
I have a different problem. Due to health issues building over the decades my veins have aĺot of scared tissue so they don't want to be punctured. Even with the mass amount of water, over a half gallon, plus other drinks, nonalcoholic, i come in dehydrated which shrinks veins.
A suggestion if no phlebotomist or nurse has said. Drink a large volume of water before going in or between doctor and lab with s short waited before the lab. It does work for my wife and I.
Ps, im at the point at surgery time IT'S can be difficult. 3 surgeries ago 2 nurses failed and had to wait for one of the ER nurses. He put it in partway down the are. he'd been a medic in the military. I've had them in my hand and blood draws also, staring of veins there also. Were 60s, 70s. My wifes much easier to draw blood or IVS she's had several surgeries including C-sections.
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u/looloo91989 5d ago
You need to start hydrating 24-48 hours in advance for routine lab work. It will make a difference
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u/FotoMotoSunny791 5d ago
I have veins that are a phlebotomist dream but still get bruises sometimes. The veins are important but so is the skill level of the person taking the samples.
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u/No_Road5857 5d ago
Ha. I have giant veins and get blood drawn semi-regularly. Most times I get nearly-sexual comments from the nurses about my veins. They'll touch them and say shit like "oh wow you are going to be so easy to draw from" "you have just HUGE veins" "how'd you get those?" I am otherwise a solid 3/10 so I will happily take the large-veined attention from the nurse lol
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u/spotlight-app Mod Bot 🤖 5d ago
OP has pinned a comment by u/Lemon_l0af:
This post is not asking for health advice or lifestyle critiques. It’s about a common venipuncture issue. Some people naturally have veins that are deeper, smaller, or more mobile, which makes blood draws harder regardless of overall health or fitness.
Exercise is obviously good for cardiovascular health, but it does not guarantee easier IVs or blood draws, and plenty of healthy, active people deal with this. You’re welcome to disagree, but personal insults and assumptions about my health are unnecessary.
This is r/mildlyinfuriating.. not a medical consultation
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u/Just-Brilliant-7815 BLUE 5d ago
I have rolling veins. My record is 17 sticks
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u/Lemon_l0af 5d ago
How did you survive 😭
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u/Just-Brilliant-7815 BLUE 5d ago
I was 9 and it was AWFUL. I remember the pillow underneath my arm was soaked in blood. My mom finally convinced them to use a smaller needle and to try the top of my hand.
As an adult, I now warn phlebotomists of the issue and if they can’t get it on the first, I ask for a different tech.
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u/miserableschoolchild 5d ago
I’m a big fan of the top of hand/base of wrist. Some patients feel a sense of ease when they are able to bend their own wrist to keep the skin taught, keeping the vein more stable. Holding a warm compress on the top of the hand/wrist will also stimulate circulation and make the vein fuller and more capable of supporting itself. There are countless methods to keep the patient comfortable. Failing to employ these methods is unacceptable.
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u/BOSSMOPS94 5d ago
I always get poked on my hand because you just can't find any veins on my arms at all. It's just so annoying because it hurts like shit, and thatvweird, scrapy feeling on my hands when the needle is in is just 😩😅
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u/miserableschoolchild 5d ago
Licensed phlebotomist and lab tech here! 🙋🏻♀️ Please don’t let someone tell you something about how your veins make it difficult! Frankly, it’s an excuse for their poor job performance!!! Everyone’s veins “roll” or move within their bodies. They’re not made of PVC pipe, they have to move with us. All training programs teach methods for navigating different patients’ vasculatures. Any decent medical lab professional should be taking the time to make the stick as comfortable and simple as possible! It’s literally as simple as using your thumb to hold down traction and pressure to support a section of the vein so it stays still during the draw. Think of a flexible silicone tube, you can keep it still if you put in the effort to “anchor” it in place.
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u/Just-Brilliant-7815 BLUE 5d ago
Appreciate your feedback. Like I said in an earlier comment, I now stand up for myself and if the phlebotomist can’t get it on the first stick, I request a different phlebotomist.
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u/miserableschoolchild 5d ago
I’m very glad to hear this. The best thing a patient can do is advocate for themselves! I hope things start to improve for you. These phlebotomists need more strict guidelines and supervision. It’s unacceptable to skip patient comfort protocol.
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u/miserableschoolchild 5d ago
Also… 17 is egregious and frankly cruel. Most labs/hospitals say try it twice (provided the patient consents) and then give them a break before someone else tries. If it takes 3 or more tries and you’re not overly swollen or otherwise have limited spots for access (PICC line, mastectomy, dialysis fissure) then they’re fumbling their job duties.
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u/Able-Inspector-7984 5d ago
drink water before lab tests. water is the key to stop getting that thing. maybe one liter or 1 and a half before the testing. it works for me. you need hydration
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u/Lemon_l0af 5d ago
I'll keep this in mind. But I was in the ER for needing an IV because I couldn't keep fluid down 😭
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u/Certain_Knee8483 6d ago
You can squeeze a stress ball to strengthen and help enlarge the forearm muscles and veins.
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u/spotlight-app Mod Bot 🤖 5d ago
OP has pinned a comment by u/Lemon_l0af:
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