Veins - making them stand out more for a cannula

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Has anyone been successful with improving the presentation of their veins to make them stand out more, in the hand, to get a cannula to go in first time?

Like:

1/ warm my hands up before I leave eg by placing in warm water. Wear gloves?

2/ get the blood circulation going by being active?

I'm on immunotherapy, not chemo, but it took 2 attempts yesterday. I think it's because I'm always cold since all this started. I don't think we're at the stage of a permanent line.

KTatHome over 3 years ago

Hi Mmum, I was on immunotherapy Pembrolizumab I had 57 doses and I’d say 50% of the time they didn’t get it in first time with me. The hands are the most painful place for them to put the cannula and with immunotherapy they can go in the arms which is much easier if you are wearing the right tops for them to do it.They do have a machine to see the veins if they have trouble to, or put heat packs on your skin, and asking you to be hydrated when you go in there. It takes me an hour to get to the hospital and I can make sure I drink enough and keep warm and still somepeople have the knack and others don’t, and when it’s a teaching hospital the second person will get it in first time where as the first one might fail twice. Thankfully it’s just scans every 3 months that I have cannulas now, for blood tests one lady told me to always ask staff to use a small needle.

Take care KT