Running out of veins....

HI nightingale19,

My elbow veins have always been used for the cannula in all my scans and blood tests.  They don't seem to be bothered about any bruising from previous insertions.  In fact when I asked whether they would use the other arm the phlebotomist laughed and said " Why would you want a bruise on both arms?"

You should be OK for the MRI in your arm rather than your hand .

Hi nightingale,

I was full of bruises after all the blood tests, cannulas, and injections after the operation. I kind of gave up with how I looked!! It all healed up eventually.

I have to have a yearly blood test and whoever I see they always have trouble finding a vein. Apparently I have tiny veins!! Quite often they  try one arm, then go to the other, and I end up with a plaster on each arm for 2 tubefuls!! XXXXX

These days I don't get many compliments so I was quite taken aback to be told I had "nice" veins.   So at least the vampires like me!! .

I still get bruises though.

Hi nightingale, 

they always struggle to get a vein from me but they always manage, I've had cannulas in my hand, on the corner of my wrist, on my arm. When they have trouble they usually get a good phlebotomist or an anaesthetist. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I bruise every time they put one in or take bloods.

xxx

Hi Nightingale

Sorry I sore your post and popped across to add to it.

Sorry you are having trouble with your veins. Mine were a pain before treatment and are pretty rubbish now. I am told they will improve. I have had lines in all sorts of places. Hands, elbows, side of the elbow the wrist and even the foot!

I progressed from nurses, to chemotherapy nurses with heat pads and vein finders, phlebotomists to anaesthetist with ultrasounds and when they were all missing I was encouraged to get a portacath fitted. Some have picc lines. 

The sore feeling may well of been the vein tissuing and it really is sore when that happens and like you I come up with huge bruises. It's not fun.

Speak to your team and see what they suggest going forward.

After many MRI and Ct scans  with contrast dyes, and GA's  none of which were Cancer related but spine and Hips I never had a bruise. Until  my hysterectomy, my goodness my arm was so bruised, so much so that the day after the Nurse and Doctor both commented . It is to do with the skill of who is taking the blood, or inserting the canula I'm afraid. When the trainee doctor put in the canula for my GA I said straight away, well you haven't done that right have you ? He just looked at me panic stricken ! I said just put me to sleep please. When a nurse did my chemo she missed my vein and went into the soft tissue surrounding it, it hurt like hell. But the good thing is within a week or so they healed ! I only ever trust someone who gets it right first time and its usually someone highly skilled to be honest. I wouldn't let a doctor near me  they don't do it often enough ! But then again I suppose they have to practice and learn.

LC

When I had the GA for my day surgery, they rubbed some pain killing gel in the back of my hand.  I asked if I could have some yesterday and was told it is only available in operating theatres.