I have a shame

[cleolinda]

So I had to go to the DMV to renew my driver's license today, except that it's not a driver's license, it's a driver's permit (it looks exactly the same, except there are two "exception" codes on the back. A: Corrective lenses and Y: Not a license. Oh. You know. That), because I can't drive, because I get panic attacks, because I'm a neurotic loser

Comments

[randomdiversion]

When you go for the blood test, tell them that nobody can ever find your veins (though you don't use iv drugs) and beg them to please please use ultrasound to find out where to put the needle.

If you can convince them to do it this way (not every phlebotomist has the training) it should go much easier for you.

[musikologie]

I've never heard of a lab that has ultrasound (may be a regional thing), but you can ask them to use the smaller butterfly needles. They're less likely to bruise, too.

[randomdiversion]

Ultrasound gets more use in an ER on super-fat people & people who have low blood volume (dehydrated or bled a lot) & therefore hard-to-find veins.

Doesn't hurt to ask though. Or beg.

[musikologie]

Ah, maybe that's it -- I always get my blood drawn at my doctor's/walk-in and not a hospital, so there's not a lot of extra equipment there.

I agree about the asking, though! Anything that makes the process easier.

[fiveforsilver]

I was specifically told by a nurse that being fat had nothing to do with veins being hard to find, on some people they're just hard to find. The back of my hands tend to be the easiest, which is fine for drawing blood but is a bitch for IVs.

[randomdiversion]

I have drawn blood before and it is more difficult to find veins on a moderately fat person.

[sarapada]

I second the butterfly needle.

Sarah, who once had a nurse tell her she had "small, spindly veins".

[jessimuhka]

OMG, I had to get 8 vials of blood drawn once and they wound up having to use a butterfly needle in the back of my hand, because it was the only thing that would work and it took FOREVER. And I can't donate blood because no one has ever managed to get a whole pint out of me in the time frame required (I guess before the blood from the beginning goes bad), which is frustrating because I'm O+ and I have useful blood and I just want to help.

[fiveforsilver]

I was getting blood drawn for lab tests once and I said something about wanting to donate blood and the guy looked at me and said "Don't. Just don't. Find another way to be charitable."

So I totally hear you.

[sistercoyote]

I have really, really good veins. My sister, however, has terrible veins, and always requests a butterfly needle and the backs of her hands. Some will do it, some will fuss about it, but it can't hurt to ask.

I'm fine with blood, I'm fine with the needle once it's in my arm, but I cannot watch the moment of puncture.

[greedyskunk]

"I'm fine with blood, I'm fine with the needle once it's in my arm, but I cannot watch the moment of puncture."

I'm with you on that. I stare at the ceiling and go to my happy place. I also tend to hum.

[spellcoats]

Thirding this and also suggesting Cleo specifically make a fuss about getting the best damn needle nurse in the joint to take the labs.

[stinalotta]

God yes, so important!

I have really bad veins too (once they actually drew blood from the inner veins on my wrist which hurts SO MUCH) and sometimes, you can see that the person who is about to draw blood is just a beginner so by now I just tell them: You have one try and if you can't do it then get me someone who actually knows how to do this.

[eregyrn]

Possibly, request that they use the back of the hand.

They can never find my veins either. Oh, the horror stories I could tell about when they have tried. (I used to be a regular blood donor, really I was. I got my gallon pin and everything, back in the day.)

This summer, I had to have an IV twice within about a month. The first time there was the usual test-drilling in either arm at the elbow before they just settled on the back of my right hand. (I am right-handed.)

The second time, when I arrived (nurse: "Oh, I remember you! Here's your old bed...": that is never a good sign, I feel), I just said to the one who arrived to put in the IV, "look, we went through this a month ago, use the back of the hand, and for the sake of balance let's use the left this time". And it worked like a charm.

And that was (both times) when I was *very* dehydrated (because the whole reason for the IVs was to rehydrate me because I couldn't keep anything down).