Difficulty with blood draw - Lupus Message Board

enigma3 · 02-10-2007, 02:37 PM

Hi everyone,

I am sort of concerned lately about my health, but it is probably just my paranoia setting in again temporarily, since I seem to have been trying to fight off a mild flu bug (again.. it seems to happen frequently since I work in a hospital).

Anyway, my question is, have any of you had problems with someone being able to draw blood when you are at a lab? I had to get it drawn yesterday for my primary care doc., and the guy who tried to draw it couldn't get anything to come out when he tried it the first time. And then when he tried the other arm, it finally came out but was slow at first.. I asked him if that happens very often with people, and he said no. That is what freaked me out, because I thought it was not that uncommon. I had it happen a few times actually a few years ago, when I was in the hospital for losing a lot of blood from a surgery (long story). Whenever they tried to draw my blood, it was really difficult. And even awhile after I had been out of the hospital (and still somewhat anemic), it was difficult for one of the phlebotomists.

Anyway, I am hoping maybe this is something other people truly do experience some of the time, and I am even wondering if this might have anything to do with the body being a little under the weather? Or possibly is it related to having the autoimmune problems? I definitely wasn't feeling terrific yesterday (when I got the blood drawn), and besides feeing like I had a mild flu bug, I hadn't had nearly enough sleep the night before..

Thanks to any of you who can shed some light on this for me, it is greatly appreciated!!

NHCasey · 02-10-2007, 03:26 PM

You're not alone. I've always been difficult to get blood from. I've been sent from one place to another to have someone else try. I've found that using the baby needles helps, and drinking a ton of water before I go. Try it, and good luck.

Baybreeze · 02-11-2007, 07:45 AM

I also have problems when labs, docs, or hospital tries to draw blood from me but I have no idea if it's lupus related. My sister, on the other hand, also has problems getting blood or finding veins, but she is diabetic and there is a correlation with that. Many many yrs ago I went to a derm and due to the med I was taking, i had to have blood tests done constantly. I always came outta there with 4 needle marks...they try one wrist, then the other, then the underside of the elbow area, then the other...Or other labs I'll have to sit there forever pumping my hands and they push around on my veins forever. No where ever seems to get it in one try, though.

gunner00 · 02-11-2007, 03:19 PM

I have been searching these boards for anything that may be similar to situations I have experienced. Wow, didn't realize that this was a common problem.

In high school I became sick and very dehydrated. Was hospitalized they spent over an hour sticking me to get an IV in place. It was horrible and they said it was because of the dehydration.
In college I was hospitalized again with the chicken pox (all internal -throat, stomach, ect). They dug around in my arms trying to get a vein. They blamed it on me being so sick/lack of fluids.

Since then when ever I get my blood drawn they have difficulty. My veins feel good and they never believe that it will be difficult to get a sample. Then they stick me and its like rubber. My veins bounce away. They usually need to use baby needles, stick me several times, and occasionally the draw is very slow. Drinking additional water does nothing to help the situation.

What makes this really interesting to me is that I have recently undergone blood test to determine what is causing my chronic fatige and pain that I have experienced for over 3 years. My first tests showed positive for possible lupus antibodies. I was taking doxicyclin for acne at the time so the doctor thought drug induced lupus. Been off the drug for over a year and recent test have show positive centromere antibody. Doctor has had a wait and see approach. I have trying different meds and they have failed to help. He has been leaning toward fibromyalgia because he feels my physical symtoms/exams don't match my blood work results.

I am not convinced that it is FM and have been searching to find answers.

NHCasey · 02-11-2007, 04:03 PM

Guess it's happening to more than me, lol. However, the lab told me to drink the extra water and I really load up, day before, day of and combining the baby needle...knock wood, I haven't had any issues since. It's easy to try.