Blood Tests - Buttefly Needles

[RolliePollie]

Rollie, I could have written your original post. I always have trouble with blood draws, although no one has ever mentioned using butterflies. I will never forget when I was in labor with my daughter and the nurse was trying to find a vein so they could give me an epidural. She tried 4 times and the vein kept disappearing. I finally told her to stick the damn thing in my neck if she had to. They ended up having to go for a vein in my hand. Its a real bummer because I have O neg blood and they always tell me I should donate because I am a universal donor. If blood draws weren't so hard, I would happily do it.

Wow, so we're kindred spirits in the blood draw department! I hope you can try a Butterfly the next time you have to have blood taken. I also have O- blood and I'm CMV negative (cytomegalo virus...not sure on the spelling) so I can donate to preemie babies. I too would happily become a blood donor again if there was an easier way to get blood out of me!

[jobob]

Gah, the blood center called me yesterday asking for blood (O+).

I'm always a "challenge" for them. Oh well. Beggars can't be choosers

What Knott said works well for me - drinking lots of water beforehand. At least then they have a better shot at my veins.

I'll also try the jogging trick, thanks.

[mayanorange]

I'm a certified phlebotomist, though I don't do it much. I trained with the ladies in the lab who just stick people for 8 hrs a day. Some of them for some reason get ornery with patients they can't stick like everybody else- and some of them are really good and don't need butterflies even for rolly veins. Some are just ornery because they have to stick people 8hrs a day (not a very appreciated job!) But if you request it, we would do that. There are pluses and minuses to both types of needle- butterflies aren't as long, so if it's truly a deep vein, they might not reach. They also require a bit more coordination. I think the main reason they hurt less is the needle itself it a higher gauge (lower diameter) than standard vacutainer needles.

Best advice is like Knot said- drink lots of water! After my training, I'll look at the veins in the backs of my hands sometimes any they're just shriveled! No way a phlebotomist can get blood if someones that dehydrated. Best to stack the deck in your favor.

Phlebotomists are people- sometimes we miss and we hate when that happens about as much as you do, but it's our job to get the blood and try not to waste too much of your time doing it. And I have been on the receiving end of a horrible phlebotomist when I was really little and didn't understand, so I hate having it done too. I think it makes me better at doing it as painless as possible because I know how much it sucks when it goes wrong.

[copperlegend]

Anytime I've had blood taken I do the same. I've only ever heard "oh wow your veins are teeny!" or "wow, you were right, your veins do NOT like to get poked!" or something like that. They've never given me attitude or been snarky.

I'm sure my usual "oh WOW you made that look so easy and painless, much better than that one horrible time, thank you so much!" doesn't hurt either. My mom's a retired nurse, and I've learned throughout the years that it doesn't hurt to lay on the sweetness real thick.

[lo123]

Some phlebotomists just don't like to have any requests thrown at them. And some just don't like not getting blood on X number of draws. My PCP's phlebotomist refuses to draw my blood because she's never gotten a full tube successfully within her self imposed 2 tries limit.

On the other hand, I've been spoiled by infusion nurses.. they're the best . They can find ANY vein, but even they need to stick multiple times on occasion. And the heating pad/hot pack trick is awesome.

From what they've told me, some people need the butterfly. Others don't. Some, like me don't do well with vacutainers connected directly--causes the vein to contract and quit giving blood. Seems most phlebotomists connect straight to the vacutainer because it's faster and less waste, so they think my veins just don't "give".

[Biciclista]

the reason butterflies don't hurt as much is because when you change from one vial to the next, you are not yanking on the needle, you're yanking on a flexible tube. That's why they're so great! (for me)

[mayanorange]

Some phlebotomists just don't like to have any requests thrown at them. And some just don't like not getting blood on X number of draws. My PCP's phlebotomist refuses to draw my blood because she's never gotten a full tube successfully within her self imposed 2 tries limit.

This is actually a standard procedure to protect the patients from undue harm. Not sure if it's law, but we all follow this guideline.

[crazycanuck]

What are butterfly needles???

[txred9876]

What are butterfly needles???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_needle

[lo123]

This is actually a standard procedure to protect the patients from undue harm. Not sure if it's law, but we all follow this guideline.

Definitely not law... when I was in the hospital last year, I had one nurse try 4 times before calling in someone else. My mom was stuck 9 times recently...

Most phlebotomists/nurses I've had will either try 3 times or 2 and have someone else try the third. Was at my GP's office yesterday and she has a new phlebotomist--yay! the old one refused to even try last time I was there. Said she wouldn't try and that I had to go to the hospital (30 minutes away) to get blood work done.

[mayanorange]

Most phlebotomists/nurses I've had will either try 3 times or 2 and have someone else try the third. Was at my GP's office yesterday and she has a new phlebotomist--yay! the old one refused to even try last time I was there. Said she wouldn't try and that I had to go to the hospital (30 minutes away) to get blood work done.

Maybe that's why they have a new phlebotomist?

9 times is a bit much- I have done 3 before, but it's usually try both arms, then resort to an obvious one on a hand.

[Jolt]

Definitely not law... when I was in the hospital last year, I had one nurse try 4 times before calling in someone else. My mom was stuck 9 times recently...

Most phlebotomists/nurses I've had will either try 3 times or 2 and have someone else try the third. Was at my GP's office yesterday and she has a new phlebotomist--yay! the old one refused to even try last time I was there. Said she wouldn't try and that I had to go to the hospital (30 minutes away) to get blood work done.

My rule for IVs is three tries--if I don't get it in by the third stick, it's time to get someone else. I think that's pretty standard--not law, but a generally accepted guideline to avoid making our patients feel too much like human pincushions.