Vampire Question

[jmjm530]

For those of you who have frequent blood tests and/or worn veins...

Are their alternate veins the blood technician can use other than the main ones in the crook of the arm? How about smaller needles? Or smaller tubes so they don't have to take as much blood? I ask this because my two main veins in the words of the technician "feel a little hard" and a couple of times had to stick me twice. Probably calloused from too much testing over the years.

-- Jim

[Forseegood]

Thanks for the thoughtful explanation, you didn't mention less pain? big selling point for me.  I'm all for them getting all blood products from sticking your finger. In fact, I'm such a wus about drawing blood, that I go to the local pharmacy that has this outfit there once a month who take readings from your finger. They keep adding more and more tests, they are up to doing a glucose, a cholesterol panel, alt and ast, etc. Anyway, I can dream.

[GoofyDad]

The butterfly is just a smaller gauge needle. It has a thin 10" tube attached to the non-business end of the needle. The tube delivers the blood to the vials. The handle, as it were, is made up of two opposing flaps of plastic on either side of the needle apperatus. These are like the wings of a small butterfly (moth may be more appropriate). From the looks of things, one advantage is the needle can be laid flatter against the skin during insertion, making for a better angle of entry.

Try this visual. Take a largish moth. Add a really long needle-like snout. Remove his legs and stick a long thin tube up his butt. There you have it.

[Forseegood]

Just wanted to thank you all for this thread and Jim for coming up with it. I had a real traumatic (well, it was traumatic for me anyway) incident happen in taking my blood and now I'm nearly phobic about having it taken. If I even get even a whiff that it's some rookie going to take it and they are nervous or something because I'm nervous (a contact high so to speak) I have no problem getting a little salty about it and demanding that I get an experienced health worker, even if I get some "looks." I guess those Quest labs are all over the place. This butterfly thing sounds like a real option for me. If someone could, could you give me more details about it? I'm a little punchy today.

[Forseegood]

just wanted to say that a study came out recently from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) no less, that glucosamine&chondrointin is just as good as that very dodgy drug "Celebrex" in helping with the pain of knee injury from arthritis. They are finally doing some studies on these supplements! I'd post the study but I don't want to run afoul.

[jmjm530]

I'm guessing going to the hosp for Procrit is an insurance issue, nothing more.

They used a butterfly on me today in one of my smaller veins. The phlebotomist (sp?) did say, however, that if you draw over three tubes there is a chance of the sample hemotolizing with the smaller needle since the blood comes out slower. Anyway, she drew five tubes with the smaller needle and seemed satisfied. Thank you everyone for all the advice on the butterfly needle and alternate draw sites. What I found was that they will use the smaller needle and other veins but you have to be somewhat assertive or they'll just take the easy route.

[dendel]

A couple of weeks ago it was 9.6  They made me stop one pill.
On Monday it was 10.1.  I have Financial Aid I pay nothing.
Truthfully I have been feeling worse each day.  I am not a
Happy Camper.  But I am sure alot of everyone here feels the
same.  Have a good day.   Adele