Giving blood is a great thing to do. Donating your healthy blood to blood banks is terrific. When I was in college I started donating blood. I learned then that my veins are not very cooperative. They look good but they roll away from the needle.
Fast forward a few decades and my veins were tested to their limit with chemotherapy. I chose not to have a port inserted because that part of the whole cancer treatment regime was what freaked me out. Subsequently my chemo had to be administered into my veins in my arm. Because of my breast cancer surgeries only one arm could be used. The chemo drugs are very toxic. The nurses who administer wear heavy gloves, and yet this poison went into my veins. My veins did not like it. They rolled, collapsed, burst and generally made life difficult.
As a result of my treatments, the only place that I can get blood out of my body for a blood test is from my hand. It hurts a bit and the top of my hand is all scarred from my many blood tests as a cancer survivor. My doctor went so far as to recommend I wear a medical alert bracelet! I just can’t bring myself to wear a bracelet that says, “Veins Suck, Use Right Hand” or “Veins Shot, Administer in Right Hand Only”.
Last week I went for my yearly visit to my oncologist. Before the visit blood is taken. A good friend of mine had breast cancer a year after my diagnosis. We go to the same oncologist and now we schedule our appointments following each other and then go out to celebrate another year of cancer free living. She has her appointment first because her veins are not shot and her time in the lab is brief.
I don’t think there is note on my chart about my veins but let’s just say I never get the new oncology tech for the blood draw. I still tell them what size needle to use, which hand, which I make certain is warm, and I already drank about a gallon of water before the visit, all to have a timely and successful blood draw.
Anyone else with uncooperative veins?
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Hi Haralee. Boy do I know what you mean. I did have a port installed, but it was not done properly. So I went through all my chemos with them having trouble accessing the port. I was green and didn't know better, then I had my fill of it all. When they sent me to have blood drawn from my right arm. ( I also had surgery on my left side). By the time they finished digging, looking for blood, I was ready to kill. It hurt so bad, I was shaking all over. I had no veins to get blood from. At that point, I made up my mind, I will not do that one more time and I will have my port redone, or they would never get rid of me. They did redo finally after they acknowledged that it was put in wrong the first time. I have never had another problem. A port is a Godsend. Now I only have to have it flushed every 6-7 weeks. No pain. I will keep that port as long as I live. I am 66 yrs old, so chances are, that will not be a problem. I feel for you. I also, with no hesitation, will be getting a medical ID bracelet. If you can still get a port, don't be afraid, just look at one and talk to someone that has one. I wouldn't change that, now that it works. Don't be afraid. Keep up the healthy checkup. I just had my first 6 month checkup last week and all is good. Here's to you and all our sisters.
February 5, 2015 - 8:26pmThis Comment
Hello Haralee,
I do!
There was a time when the veins on my hands popped right at you, plump and visible, a phleobotomist's dream. Then chemo. Not once, but twice. A toxic cocktail of three drugs for brain cancer to be followed by a mix of two potent poisons to treat breast cancer.
Like you, only one arm can be used for IVs and blood drawing. My go to vein is the left antecubital vein, okay for blood drawing and short term IV line for administering contrast for PET scans and MRI. but not the option for an IV line during surgery.
My last chemotherapy was just about one year ago. The veins are starting to come back.
Talk about pain with having blood drawn from the veins on your hand, ever have blood drawn from the tiny veins in between your fingers? Oh Yeah!!
Regards,
January 26, 2015 - 9:25amMaryann
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