Comments on: In Praise of Sleeves http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/ Mid-life crisis, motherhood and martinis Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:47:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JP http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-68690 JP Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:51:16 +0000 http://www.electricvenom.com/2007/02/21/in-praise-of-sleeves/#comment-68690 I've been lucky in the IV dept. The one time they stuck me in the wrist it was by a candy striper...She was the best...and cute too...maybe that had something to do with it? Any way...she got a huge needle (they pumped a liter of antiboitic laced saline solution in to me in under 15 minutes)in one try with next to no pain and not a bit of bruising. The last time was two in the arm that hurt a bit more but were not bad. I guess I stick easily. I’ve been lucky in the IV dept. The one time they stuck me in the wrist it was by a candy striper…She was the best…and cute too…maybe that had something to do with it?
Any way…she got a huge needle (they pumped a liter of antiboitic laced saline solution in to me in under 15 minutes)in one try with next to no pain and not a bit of bruising. The last time was two in the arm that hurt a bit more but were not bad. I guess I stick easily.

]]> By: Venomous Kate http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-68654 Venomous Kate Sat, 24 Feb 2007 02:58:25 +0000 http://www.electricvenom.com/2007/02/21/in-praise-of-sleeves/#comment-68654 I did the drinking water trick today before my doctor's appointment, knowing they were going to run more blood tests. Also pressed on the spot as hard as I could and held it over my head afterwards. It worked: you'd never know they'd drawn blood. Much, MUCH better than those bruises! I did the drinking water trick today before my doctor’s appointment, knowing they were going to run more blood tests. Also pressed on the spot as hard as I could and held it over my head afterwards.

It worked: you’d never know they’d drawn blood. Much, MUCH better than those bruises!

]]> By: Cousin Dave http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-68531 Cousin Dave Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:41:10 +0000 http://www.electricvenom.com/2007/02/21/in-praise-of-sleeves/#comment-68531 Good tips, Teresa. One other thing: try asking them if they will use a "butterfly" needle when they stick you. This type of needle is more accurate, but a lot of labs limit their use because they are more expensive. Good tips, Teresa. One other thing: try asking them if they will use a “butterfly” needle when they stick you. This type of needle is more accurate, but a lot of labs limit their use because they are more expensive.

]]> By: Teresa http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-68522 Teresa Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:51:58 +0000 http://www.electricvenom.com/2007/02/21/in-praise-of-sleeves/#comment-68522 They'll never listen to you, but you could try to tell the people putting the IV in that you have easily collapsing veins and could they use the smallest IV needle available. Plus they should be very very slow if they are injecting any meds. Most people inject way too fast because they don't have time to wait. Also, I KNOW they never ever put pressure on the spot long enough after poking about for a vein. (once again the time factor). I happen to bruise very easily - so whenever I get blood taken, after they've put the cotton on the site, I tell them, "I'll take over". I put lots of pressure on the needle site and raise my arm above my head. I try to hold it up there for at least 1 minute if not longer - I seldom have a bruise. That would work in your favor for blood tests although not so much for blown IV's. *sigh* They’ll never listen to you, but you could try to tell the people putting the IV in that you have easily collapsing veins and could they use the smallest IV needle available. Plus they should be very very slow if they are injecting any meds. Most people inject way too fast because they don’t have time to wait.

Also, I KNOW they never ever put pressure on the spot long enough after poking about for a vein. (once again the time factor). I happen to bruise very easily – so whenever I get blood taken, after they’ve put the cotton on the site, I tell them, “I’ll take over”. I put lots of pressure on the needle site and raise my arm above my head. I try to hold it up there for at least 1 minute if not longer – I seldom have a bruise. That would work in your favor for blood tests although not so much for blown IV’s. *sigh*

]]> By: Venomous Kate http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-68521 Venomous Kate Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:19:04 +0000 http://www.electricvenom.com/2007/02/21/in-praise-of-sleeves/#comment-68521 Thanks for the tip, Cousin Dave. I'm already a big water drinker -- close to 2 gallons a day most days -- but I'll be sure to time my liquid intake a bit better next time and see if it helps! Thanks for the tip, Cousin Dave. I’m already a big water drinker — close to 2 gallons a day most days — but I’ll be sure to time my liquid intake a bit better next time and see if it helps!

]]> By: Cousin Dave http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-68519 Cousin Dave Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:58:54 +0000 http://www.electricvenom.com/2007/02/21/in-praise-of-sleeves/#comment-68519 Kate: Good luck with your treatment. Being sick sucks, doesn't it? The next time you go to have an IV, try this. Your veins are very sensitive the amount of water you have drank within the past few hours. If you are just a bit dry, the veins will collapse and that makes it a lot harder to get the needle in. So a half-hour or so before your next IV, try drinking a big glass of water and see if that helps. Apologies if you already know this, or if it's not practical. But my DW is a med tech and a trained phlebotomist, and she tells me all the tricks. Kate: Good luck with your treatment. Being sick sucks, doesn’t it? The next time you go to have an IV, try this. Your veins are very sensitive the amount of water you have drank within the past few hours. If you are just a bit dry, the veins will collapse and that makes it a lot harder to get the needle in. So a half-hour or so before your next IV, try drinking a big glass of water and see if that helps. Apologies if you already know this, or if it’s not practical. But my DW is a med tech and a trained phlebotomist, and she tells me all the tricks.

]]> By: Venomous Kate http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-68517 Venomous Kate Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:49:22 +0000 http://www.electricvenom.com/2007/02/21/in-praise-of-sleeves/#comment-68517 Thanks for being gentle, Cristin! Thanks for being gentle, Cristin!

]]> By: Cristin http://www.electricvenom.com/my-venomous-life/in-praise-of-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-68516 Cristin Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:45:43 +0000 http://www.electricvenom.com/2007/02/21/in-praise-of-sleeves/#comment-68516 *give you a gentle hug* No, you don't know me. But I read you. :) *give you a gentle hug* No, you don’t know me. But I read you. :)

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