A first for me - has anyone else had this?

[Grumpy-1]

the PD clinic nurses have a heck of time sticking me for labs.  This trip they tried 4 times in the arm and hand but no luck.  SO - they headed for my feet.  Nice big veins there.  BUT hurt like H....  Has anyone else had blood drawn from their feet?

[Joe]

I've had issues with drawing from my arm once or twice, but they have always been able to get their draw from my hand. Never had to go to the feet, at least not yet!

[willowtreewren]

OUCH!!!!!

I'm so sorry.

Aleta

[MooseMom]

OMG, no!  That sounds barbaric!!

[big777bill]

 I never had a blood draw in my feet but I'm very hard to get a IV started. The last time I was in the hospital my first IV blew and they couldn't start another one. Some brilliant Dr decides to send 2 interns to try to get one started in my foot. As soon as they stuck me I knew it missed. I guess the interns didn't believe me and kept trying to make it work. I'm usually a pretty easy going guy(gentle giant 6ft3in., 260lbs) but I sent those two running out of my room! The nurses on duty all came in to see what the fuss was about, lol. One of the two was supposed to go over my discharge papers with me. He left them at the nurses station for them to take care of it. I guess he was afraid I'd start shouting at him again.

[kitkatz]

When I had my graft removed they put an IV in my foot during surgery.  It was the ONLY place they could get one and they left it alone the entire week I was in house.

[Annig83]

Grumpy- I dread blood draw day... which is tomorrow! BLAH!  I have the same problem!  When I was getting my catheter placed, they stuck me over 12 times trying to get an IV in for surgery and anethesia.  Yes, they tried my feet, and I feel your pain OUCH!!!!  I have very small veins...always have and I blame my Dad entirely because he has a hard time getting stuck as well....my Mom?  NO PROBLEMS AT ALL!  She can donate a pint of blood and it takes less than a minute!

Anyway, I do have one good vein in my left hand, and I never allow anyone to go anywhere else because I know it's the good one.  If a tech or nurse makes a fuss about using it, I ask for someone else.  During that surgery they tried 12 times because I had just had blood drawn from that hand and the vein was sore... I finally told them to stop hunting and just use it... the nurse got it on the first try.

Also I have been told that if you tell a nurse or tech where to go, they appreciate it because it's a shorter amount of time they have to spend hunting, and less pokes for you.
Are you fluid restricted?  I am not.  If you are not as well, try drinking a couple glasses of water before your appointment for the draw, it plumps the veins and makes them come to the surface faster... also ask if they have a heating pad, or even a rubber glove filled with warm water.  This too draws the veins to the surface.  Make sure you avoid any salt the night before and day of the poke, obviously salt dehydrates you and can make the veins "hide".

Good luck with your next poke!    Let us know how it goes!

[Jean]

Oh, OUCH!!!! That has to hurt., Sorry you are going through this.

[galvo]

If they came near my feet, I'd kick 'em!

[Whamo]

Gnarly.   

[Grumpy-1]

galvo    That is the same for me.  I've been known to kick the kids across the room when they thought it was fun to tickle daddy's foot.   

So to get the blood drawn, it took 2 nurses.  1 holding my foot VERY firmly on the stool and the other to make the stick.  I must say they did a great job.  That is not to say it didn't hurt - IT DID.   After it was done, I was glad to think that I had a month to wait until the next blood draw. No luck - got a call yesterday. Need to go back in on Monday to re-due.  For some reason my KT/V was low and they want to retest. So collecting PD drain bags this weekend and stuck on Monday.   Not sure if I'll ask for a try or two in the arm/hand or just bite the bullet and go for the foot again.

[MomoMcSleepy]

I've had IVs I'm my foot.  Also, one time I was in the ER and they started an IV, but then couldn't get a blood draw from the other side. They had already infused an anti-nausea medication and it  made me really jumpy and twitchy, so after a bunch of pokes in my arms and feet, he actually gave up.  I felt guilty, but I couldn't help it.  The nurse probably pushed the iv med too fast, that can cause that reaction, of that ever happens to you. I want to say it was fenergen (sp?) but might have been zofran.

Anyway, yes, ouchies!

[*kana*]

I have terrible veins and I have pleaded for them to poke my feet and they told me it was against the rules.  Not sure who you have service with but Fresenius has rules against that.  If you are diabetic, not sure if you are, it is dangerous for you to be poked there.  When I am in the hospital that is where I ask them to put the IV.  Yeah, it hurts worse but it is 1 poke and then done. 

[deniferfer]

They also have a hard time finding my veins. Most of the time they are too small, blow, or roll. I'm also VERY pain sensitive and I don't do well if they keep having to poke me. Most nurses will try twice with me and then go find a better nurse.  They have never tried my feet probably cuz they know I will kick and scream if they do! 

But I have heard of them use the feet to draw blood on preemies. They had to do that with my sister, she was only 3lbs at birth.

[Grumpy-1]

kana - yes I'm with Fresenius, but I'm glad the ladies are willing to work with me.  While the pain in the foot is worse than the arm and hand, I still would only like to be poked once, so if the foot works - there is where it will be. 

deniferfer - I have a preemie grandson came to this world about 3 months early - weighed in at 1lb 2oz.  Unfortunately his twin sister didn't survived but only 2 weeks.   Yes he was poked almost everywhere I could think of and has had NUMBEROUS surgeries from heart, lungs, eyes.  BUT now is doing GREAT!   Still behind the learning curve for his age, but is catching up daily.

Grumpy

[Lillupie]

If you think the foot is bad, then try the groin. I have heard of people getting poked in the groin. I personally have never had to be poked in the foot. But...an ex of mine did and I saw it. He wasnt on dialysis but has digentative (sp?) Disc Disease. I personally could not see getting poked in the foot, then again, better then the groin.

Lisa

[Grumpy-1]

Lisa - I agree - stay away from my groin.  I'll take the foot over that any day.  I do know they use the upper inside of the leg near the groin to do heart stints and balloons.  This might not be too bad...

[gothiclovemonkey]

the last two surgeries i had an IV in my big toe...
and when i had my son in 04 (this was 3years  before D) , they stuck me over 30 times before deciding to but a line in my neck...