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Something odd happened at my regular blood work!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/12/2008 11:42 AM (GMT -7)
I was due for my regular blood work (every 3 months). My GI just requested a CBC today so that meant only one vial. I went to a new place (close to hubby's work so he could watch the little one). Was in and out quickly...until I got to the parking lot. Blood was literally running down my arm. It was everywhere! I ran back to the lab and they cleaned me up and wrapped my arm super tight (boy was that comfy). Has that ever happened to you before? In all my years of blood work this was a first!
Posted 8/12/2008 11:49 AM (GMT -7)
Wow! I've never had that happen, except for one time I was in the hospital for a scope and the lady dropped the IV when she was trying to insert it and blood squirted out all over the bed. Maybe when they took the needle out and put the bandage on, the nurse didn't press down or bandage it tightly enough? Usually they pull the needle out, and have me hold a cotton ball on it for a minute while they put everything away and then they wrap me up. That must have been scary.
Posted 8/12/2008 12:41 PM (GMT -7)
I had that happen once and it was exactly what ediekristen said, they didn't apply pressure and the bandage they put on was loose. It was winter and I had a jacket on so I was on the way home when I felt my arm start sticking to the jacket and knew something was up, turned around and went back. I swear I was rinsing blood out of that jacket forever it seemed, good thing I know it takes only a little of blood in water to look like a lot or I'd have freaked big time. (o:
Posted 8/12/2008 5:47 PM (GMT -7)
What a freakout! Things can happen with phlebotomy, no question! My gastro says that they should always let you hold your arm out straight while applying pressure-- for at least several minutes before applying bandaid. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 8/12/2008 6:24 PM (GMT -7)
Yeah sounds like the plebotomist didn't put pressure on it long enough. Don't know if you take fish oil or not, but it does thin the blood. If my Remicade nurse misses a beat we'll both end up bloody after an infusion.
Posted 8/13/2008 4:16 AM (GMT -7)
That happened to Gma once. She was in the process of having radiation and afterwards she had to have her blood drawn. The lady didn't apply pressure properly and as we were walking down the hallway, I noticed that blood started dripping down her arm. Since then, even though she is not on radiation anymore, she still insists on double the bandaid. :)
Posted 8/13/2008 4:30 AM (GMT -7)
Now that I think about it...I don't even remember her putting pressure on it at all. She just put a band aide on immediately after. I have a latex allergy so I am always focused on making sure they have latex band aides. Next time I will 100% make sure to put pressure on it.

I have quite the bruise this morning on my arm!
Posted 8/13/2008 6:52 AM (GMT -7)
bruising is a sure sign of no pressure. The vein bled under your skin. If they haven't blown the vein when they went in and apply pressure for the correct amount of time you should have minimal to no bruising. That's how I know where they got me it's usually the one of several stick marks that didn't bruise. . .my poor hubby doesn't understand if all goes well there's less bruising . . . it's funny to watch him try and think through it.
Posted 8/27/2008 6:35 AM (GMT -7)

Tabitha After my bloodwork yesterday I had to dig this thread up because I thought you'd get a good laugh outta this one . ..I know I did! 

So I had 3 different scripts for bloods yesterday, one for the kidney doc and the other 2 were what are to be my bi-weekly draws for at least the next 6 months.  I go in and point out the 3 different ones and the lab tech goes over them to make sure she has it all correct as to what's going where as she enters it into the computer.  She was quite competent and had it all exactly correct. 

She counts out her 7 vials, loads up her little basket with all she's going to use and directs me over to the drawing chair.  As a side note, I've been getting bloods taken just before getting an IV so I've been used to seeing the tiny butterfly needles that they use to get the veins in the hand.  She pulls out the standard blood draw needle and compared to the butterfly it looked like an oil drilling pipe with a needle point on it . . .i mean this thing looked HUGE! 

She very adeptly gets the vein straight on first try with no fishing around and proceeds to quickly fill all 7 vials ..  .all is well right?  Well she pulls the needle out and holds the gauze there for about 3 seconds then pulls it away and looks at my arm starting to bleed (quickly I might add) and announces in a surprised voice "Oh you are bleeding!"

I swear the thought that was running through my head was "Well of course I'm bleeding you fool!  You just stuck an oil drilling pipe up my arm!!!"   shocked What actually came out of my mouth was censored down to "Yeah that happens sometimes when you poke a vein full of blood"  smilewinkgrin

I did actually make it out of the lab and into the stairwell before laughing hysterically! 

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