Did the same person poke you each time ?

Thick or heavy blood is from iron. Make sure you are hydrated, it does help thin the blood.

I want a port, my doc does not want me to have one. Said they are a lot of work, and great source of infection.

I drank tons of water before phlebs. The last two times it was the same person trying to get blood. The only successful person to get it done resigned.

My nurse suggested an 81mg aspirin the morning of my phleb in addition to the hydration. Do you know what size needle they use? They might be able to use a larger gauge (mine is a 20 but others use a 16 or 18).

Good luck!

Pat, I have a port-a-cath in my chest and it works great so far. It is called a Power Port with Groshong Catheter. It is under the skin. Once the incision is healed there would be very little chance of getting infection in it. However, If you have a PICC line in the upper arm there is a big chance of getting infection because it is outside the skin. My blood is very thick also, I have been on Coumedan to thin it.
Where do you get your Phlebs done at? I know you are close to me. Just curious.
Sandra

I asked my nurse Carol about ports, she said they are only used as a last resort. She said they are hard to bleed sometimes using syringe after syringe. Ask if someone else can try. Also was told a warm arm is better, just a thought.

Yes, understand that ports clog fairly regularly and need flushing out. They use them here as a last repost only as well. I'm a nightmare to bleed as well. Sometimes it takes hours. I drink and eat loads, and Ingrid (my phlebotomist), always puts one of those gel heat pad things on my are for 10 mins or so. Aspirin will help to thin the blood, but make sure you tell them you've taken it beforehand. Good luck!

I get my blood taken right out of the tube of the phlebotomy bag and that way they do not have to try and stick you twice. I just sarted using a new bag that has the port right in it just for that reason and it works great.

aspirin comment, i was told that people with hh should try and avoid aspirin, due to the harm it may cause with the liver.

Mike,
My neurologist suggested that I take 81mg due to the thickness of my blood which causes the heart to work harder to get the sludge pumping thru it. The hemotologist agreed when I told him.

Sandra,
I go to a phlebotomist at Carolina Cancer Care in Charlotte where my doctor is. I do have small veins that roll around on them. I've had three different people there to try. Only one was successful and she resigned. Maybe I should try the asprin. How many pills is 81 mgs? Does anyone know? I just want to get de-ironed!
Pat

you just take 1 81mg of asprin use the coated ones it won't hurt your stomach I take asprin daily because of a heart attack and because of it when I phelb I am done in 5 min or less. The asprin will deffinately thin your blood maybe take one the day before and 1 the day of that could be a solution to your problem instead of a port..

From what I have been told by my specialist asprin won't hurt your liver unless your liver is A) already damaged and B) your taking it with alchohol it is never a good idea to take any kind of asprin or tylenol, motrin any of the above with alcohol ...

Thanks Meechie. I'm going to give the asprin a try!
Pat

I had the same problem at the start, they went to a 16 gauge needle in the crook of my arm and that solved the problem. After a few phlebs, the blood thins and it gets easier.

I agree with Meechie, 1 81mg enteric coated aspirin and I take one each day. (I had been taking it the day before & the day of my phleb but it only made sense that my blood needed to be thinner all the time).

I had my phleb today and it took about 12 min and that was with a
20 gauge needle. I think a lot of people are using a 16 or 18 gauge.