Blood test aftermath

[V8A*ndy]

Should really get a pic of this up but my arm looks like i've been bitten by a Zombie after a blood test last Weds.

I have a lump around were the needle went in and dark purple bruising all the way down to my wrist. Pins and needles sensation in my fingers and pain in my upper arm.

Phoned a doc today and was told it was just some bleeding under the skin and swelling was compressing the nerve all very normal and not to worry.

But holy feck it looks terrible and is getting worse after 4 days now.

After I had the samples taken the nurse apologised for hurting me (it didn't really hurt at all????) and that she should have used a smaller needle.

I'm confused now have they fecked up?

[Lois]

Sometimes you have to ferrit around as the vein can move as you go in. That can cause more trauma and bruising.
Also, the common reaction after blood tests is to bend your arm to stem the flow, but this also causes more trauma to the vein.

I had horrendous bruising after several failed attempts to get arterial blood from my wrists and quite bad pain after in my fingers. That lasted just over a week but all is fine now so don't worry.

[The_Doc]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Not if you know what you're doing. Pretty poor technique if you're 'ferrit-ing'

[Lois]

I know, phlebotomy has always been a strong point of mine, but despite me having great veins that you can see and feel well, nurses always "ferrit".

[shirt]

I've had this with an inexperienced nurse, but it was very apparent something was amiss after giving the sample. she used a lot! of pressure to push the lump back down. it was fine after but the next day my arm looked like I'd been mauled.

[davhill]

Anything like this?



During spine op No.1, somebody made the mistake of putting the BP cuff on the arm that had been used for blood samples the night before. Looked horrendous but didn't really hurt.

[shirt]

yup, that but all over my arm. as you say it didn't hurt, but wasn't pretty

[grumbledoak]

V8A*ndy said:

I'm confused now have they fecked up?

Quite badly, by the sound of it. I'd be tempted to get it looked at.

[davhill]

shirt said:

yup, that but all over my arm. as you say it didn't hurt, but wasn't pretty

Well, someone mentioned suing for actual bodily harm but the NHS staff had worked on my back for 90 mins...and I'm not such an ingrate.

In any case, it went away

[mybrainhurts]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

May I just, err.....

[V8A*ndy]

grumbledoak said:

V8A*ndy said:

I'm confused now have they fecked up?

Quite badly, by the sound of it. I'd be tempted to get it looked at.

Well i'm going in the morning hopefully to get it looked at. It's getting worse and I have pain around the bruising and down to my thumb. My hand is also very numb.

What's the odds I get fobbed off?

[grumbledoak]

V8A*ndy said:

What's the odds I get fobbed off?

You won't be fobbed off. I'm more worried that you'll be stuck straight in an Ambulance.

Why the Hell did you wait another day?

[sonic_2k_uk]

mybrainhurts said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

May I just, err.....

+1

Is it possible the vein is still "leaking" under the skin?

Let us know how you get on OP

[V8A*ndy]

Update.

Well I seen a Doc the other day and was told it would settle down though it was rather nasty looking.

However. Today I have more and new bruising about 4 inches above my wrist around the veins?????????

Will be making another call in the morning. Still have numbness in my hand and pain below my elbow.

Really pissed off about this now.