Today, I had to go to the hospital to get blood taken. The nurse mentioned how pronounced and easy to see my veins are. I guess that explains why she missed five times in a row. I'm surprised my arm doesn't look like a heroin addict's right now. FML
Collection
Autumn: Leaves and Laughter
When the leaves fall, the laughter rises. Discover autumn stories as crisp as dried leaves!
Same thing different taste
Today, I went to the blood bank to donate plasma. All went well until the machine went to return my red blood cells. It turns out the nurse sliced my vein and the blood built up in my tissues. I now have a massive swollen arm and bruising, and look like a junkie. FML
Today, I went to get my blood drawn to see how far along I am pregnant. The lady stuck both my arms twice and then busted a vein in my right arm. She told me to come back tomorrow to try again. FML
Today, I donated blood for the first time, and all the nurses kept complimenting on how good my veins were. That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me in the past 2 months. FML
Today, my nurse girlfriend told me she's more attracted to the veins in my arm than any other part of me. FML
Today, I decided to give blood for the second time. I felt excrutiating pain when she stuck the needle in my arm. Another nurse came running over in a panic. Apparently my inexperienced nurse had put it in my tendon instead of my vein. FML
Today, I needed to get blood drawn. Apparently, my veins are too thin and no blood would flow into the tube. I'm afraid of needles, and was just poked with some unsuccessfully, and I have to go back next week to try again. FML
Today, I got my annual blood test. The nurse was inexperienced and it took her several tries to insert the needle properly. When I get back home, my fiancé starts yelling at me and storms out. The reason? I am a recovering drug addict and my arm appeared as if I had been shooting up. FML
Today, I went to a blood drive. The nurse taking my blood mentioned that she'd been called in on her day off, and she swore she wasn't drunk. I didn't know what to do, so I just smiled and blinked back tears as she savaged the vein in my arm. FML
Classic mistake
Today, as a nursing student, I needed to take a blood sample from someone and the veins on his arms weren't really easy to draw blood from. I asked him, "Can I please look at your legs?" It turns out he was amputated. FML
Today, I went for bloodwork. It's routine for me, so I was ready for the nurse to put in the needle and take my blood. It went in fine, but right after, she slowly pulled the needle out, then wondered why the blood stopped. She then moved it back and forth in my arm while I panicked silently. FML
Top comments
howsthisforaname 34
I'm needle phobic. If they don't hit the vein on the first try I demand a different nurse.
kdm_km1 19
Maybe she needlealittle practice.
Add a comment · Reply to
You must be logged in to be able to post comments!
Comments (80)
howsthisforaname 34
I'm needle phobic. If they don't hit the vein on the first try I demand a different nurse.
Garrison21 11
My blood type is I-B-+, as in I be positive they ain't touching me with no needles
TheKingKen 22
Bruce Almighty reference, #8.. ok then
sweetbliss3 37
as someone who draws blood on a daily basis, I have a 2 stick rule. if I don't get it either time, I send them somewhere else. that's b.s. they stuck you 5 times.
LibertyLife20 20
Where I live they only have two chances and if they mess up another nurse has to take over!
htownpostman 16
Isn't there a 3x rule? After 3rd try they have to hand off?
wellthen7154 12
#41, that's what I thought, too. My friend had blood drawn and the nurse tried and actually went through her vein. After three times, she said she had to take my friend to a blood doctor to do it. 5 times is complete crap, they should've referred you elsewhere after the third.
dragonkisses28 25
Just because they're easy to see doesn't mean they're easy to hit. Some of those very pronounced veins roll away from the needle as soon as it is inserted into the skin. I almost always have to be stuck more than once. Nurses are not phlebotomists. Many of them go by sight when sticking someone, meaning if they can't see it, they can't hit it. I have a one stick rule as a nurse. If you've already been stuck several times before they come to get me, they've probably ruined anything that might have been worth hitting. As a patient, I'll give a nurse 3 shots before I tell them to give me the needle and do it myself. Sorry that your experience was a bad one, OP. As a patient, you need to remember that you can tell them to stop at any time. You can refuse any treatment.
ballerinaaub 17
When I was in hospital I was poked 23 times. Yes, 23 times. I was dehydrated and my veins would roll or disappear. I looked like I was a junkie. My mom would come and ask how her little junkie was lol. I was recently in hospital again and they poked me twice and went to a store. Someone legit asked me if I sold. It's crazy. Sucks if you bruise easily like I do.
lizard365 12
aw that sucks, when I went to the hospital the first time they hit my vein but blew it so they tried a second time, they then returned a third time to stab me because the second time my blood had clotted and was no good and I was stabbed 4 times in all for the iv.
Moochi456 20
When I was smaller they had to get multiple nurses plus my mom to hold me down for vaccinations... Now they usually get the best nurse in there and do it pretty quickly when they see me acting like a 4 year old.. I know I shouldn't fight them but just the thought of needles literally makes me start to hyperventilate. When I was 11 and had a diabetes scare due to faulty testing equipment I told my mom I'd rather take my chances with the disease than the needles... I fully meant it too.
ghostsoul21 12
As a person whose greatest fear is needles, I can truly sympathize for you. I hope it didn't hurt too bad and if you're lucky you may just get a different nurse next time. Hope it's all ok though, OP.
cakefete2 30
I hate drawing blood. My veins are deep and my arms are big. In 25 years, I have never successfully had blood drawn from my arm. My hands always end up being the default site.
amisenho 11
I feel ya, man. I had blood drawn yesterday, and after trying my right arm, they had to switch to my left arm for any hope of finding a vein and getting blood. I closed my eyes for the whole ordeal, but it didn't help when I fainted; the color drained from my face, I went into a cold sweat, and I had to lie down while I let the blood rush back to my head. Getting blood drawn is a frustrating ordeal.
BeeHMC 9
I've had the exact same thing happen to me.
TheDoctorDonna 23
I can't stand the sight of needles. I freak out every time I see one and then they have a hard time getting the blood because I'm so tense. I'm so sorry OP I know how it feels..
kdm_km1 19
Maybe she needlealittle practice.
fearlesscooldude 12
Can someone tell me how to reply to a comment here on FML please.
yellowaholic 25
Well you look at the comment, scan your eyes to the right and there is a thumbs up and a thumbs down, under that there is a reply button, that says reply.
CurlyQute 17
She obviously doesn't have that great of experience at sticking people
SMHsohard 22
No matter how much experience you have, sometimes you have a day where you couldn't hit the vein if it was sitting on top of the skin. The trick is to recognize when it isn't going to work and hand off to someone else.
brett1ski 5
My arm is the same way! Fantastic veins but the second a nurse tries to stick it, they disappear. Next time have the anesthesiologist do it because when the nurse missed 6 times in a row on me, he got it on the first try
SMHsohard 22
Large, easy to see veins don't always equal success. Sometimes the ones that really stick up are tough and sclerosed. Although, as one who usually hit it on the first try, if I had trouble I stopped after two and turned it over to someone else. Why screw up a site someone else might hit without difficulty?
yellowaholic 25
I'd hate to be the person she took blood from who's veins aren't "pronounced and easy to see".